Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was founded on the principles of bringing science to everyday life, and that ethos is still prevalent today. About a quarter of students are involved in Greek L.I.F.E., as the fraternity and sorority scene is known at the school, which stresses Leadership, Innovation, Fortitude and Evolution. More students more than 80 percent play sports at the varsity, club or intramural level. True to the schools mission, the varsity athletes are known as the Engineers, and compete in the Eastern College Athletic Conference and the Liberty League. There are also more than 200 student organizations. Freshmen must live on campus, usually in dormitories that only house first-year students. RPIs campus, in Troy, N.Y., is nestled in an ideal location for nature lovers. The school overlooks the Hudson River, where waterfront activities abound, and is close to Grafton Lakes State Park, Lake George and the Adirondack Mountains. For an urban experience, Albany is 9 miles away.In accordance with its specialty, RPI has a highly ranked engineering program. The school also uses its scientific specialties to offer unique accelerated programs such as the B.S./M.D. Physician-Scientist Program, completed in seven years, and the B.S./J.D. in Science, Technology and Society Law, which takes six years to finish. The university hosts technical events like the annual GameFest, a showcase of computer games designed by students. These kinds of technical skills have led Rensselaer graduates to successful careers as entrepreneurs, inventors, scientists and more. Notable RPI alumni include George W. G. Ferris, creator of the Ferris Wheel, Howard P. Isermann, inventor of sunscreen and Myles Brand, former president of the NCAA.

Santa Clara University is located in the Silicon Valley town of Santa Clara, California, about an hour from San Francisco. The university offers arts and entertainment programs at the Center of Performing Arts and the de Saisset Museum of art and history. There are more than 100 student organizations on campus including the Santa Clara Community Action Program, a volunteer service organization, and the Santa Clara Review, a biannual literary magazine. Santa Clara offers housing in its residence halls, and students can also join a Residential Learning Community. The Santa Clara Broncos field nearly 20 Division I athletic teams and are known for their successful soccer and volleyball programs. The Ruff Riders the official student booster club of SCU athletics is the largest organization on campus.Santa Claras graduate programs include the Leavey School of Business, School of Law, School of Engineering, School of Education and Counseling Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, and the Jesuit School of Theology. Undergraduates can study in the College of Arts and Sciences, Leavey School of Business or School of Engineering. Notable alumni include president of the University of California system and former U.S. secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, former director of the CIA and secretary of defense Leon Panetta, primatologist and U.N. messenger of peace Jane Goodall, and author of the best-selling novel "The Kite Runner" Khaled Hosseini.