| Arriving at a definitive ranking of schools is a complex | | | | five Big-10 list. Northwestern offers strong academics |
| process, and often one that stirs fierce debate. | | | | with a wide range of majors available to |
| School pride runs deep with alums, particularly those | | | | undergraduates. Proximity to Chicago is a significant |
| who graduated from Big-10 universities. No one | | | | plus for Northwestern students, allowing them not |
| wants to see his or her beloved alma mater dropped | | | | only cultural enrichment (a.k.a. nightlife), but |
| even a notch in the all-important competition to be | | | | opportunities for internships and study, which |
| number one. We see this in the public sphere as | | | | Northwestern's curriculum often takes great care to |
| athletic teams go head to head and as university | | | | integrate. |
| departments vie for research dollars. | | | | 3. Penn State University, State College, PA |
| The bumps and bruises threatened on these fields of | | | | A late addition to the Big-10---the school joined in |
| battle pale in comparison to the emotional wounding | | | | 1990---Penn State University has consistently |
| attempted on those who contributed to researching | | | | impressed with its academic seriousness and high |
| this list. Rest assured, though the pressure may have | | | | quality of life for students, earning the school the |
| been intense at times, this list reflects the reality of | | | | third slot on this list. Penn State is a multi-campus |
| what students are experiencing at these schools as | | | | behemoth, offering a wide variety of experiences to |
| closely as possible, and not the effectiveness of | | | | students. Enrolling more than 81,000 students at 24 |
| advocates outside this process. | | | | campuses, it is at the University Park campus in |
| What is the very best school to attend? The decision | | | | State College that Penn State demonstrates the |
| can change the course of a life and should not be | | | | highest degree of excellence. |
| made lightly. To arrive at this list, careful consideration | | | | 4. Ohio State University, Columbus, OH |
| was given to students' academic experience, quality | | | | Fourth on the list is Ohio State University (OSU). OSU |
| of life, success of alumnae, and many other factors. | | | | offers high-caliber academics for undergrads and |
| We believe what follows is an accurate grading of | | | | graduates. New students encounter a carefully |
| the top five Big-10 schools. | | | | tailored program for freshmen, shaping new |
| 1. Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI | | | | Buckeyes from some of the best students in and |
| Michigan State University tops our list due to an | | | | around Ohio and the rest of the nation. |
| outstanding combination of academic rigor and quality | | | | 5. University of Illinois, Champaign, IL |
| of life. With 150 undergraduate majors and 14 | | | | Rounding out the list at number five is the University |
| colleges granting degrees, Michigan State sets the | | | | of Illinois in Champaign. The second Illinois campus in |
| high-water mark for the Big-10. Michigan State | | | | the top five, the University of Illinois earns its slot |
| professors are often praised for working closely with | | | | with a stellar mix of academics, social life, and athletic |
| students. The school's career placement office is | | | | programs. 1100 organizations and clubs battle for |
| among the best and most effective in schools in and | | | | student participation on the giant campus, with |
| out of the Big-10. | | | | research a major focus of academic life. University of |
| 2. Northwestern University, Evanston, IL | | | | Illinois, an exemplary Midwestern campus, helps |
| Just 30 minutes outside of Chicago, Northwestern | | | | maintain the high quality reputation of all the Big-10 |
| University earns a secure second place on our top | | | | schools. |