As 2023 has arrived, you may be looking to take the next big step in your STEM education journey. While specific needs will differ from person to person, knowing which schools are the best for a STEM education can be a great start.
Here are the top STEM schools of the last year:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology: The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, most popularly referred to as MIT, is a private land-grant research university. The school is best known for its key role in the development of modern technology and science.
- Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Average Tuition: $74,500 without grants, $21,100 with grants
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Graduation Rate: 94%
- Notable Alumni: Apollo 11 Astronaut: Buzz Aldrin; Economics Nobel laureate: Esther Duflo; CEO of General Motors: Alfred P. Sloan
Georgia Institute of Technology: The Georgia Institute of Technology, commonly referred to as Georgia Tech, is a public research university and institute of technology. Their specialty is in science and technology, but they are additionally recognized as an elite institution for computer science, engineering and business.
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia
- Average Tuition: $30,600 without grants, $18,400 with grants
- Acceptance Rate: 21%
- Graduation Rate: 87%
- Notable Alumni: President Jimmy Carter; Nobel Prize in Chemistry Winner: Kary Mullis; CEO of Earthlink: Charles “Garry” Betty
California Institute of Technology: The California Institute of Technology, also known as Caltech, is a private research university known for its specialties in science and engineering. Caltech is ranked among the best academic institutions in the world and is among the most selective in the U.S.
- Location: Pasadena, California
- Average Tuition: $79,900 without grants, $28,100 with grants
- Acceptance Rate: 6%
- Graduation Rate: 92%
- Notable Alumni: Father of Silicon Valley: William Shockley; Co-founder of JPL: Qian Xuesen; Director of NSF: France A. Córdova
Harvey Mudd College: Harvey Mudd College is an American private college in Claremont, California focused on science and engineering. The school produces graduates who earn the highest mid-career salaries of any college or university in the country.
- Location: Claremont, California
- Average Tuition: $81,800 without grants, $39,300 with grants
- Acceptance Rate: 14%
- Graduation Rate: 92%
- Notable Alumni: Co-inventor of SQL: Donald D. Chamberlain; Former US Ambassador to Israel: Richard H. Jones; Esports commentator and game designer: Sean “Day9” Plott
Stanford University: Stanford University is a private research university and one of the top-ranking universities in the world. Though they have many specialties, they are known for their graduate programs in law, medicine, education and business.
- Location: Stanford, California
- Average Tuition: $80,400 without grants, $21,100 with grants
- Acceptance Rate: 4%
- Graduation Rate: 94%
- Notable Alumni: President John F. Kennedy; Astronaut Mae Jemison; Co-creator of the internet: Vint Cerf
University of California, Berkeley: A founding member of the Association of American Universities, UC Berkeley is a public land-grant research university. As one of the top universities in the country, Berkley hosts many leading research institutes dedicated to science, engineering and mathematics.
- Location: Berkeley, California
- Average Tuition: $42,700 without grants, $20,400 with grants
- Acceptance Rate: 16%
- Graduation Rate: 92%
- Notable Alumni: Co-founder of Apple Computer: Steve Wozniak; Astronaut Leroy Chiao; Nobel laureate in Physics and former Secretary of Energy: Steven Chu
University of California, San Diego: UC San Diego is a public land-grant research university specializing in medicine and oceanography. The school is home to the region’s only academic health system, UC San Diego Health.
- Location: La Jolla, California
- Average Tuition: $36,300 without grants, $16,100 with grants
- Acceptance Rate: 31%
- Graduation Rate: 86%
- Notable Alumni: Philanthropist and GoPro Founder: Nick Woodman; Nobel Prize Winner in Medicine: Susumu Tonegawa; Professor and Political Activist: Angela Davis
Texas A&M University-College Station: Texas A&M is a public land-grant research university and senior military college. They are home to one of the largest student bodies in the United States and hold simultaneous designations as a land, sea and space grant institution.
- Location: College Station, Texas
- Average Tuition: $32,300 without grants, $21,000 with grants
- Acceptance Rate: 58%
- Graduation Rate: 82%
- Notable Alumni: Former US Secretary of Energy: Ricky Perry; Mechanical engineer and first woman to be chief flight director at NASA: Holly Ridings; CEO of U.S. Wal-Mart Stores: Eduardo Castro-Wright
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, or UIUC for short, is a public land-grant research university. Besides producing several Nobel laureates and Pulitzer Prize winners, UIUC is home to the second-largest university library in the country and the fastest supercomputer on a university campus. They are also home to Research Park, an innovation center for some of the biggest start-ups and corporations in the country.
- Location: Champaign, Illinois
- Average Tuition: $32,000 without grants, $14,300 with grants
- Acceptance Rate: 59%
- Graduation Rate: 84%
- Notable Alumni: Double Nobel prize winner in Physics: John Bardeen; Paypal Creator: Max Levchin; YouTube Founders: Steve Chen and Jawed Karim
University of Michigan: The University of Michigan is a public research university consisting of nineteen colleges and degrees in 250 disciplines. They specialize in architecture and urban planning, business, medicine, law, public policy, pharmacy, social work, public health and dentistry. The school has produced over 250 high-level government officials such as senators, cabinet secretaries and governors.
- Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Average Tuition: $32,000 without grants, $14,300 with grants
- Acceptance Rate: 23%
- Graduation Rate: 92%
- Notable Alumni: Former United States Secretary of Agriculture: Julius Sterling Morton; Boeing co-founder: Edgar Nathaniel Gott; Founder of the Swarm Corporation and “Father of Artificial Life”: Chris Langton
Sources: Money.com, College Avenue Student Loans, Wikipedia
