Virginia Tech, a former military technical institute in Blacksburg, encourages students to invent the future. It is a research powerhouse, with seven research institutes and two university research centers that offer undergraduate and graduate students research opportunities. Graduate offerings include programs in the highly ranked College of Engineering. The university sports teams, known as the Hokies, compete in the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast Conference. Students account for more than half the total residents in Blacksburg. They can participate in more than 600 clubs and organizations, including a large Greek system of more than 50 fraternities and sororities. Freshmen must live on campus, and the school has renowned dining facilities. Notable Hokie alumni include football player Michael Vick and talk show host Hoda Kotb.

Students at American University benefit from the school's location in the political hub of the nation. Washington, D.C., is a playground for the politically and socially oriented with its countless museums, restaurants, clubs and year-round events. The university, located in a suburban pocket of northwest Washington, is close to a stop on the D.C.-area Metrorail transit system. Rides downtown take about 15 minutes. Students at American have been rated among the most politically active in the nation, and there are more than 200 student clubs and organizations on campus. The school also has a sizeable Greek system, with about 30 fraternities and sororities.The American University Eagles sports teams compete in the NCAA Division I Patriot League, and the schools mascot is, accordingly, an eagle. Catching a professional sports contest, such as a Redskins football game or a Nationals baseball game, is a quick trip from campus, too. The university is affiliated with the Methodist church, but its Kay Spiritual Life Center houses about 25 groups of different faiths. The confluence of opportunities on and off campus clearly works for most students: American University boasts a notably high freshmen retention rate of around 90 percent.American University has eight unique schools, including the well-regarded Washington College of Law. All students can take advantage of the schools cultural hubs, such as the Katzen Arts Center and Greenberg Theatre. For time away from the nation's capital, more than 70 percent of undergraduates study abroad. American University's School of International Service is one of the top ten international affairs schools in the country. Dozens of politicians are alumni of American University, including U.S. Reps. Loretta Sanchez and Donald Manzullo and former U.S. Reps. Betsy Markey and Bill Shuster. Mike Panetta, the former shadow representative for Washington, D.C., is also an American University graduate.