Now students have an answer — and it may not be what they expected!

A recent study reveals that the schools that are most likely to help you score a job after college aren’t the top-tier Ivy League schools.

How the Study Was Done

The study, conducted by the Wall Street Journal in collaboration with Cambria Consulting, surveyed hundreds of recruiters regarding the schools from which they were hiring new graduates. A total of 479 recruiters, including those from major corporations in a variety of fields, took part in the survey.

The recruiters were asked to pinpoint which schools, from a list of 100 of the best undergraduate institutions in the United States, they thought turned out the best-trained graduates – those who were the best educated and most ready for the working world. Recruiters were also permitted to write in other schools, and they could only rank schools from which they actively recruited.

The List

The results of the study have many people surprised, as the recruiters surveyed leaned away from elite Ivy League colleges. Larger state schools tended to come out at the top of recruiters’ lists. The top 25 schools rated by recruiters for having the most hirable graduates are:

1. Pennsylvania State University
2. Texas A&M University
3. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
4. Purdue University
5. Arizona State University
6. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
7. Georgia Institute of Technology
8. University of Maryland, College Park
9. University of Florida
10. Carnegie Mellon University
11. Brigham Young University
12. Ohio State University
13. Virginia Polytechnic Institute
14. Cornell University
15. University of California – Berkeley
16. University of Wisconsin, Madison
17. University of California, Los Angeles
18. Texas Tech
19. North Carolina State University, Raleigh
20. University of Virginia
21. Rutgers University, New Brunswick
22. University of Notre Dame
23. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
24. University of Southern California
25. Washington State University

What the Study Reveals

The recruiters surveyed considered graduates from top-tier public universities like these as the most well-rounded and best-prepared to enter the working world. It was also revealed that recruiters liked schools that fostered partnerships with companies, allowing students to make corporate connections via internships early on.

Recruiting budget is also a concern. Since companies obviously don’t have the funding to recruit on every campus in the United States, students attending schools where recruiters are present may have an advantage as far as getting a foot in the door. So finding out if the school you’re applying to has recruiting partnerships and hosts career fairs is certainly a good idea. After all, it’s all about networking!

How Seriously Should You Take the Study?

The recruiter survey is certainly interesting, and it’s definitely a comfort to know that you don’t have to attend Harvard or Yale to score a job after graduation, even in tough economic times.

However it’s important to realize that this list shouldn’t define or limit where you decide to go to college – a degree from Penn State alone is not going to guarantee you a post-grad job! There are many more important factors that recruiters consider, such as extracurricular activities, internships and study abroad programs you completed. Like any college ranking, this one can help you make a well-informed decision about where you apply to school, but it shouldn’t ultimately define your decision when choosing the school that’s right for you.

Every year, the US News and World Report tries to figure out the answer based on many factors.

For example, they consider the school’s graduation rate, student stats (such as average test scores and high school performance), faculty information and the opinions of high-ranking officials at peer colleges, such as university presidents and deans of admission.

This year’s rankings placed (surprise, surprise!) Harvard at the top of the list for best university in the nation. But remember, just because a school got ranked #1 in the country doesn’t mean it’s the best school for you! There are plenty of very personal factors that come into the process of deciding which school is best.

The US News and World Report Top 25 Colleges

Curious which US universities made this popular and competitive list? Here are the top 25 colleges according to the US News and World Report rankings.  Schools with the same number indicates a tie among multiple schools.

1. Harvard University
2. Princeton University
3. Yale University
4. Columbia University
5. Stanford University
5. University of Pennsylvania
7. California Institute of Technology
7. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
9. Dartmouth College
9. Duke University
9. University of Chicago
12. Northwestern University
13. Johns Hopkins University
13. Washington University in St. Louis
15. Brown University
15. Cornell University
17. Rice University
17. Vanderbilt University
19. University of Notre Dame
20. Emory University
21. Georgetown University
22. University of California–Berkley
23. Carnegie Mellon University
23. University of Southern California
25. University of California–Los Angeles

Do Your Own Research!

While college rankings are a great tool, don’t forget to do your own research before making any grand decisions! Visit the school, talk to the students, listen to the professors and discuss your choices with your parents. Your #1 school may not have even made this list!

The List of Top 20 Party Schools in the Nation

1. University of Georgia
2. Ohio University
3. Penn State University
4. West Virginia University
5. University of Mississippi
6. University of Texas at Austin
7. University of Florida
8. University of California – Santa Barbara
9. University of Iowa
10. DePauw University
11. Florida State University
12. University of Wisconsin – Madison
13. University of Alabama
14. Sewanee – The University of the South
15. Indiana University – Bloomington
16. University of Colorado – Boulder
17. University of Missouri
18. University of Illinois
19. University of Maryland
20. Michigan State University

What the List Means to You

What does it mean to be voted one of the top 20 party schools in the nation?

