Tulane University, located in New Orleans, is divided between the main uptown campus and a downtown campus, which is the center for health science programs. The school has a well-regarded law school, and its School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine is the only specialty school of its kind in the U.S. Freshmen and sophomores must live on campus, with a few exceptions. Students can participate in more than 200 student organizations on campus. More than 40 percent of students are involved in Tulanes 24 sororities and fraternities. Female students at Tulane University receive extra support through the Newcomb College Institute, which hosts symposiums and guest speakers and offers mentors to young women. Notable alumni include former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, talk show host Jerry Springer and Douglas R. Ellin, creator of HBOs hit show "Entourage."

Boston University is one of the largest independent, nonprofit universities in the country. The BU Terriers have more than 20 NCAA Division I varsity sports. BUs hockey team has won multiple NCAA national championships. BU also has nearly 500 student clubs, ranging from Ski Racing to the Juggling Association. BU created one of the first study abroad programs, and currently sponsors more than 90 international programs. Freshmen are required to live on campus, and about 80 percent of undergraduate students live on the main Boston campus, which lies along the Charles River.Boston Universitys highly rankedgraduate schools include the School of Law, School of Management, School of Medicine, College of Engineeringand School of Education. BUs School of Medicine is the nations first combined cancer research and teaching laboratory. BU is also the first university to open all divisions to female students in 1872. Notable alumni include Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; actresses Julianne Moore and Geena Davis; television personality Bill OReilly; radio host Howard Stern; and Tipper Gore, former wife of Al Gore. Another unique fact: the BU Bridge is the only spot in the U.S. where a plane can fly over a car driving over a train going over a boat, all at the same time.