New England is known for its academic institutions, and for good reason. The region is home to some of top-ranked Ivy League schools from Brown University in Rhode Island, Yale University in Connecticut, Harvard University in Massachusetts, and, of course, Dartmouth College in New Hampshire.
But beyond these institutions, there are many that provide quality education at a much more affordable price tag, better student-to-faculty ratios, and good returns after graduation.
These are the colleges ranked in the latest ‘Hidden Gem Colleges’ rankings by College Raptor, a college planning platform by Citizens Bank.
“New England is home to some of the nation’s most recognized colleges, but many exceptional schools fly under the radar. The Hidden Gems list helps families discover those opportunities while providing a clearer picture of potential outcomes,” said Bill Staib, head of College Raptor, in a written statement.
The criteria for these colleges include having fewer than 7,000 undergraduate students, receiving less than 10,000 applications in a year, and having a 20% acceptance rate or higher, among other parameters.
Which ‘hidden gem’ New Hampshire college is ranked among the top in the country?
One New Hampshire college cracked the top 50 “hidden gems.”
Saint Anselm College, Manchester
- Rank: No. 42
- Acceptance rate: 78.1%
- Median starting salary: $63,347 for graduates with a bachelor’s degree
According to their website, the list highlights “under-the-radar colleges that may not be household names,” but are “bringing serious academic heat.”
Another New Hampshire college on the list is University of New Hampshire at Manchester (Rank No. 200).
Top 5 hidden gem colleges in the United States, as per College Raptor
Four of the top five colleges are found outside of New England, according to College Raport.
No. 1 Carleton College, Minnesota
- Acceptance rate: 21.8%
- Median starting salary: $53,989 for graduates with a bachelor’s degree
- SAT score: 1,450 – 1,550
No. 2 Smith College, Massachusetts
- Acceptance rate: 22.4%
- Median starting salary: $45,731 for graduates with a bachelor’s degree
- SAT score: 1,420 – 1,520
No. 3 Yeshiva University, New York
- Acceptance rate: 49.9%
- Median starting salary: $60,252 for graduates with a bachelor’s degree
- SAT score: 1,340 – 1,490
No. 4 Macalester College, Minnesota
- Acceptance rate: 28.1%
- Median starting salary: $46,244 for graduates with a bachelor’s degree
- SAT score: 1,350 – 1,490
No. 5 Bryn Mawr College, Pennsylvania
- Acceptance rate: 28.2%
- Median starting salary: $46,244 for graduates with a bachelor’s degree
- SAT score: 1,310 – 1,480
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald. Reporting by Hazel Gandhi.