In a nutshell, the Princeton Review list of the top 20 party schools is not exactly scientific, so don’t put too much stake in it. Just because the University of Georgia got voted as the number one party school, that doesn’t mean you’ll arrive to a campus full of drunk students hanging out on the quad. They study and go to class, too — just like any school that hasn’t made the list.

Don’t apply to a school that made the top 20 party schools list and think that you’ll spend your entire college career slacking off!

How Are the Top 20 Party Schools Determined?

There is no scientific method to determine whether a college is a “party school,” and there are many definitions on what being a party school means. However, the Princeton Review seems to have devised a method to determine how schools rank on the party meter.

They survey over 100,000 students from schools across the country about their experiences in college. They ask about drug use on campus, how many bars they frequent in their college town, hours spent (or not spent) studying, and Greek participation on campus. From that data, they put the schools in ranking order.

Bottom line: the list doesn’t mean much. Do thorough research on each school you’re applying to — there are many factors to take into consideration before deciding whether or not a school fits your profile.

And why not? There is a certain security that comes with making a decision based on what someone else has deemed “the best.” This is particularly true when it comes to choices as grandiose as where to get a college education!

But how useful are college rankings, really? Take the time to dissect how college rankings work before trusting them blindly to make important decisions.

Difficult to Compare

It’s pretty near impossible to quantify and qualify every topic of interest that takes place on every campus in the nation, though those doing the ranking don’t seem to think so. Even with the top dogs in the business, you’re getting a short-sighted view of only 1,500 or so schools across the country.

Schools Provide the Info

There are no college ranking detectives that go to each school and inspect each area of interest such as on-campus dorms, student housing, student activities, clubs and sports teams. Each school provides its own data,  and it clearly has a vested interest in seeing its name at the top of each list. Get the idea? The “facts” may not be as squeaky clean as they appear.

Compare Lists

While there is no perfect list of college rankings out there, they are not a complete waste of time and money. The truth is, you can’t visit each school and inspect it either, so it helps to have a condensed version of the “facts” about each school. Your best bet is to get a few lists of college rankings and cross reference the information you find.

Choosing the right college for you isn’t easy — and we know that help is welcome! Just don’t believe everything you read. Taking a look at college rankings may be a good way to start your college search, but your search should never end there!

You’re in luck! The Princeton Review and USA Today recently released a list of 100 best value colleges. The 2010 list features 50 private and 50 public best value colleges and universities.

In each category, ten schools are chosen as the highest ranking “best value” colleges, but unlike other school rankings, only these top 10 are ranked–the rest are listed in alphabetical order.

To collect data for this survey of best value colleges, Princeton Review surveyed students and administrators in more than 650 schools.

The criteria for deciding included 30 factors in three areas:  academics, costs of attendance, and financial aid. Only the most recently reported data from each institution for its 2008-09 academic year was used.

Particularly in today’s economic climate and the rising cost of college, this list is a useful one for prospective students and parents.

So finally, what you’ve all been waiting for … the best value colleges.

Top 10 Best Value Private Colleges for 2010:

1. Swarthmore College (Swarthmore, PA)
2. Harvard College (Cambridge, MA)
3. Wesleyan College (Macon, GA)
4. Princeton University (Princeton, NJ)
5. Yale University (New Haven, CT)
6. Williams College (Williamstown, MA)
7. Rice University (Houston, TX)
8. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA)
9. Amherst College (Amherst, MA)
10. Wellesley College (Wellesley, MA)

Top 10 Best Value Public Colleges for 2010:

1.  University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA)
2.  City University of New York – Hunter College (New York , NY)
3.  New College of Florida (Sarasota, FL)
4.  Florida State University (Tallahassee, FL)
5.  University of Colorado (Boulder, CO)
6.  State University of New York at Binghamton (Binghamton, NY)
7.  University of Georgia (Athens, GA)
8.  Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, VA)
9.  Texas A & M University (College Station, TX)
10. University of Oklahoma (Norman, OK)

When making your decision about which school to attend, take their financial value into account. Is it worth spending a fortune on a school that didn’t make the cut? The best value colleges of 2010 can help you narrow down your choices.

This year’s College Sustainability Report Card ranks the greenest colleges in the country. The highest grade, an A-, went to schools who are making efforts to go green in 2009.

