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    Top Colleges on the East Coast

    Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman Written by Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman
    Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman

    Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman is a content editor and writer at Scholarships360. He has managed communications and written content for a diverse array of organizations, including a farmer’s market, a concert venue, a student farm, an environmental NGO, and a PR agency. Gabriel graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in sociology.

    Full Bio

    Learn about our editorial policies

    Posted: November 27th, 2023

    The East Coast is home to many of America’s best-known colleges. And thanks to tuition reciprocity agreements such as Tuition Break and the Academic Common Market, students from all over the country can attend public schools on the East Coast and receive in-state tuition discounts.

    Compare the top East Coast colleges below. You can compare schools by size, graduation rate, admissions rate, cost, and more. And once you’re done, be sure to check out our scholarships to help fund your education!

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    450 colleges
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    M

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology

    Cambridge, MA • Private, Non-Profit, City, Need-Blind

    Top College Top College, Top Affordability
    Top College Top College
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    MIT is a world leader in science, engineering, and technology education and research. The Institute is known for its rigorous academics and innovative culture, fostering technological breakthroughs and alumni such…Read More

    MIT is a world leader in science, engineering, and technology…Read More

    4% acceptance
    95% graduation rate
    4,638 undergrads
    $20,338 net price
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    Princeton University

    Princeton, NJ • Private, Non-Profit, City, Need-Blind

    Top College Top College, Top Affordability
    Top College Top College
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    Princeton is renowned for having some of the best academics in the entire world. Famous for its Eating Clubs, Princeton has produced alumni such as Woodrow Wilson, Jeff Bezos, and…Read More

    Princeton is renowned for having some of the best academics…Read More

    6% acceptance
    97% graduation rate
    5,527 undergrads
    $8,143 net price
    P

    University of Pennsylvania

    Philadelphia, PA • Private, Non-Profit, City, Need-Blind

    Top College Top College, Top Affordability
    Top College Top College
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the University of Pennsylvania, commonly known as Penn, is an Ivy League institution renowned for its blend of rigorous academics and vibrant campus life. Founded by…Read More

    Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the University of Pennsylvania, commonly known…Read More

    7% acceptance
    96% graduation rate
    10,572 undergrads
    $26,138 net price
    F

    Franklin W Olin College of Engineering

    Needham, MA • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb

    Top College Top College
    Top College Top College

    Did you know that every admitted student at Olin receives a partial scholarship covering half of the tuition? Located in Needham, Massachusetts, Olin is known for its innovative engineering curriculum…Read More

    Did you know that every admitted student at Olin receives…Read More

    19% acceptance
    94% graduation rate
    356 undergrads
    $25,924 net price
    C

    Columbia University in the City of New York

    New York, NY • Private, Non-Profit, City, Need-Blind

    Top College Top College, Top Affordability
    Top College Top College
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    Located in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Upper Manhattan, Columbia University is renowned for its prestigious Core Curriculum, which includes interdisciplinary courses in literature, philosophy, history, and more. Columbia also…Read More

    Located in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Upper Manhattan, Columbia…Read More

    4% acceptance
    95% graduation rate
    8,902 undergrads
    $23,497 net price
    H

    Harvard University

    Cambridge, MA • Private, Non-Profit, City, Need-Blind

    Top College Top College, Top Affordability
    Top College Top College
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States and a member of the Ivy League. Harvard is known for its prestigious…Read More

    Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University is the oldest institution…Read More

    3% acceptance
    98% graduation rate
    7,973 undergrads
    $19,500 net price
    Y

    Yale University

    New Haven, CT • Private, Non-Profit, City, Need-Blind

    Top College Top College, Top Affordability
    Top College Top College
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    Yale University, located in New Haven, Connecticut, is known for its prestigious law school and its secret societies, including Skull and Bones. The Ivy League institution has produced many influential…Read More

    Yale University, located in New Haven, Connecticut, is known for…Read More

    5% acceptance
    98% graduation rate
    6,639 undergrads
    $18,535 net price
    J

    Johns Hopkins University

    Baltimore, MD • Private, Non-Profit, City, Need-Blind

    Top College Top College, Top Affordability
    Top College Top College
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    Did you know that Johns Hopkins University was the first research university in the United States? Located in Baltimore, Maryland, it is renowned for its medical, public health, and engineering…Read More

    Did you know that Johns Hopkins University was the first…Read More

    7% acceptance
    94% graduation rate
    5,643 undergrads
    $20,820 net price
    G

    Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

    Atlanta, GA • Public, City

    Top College Top College, Top Affordability
    Top College Top College
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    Georgia Institute of Technology, commonly known as Georgia Tech, is a top-ranked public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, known for its strong engineering, computing, and business programs. With a vibrant…Read More

    Georgia Institute of Technology, commonly known as Georgia Tech, is…Read More

    17% acceptance
    93% graduation rate
    17,379 undergrads
    $14,588 net price
    F

    University of Florida

    Gainesville, FL • Public, City

    Top College Top College, Top Affordability
    Top College Top College
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    Located in Gainesville, Florida, UF is the school where Gatorade was invented. The university excels in research and athletics, with notable alumni including Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow and actress…Read More

