University Of Colorado

Our vision for the Environmental Design (ENVD) degree program in Boulder is to provide innovative interdisciplinary education to prepare students for practice and advanced study in the design-based fields of architecture, landscape architecture and planning, with the knowledge that those professions are in the midst of significant change. ENVD faculty have created curriculum to address the new challenges facing design professionals – greater sustainability of buildings and cities, global needs for housing, responsible resource management, and adaptation to the impacts of climate change.  This fall we have nearly 800 students in studios, lectures, and seminars taught by 30 faculty with outstanding academic and professional expertise in adaptive buildings, urban design, and landscapes that support society’s domestic, civic, cultural, and industrial/commercial activities.  Students are learning to apply state-of-the-art educational technology including computing tools, digital image databases, fabrication equipment, and media for display and presentation of designs. Their curriculum also draws from Boulder Campus scholarship in the sciences, social sciences, and technology fields in order to enable ENVD graduates to develop new standards and materials for “green” buildings, anticipate the environmental, social, and economic impacts of development, and design for energy and water efficiency in buildings and communities.

University Of Texas

FAST FACTS ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY

President: William Powers Jr.

Founded: 1883

Degrees awarded yearly: 12,000

Continuing education enrollment: 300,000

Undergraduate academic costs for resident: $9,418 for 2010-11

Employees: About 24,000 staff and faculty members

Registered student organizations: 1,000

Student enrollment: About 51,000 students

Colleges/schools: 17

Operating budget: $2.14 billion for 2010

Research funding: $644 million for 2009-10

Museums and libraries: Seven museums and 17 libraries

Alumni: About 450,000

Mascot: Bevo, the Texas longhorn

Colors: Burnt orange and white

Finding Top Universities

HOW DO I FIND TOP UNIVERSITIES?

Many factors go into deciding which college or university is right for you, such as academic offerings, location, campus life, and cost. Sifting through all of this information can be daunting, but ranking systems can help you identify top colleges and top universities in each of these categories.

TOP UNIVERSITIES IN DIFFERENT CATEGORIES

The "U.S. News and World Report" ranking system lists top colleges and top universities for many different categories. Schools are categorized by mission, such as degrees or types of programs. So, for example, the "U.S. News and World Report" system generates a list of the best colleges that grant associate degrees and a list of the best universities with master's programs. Similarly, "U.S. News and World Report" provides a list of the top liberal arts colleges and the top ranking national universities, institutions that offer a full range of undergraduate majors, master's degrees, doctoral degrees, and that often focus on research.

Engineering and business schools are categorized separately. The top business schools are ranked by their M.B.A. programs, such as the best accounting program or the top finance program. Rankings for the top engineering schools are based on 10 indicators, including peer assessment, average Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, and specialty rankings for each area of engineering, such as aerospace and civil engineering.

Schools are further divided by region, so you can find the best college or best university in your area. The "U.S. News and World Report" system divides the United States into 4 regions: the North, South, Midwest, and West. Within each region, the top colleges or top universities are also categorized by mission, so that you can find the best master's college or master's university, the top baccalaureate college, or the best baccalaureate/associate college in your area.

TOP UNIVERSITIES AS DECIDED BY STUDENTS

"The Princeton Review" college ranking system is based solely on student opinion instead of statistical data. This system ranks colleges into many categories, including schools with the best quality of life, the best college library, the top party school, and the college with the best classroom experience. So, once you have narrowed your search, you can use this information to help you distinguish between a handful of schools to find the best colleges for you.

FINDING TOP COLLEGES WITH OTHER RANKING SYSTEMS

Several other ranking systems exist to assist you in your search for the best university for you. The "Faculty Scholarly Productivity Index" ranks universities based on faculty publications, citations, research grants, and awards.  So, if you are interested in research or studying under highly-accomplished faculty, you can check these top college and top university lists.

The "Forbes College Rankings" bases its rankings on student evaluations of professors, self-reported salaries of alumni, graduation rates, the number of students and faculty who receive nationally competitive awards, and 4-year accumulated student debt. Therefore, if you're interested in finding the best universities based on more objective statistics, this ranking system might be beneficial to you.

Personal Priorities Determine Top Universities

YOUR PRIORITIES HELP DETERMINE TOP UNIVERSITIES

Your college education is an investment in your future. Therefore, choosing the best university for your academic interests, educational goals, and career plans is essential.

To determine the best colleges to pursue, first decide which characteristics are most important to you.

Campus culture, composition and size of student body, costs, majors and degree programs, quality of education, and social options are some of the most common criteria to consider. However, type of school, setting, location, and professional needs are also important.

TOP COLLEGES OR TOP UNIVERSITIES

Colleges offer 4-year bachelor's degrees or 2-year associate's degrees. Some colleges specialize in a particular field such as nursing while others — like liberal arts colleges — offer a broad spectrum of academic programs.

In contrast, universities offer a wider variety of degree programs including associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees and usually include liberal arts colleges, professional colleges, and graduate schools.

Public versus private institutions
Public colleges and universities are primarily funded by and governed by the states in which they are located and are generally less expensive than private schools.

Conversely, private colleges and universities attain the bulk of their funding from private sources and are run by individuals and organizations in the private sector.

The type of school does not necessarily determine the quality of education. Many of the best universities and colleges are public, so your education does not have to suffer if you decide to attend a public institution.

Campus setting and location
Where would you feel most comfortable and fulfilled studying and living?

A college situated in a picturesque rural setting will provide peace and quiet. On the other hand, the social and cultural offerings of a big city might appeal to you. Perhaps a suburban or small town setting is more your style.

Geographic location is also important. Do you want to live at home and commute to school, or are you more interested in moving to a region of the country that has a particular climate or environment?

Professional goals
If you have determined your career path or professional goals, your list of top universities and colleges should include schools that offer outstanding degree programs in your field, specialize in your field, or are recognized in the business sector for its programs in your field.

A LIST OF THE BEST COLLEGES MINIMIZES FRUSTRATION

Choosing a college is an exciting but challenging process. Creating a list of top colleges and universities will make identifying the right college more efficient and less time consuming.