    Located in Gainesville, Florida, UF is the school where Gatorade…Read More

    23% acceptance
    90% graduation rate
    33,673 undergrads
    $6,275 net price
    B

    Babson College

    Wellesley, MA • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb

    Top College Top College
    Top College Top College

    Babson College, located in Wellesley, Massachusetts, is known for its focus on entrepreneurship and business education. Babson offers a unique curriculum that integrates business fundamentals with hands-on experience, including the…Read More

    Babson College, located in Wellesley, Massachusetts, is known for its…Read More

    22% acceptance
    93% graduation rate
    2,709 undergrads
    $34,994 net price
    W

    Williams College

    Williamstown, MA • Private, Non-Profit, Town, Need-Blind

    Top College Top College, Top Affordability
    Top College Top College
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    Williams College, located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, consistently ranks as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country. Known for its tutorial system, similar to Oxford, Williams has notable…Read More

    Williams College, located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, consistently ranks as one…Read More

    9% acceptance
    95% graduation rate
    2,138 undergrads
    $26,775 net price
    M

    United States Merchant Marine Academy

    Kings Point, NY • Public, Suburb

    Top College Top College
    Top College Top College

    United States Merchant Marine Academy is a public 4-year college located in Kings Point, New York. There are currently 931 undergraduates at USMMA and the school’s acceptance rate is 27%.…

    United States Merchant Marine Academy is a public 4-year college…Read More

    27% acceptance
    77% graduation rate
    931 undergrads
    $6,502 net price
    A

    Amherst College

    Amherst, MA • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb, Need-Blind

    Top College Top College, Top Affordability
    Top College Top College
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    Amherst College, situated in Amherst, Massachusetts, is widely known as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country. They employ an open curriculum, meaning Amherst allows students the…Read More

    Amherst College, situated in Amherst, Massachusetts, is widely known as…Read More

    7% acceptance
    92% graduation rate
    1,898 undergrads
    $25,035 net price
    C

    Cornell University

    Ithaca, NY • Private, Non-Profit, City, Need-Blind

    Top College Top College
    Top College Top College

    Located in Ithaca, New York, Cornell University is known for its Ivy League member status and scenic campus. Notable alumni include Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Bill Nye, and Toni Morrison.

    Located in Ithaca, New York, Cornell University is known for…Read More

    7% acceptance
    95% graduation rate
    15,676 undergrads
    $29,651 net price
    S

    Swarthmore College

    Swarthmore, PA • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb, Need-Blind

    Top College Top College, Top Affordability
    Top College Top College
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    Swarthmore College, located in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, is a private liberal arts college known for its academic rigor and small class sizes. The college's Scott Arboretum encompasses 425 acres of gardens…

    Swarthmore College, located in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, is a private liberal…Read More

    7% acceptance
    94% graduation rate
    1,619 undergrads
    $21,595 net price

    University of Virginia-Main Campus

    Charlottesville, VA • Public, Suburb

    Top College Top College, Top Affordability
    Top College Top College
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    Founded by Thomas Jefferson, UVA is known for its historic campus and strong programs in law, business, and the humanities. The Rotunda, designed by Jefferson, is a UNESCO World Heritage…Read More

    Founded by Thomas Jefferson, UVA is known for its historic…Read More

    19% acceptance
    95% graduation rate
    17,103 undergrads
    $23,101 net price
    B

    Brown University

    Providence, RI • Private, Non-Profit, City, Need-Blind

    Top College Top College, Top Affordability
    Top College Top College
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    Located in Providence, Rhode Island, Brown University is an Ivy League school known for its open curriculum, which allows students to create their own course of study. Notable alumni include…Read More

    Located in Providence, Rhode Island, Brown University is an Ivy…Read More

    5% acceptance
    95% graduation rate
    7,222 undergrads
    $27,157 net price
    D

    Duke University

    Durham, NC • Private, Non-Profit, City, Need-Blind

    Top College Top College
    Top College Top College

    Did you know that Duke University is home to the largest lemur sanctuary in the world? What's more, Tim Cook, Mike Posner, and Ken Jeong all graduated from the school.…Read More

    Did you know that Duke University is home to the…Read More

    6% acceptance
    97% graduation rate
    6,570 undergrads
    $30,785 net price
    N

    University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

    Chapel Hill, NC • Public, City, Need-Blind

    Top College Top College, Top Affordability
    Top College Top College
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    UNC, located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, is the oldest public university in the United States. Known for its strong programs in public health and journalism, the university boasts notable…Read More

    UNC, located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, is the oldest…Read More

    17% acceptance
    91% graduation rate
    19,921 undergrads
    $12,414 net price
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    About the Data

    We sort colleges on our lists according to their Scholarships360 Top Colleges Index Score. This score is calculated using up-to-date information taken directly from the College Scorecard. Additional information is sourced from the colleges themselves, as well as other publicly available information. If you see an error, feel free to contact us.

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