The greenest colleges are changing to make their campuses more sustainable, including:

• serving locally-grown and organic food in the dining halls.
• using solar power in classrooms.
• giving money to environmental research and project.
• offering college transportation options like bike-sharing programs and biofuel-powered shuttles.

Some of the greenest colleges this year included top schools like Harvard, Oberlin, Middlebury and Yale.

What other colleges made the grade? Check out how some of the greenest colleges around the country score –and which schools still have room for improvement.

What does “green” mean?

Being green is the same as being sustainable–working to preserve the earth and its resources. This study rates the greenest colleges in a variety of ways that schools and their students are investing in the environment.

You can help your school become one of the greenest colleges! Get involved by joining student environmental groups, using energy-saving appliances and light bulbs in the college dorms, or even starting a campus garden!

College towns are often dominated by the campus, with students making up a large part of the city’s vibe. But college neighbors can contribute a lot more to its nearby cities than that!

Take a recent list of the top 25 college neighbors: schools across the country that make an effort to help their communities. The colleges range from large public schools to small private colleges and everything in between.

What colleges earned the top spot?

The University of Pennsylvania and the University of Southern California tied for first place for their commitment to helping the surrounding community.

Check out the full list of best college neighbors:

How to Be a Good College Neighbor

Colleges were ranked by Dr. Evan S. Dobelle, president of Westfield State College, based on the various contributions to their neighbor cities.

A contribution isn’t only money – a college neighbor can also affect the community by student and faculty participation in volunteer efforts, and by involving local residents in the life of the college through employment or outreach.

Get involved in your college community to make your college a good neighbor!

Public Ivies are colleges that have many of the benefits of Ivy League schools- stellar academics, famous faculty, dynamic students, and top-notch facilities – but are public colleges rather than private ones.

This means Public Ivies can sometimes offer something Ivy League universities can’t – a lower price tag, especially for students applying in-state.

What is a Public Ivy?

The idea of a “Public Ivy” appeared in 1985 in a college guidebook by Robert Moll, an admissions officer at top schools around the US. Moll listed the public schools that he thought represented the elite eight of public universities:

• College of William & Mary (Virginia)
• Miami University (Ohio)
• University of California (All Campuses)
• University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
• University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
• University of Texas – Austin
• University of Vermont – Burlington

These Public Ivies were known to give the most bang for your buck – and they still do today, 25 years later.

But there are more great public schools than just that handful. Take a look at the top 5 Public Ivies that Moll left out:

1. University of Virginia

The University of Virgina has a lot of things that no other Public Ivies – or any Ivy League schools – can compete with. Designed and founded by Thomas Jefferson, the college was also the first to offer philosophy programs – now a staple of liberal arts colleges.

The school tops all Public Ivies in fellowships, with more Rhodes Scholars than any other state school. It also has similar traditions to the Ivy League, with a number of secret societies on campus.

2. University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign

If you’re walking on the campus of this Public Ivy, you might think you’re at Harvard or Yale. That’s because its design is based on a series of campus quads, like many Ivies’ are.

A leader in the sciences and engineering, the University of Illinois has the 4th largest library in the US – behind only Harvard, Yale, and another public ivy – UC Berkeley.

3. University of Wisconsin – Madison

Student life at the University of Wisconsin is one of the most dynamic of the Public Ivies, both on campus and off. It’s the only school in the US with two daily newspapers, and its football team has a huge following.

Students can be found at the on-campus Rathskeller pub, discussing politics and philosophy like the Ivy founders did.

4. University of Washington

One of the oldest universities on the Pacific, the University of Washington brings the tradition of Public Ivies to the West Coast. The campus has its own unique history, originally designed for the 1909 World’s Fair.

The school also has something no other Ivy can boast: a TV channel  dedicated just to research and academic subjects. Scholars from all around the country use this Public Ivy’s station to broadcast their work to the world.

5. New College of Florida

In its sunny climate, the New College of Florida seems a world away from the chilly New England schools of the Ivy League. But this new Public Ivy has a lot in common with its counterparts to the north.

Founded in 1960, the New College focuses on academics and independent research. Without graduate students, professors focus only on undergrads. No grades here – instead, professors give written reports on student progress.

If you’re considering the Ivy League, think about these Public Ivies. You might discover a school that gives you the academics, campus life and traditions you want – at a much nicer price.

US News and World Report’s college rankings try to determine the top colleges in the country every year. This year’s rankings place Harvard and Princeton at the top of the list of national universities.

But remember: When viewing any list of college rankings, no school is #1 for everyone! The US News and World Report college rankings prioritize schools with a big reputation and high-scoring students, but they leave out the strengths of specific majors, college social activities, and many other things that will determine the kind of school that’s right for you.

To find colleges that have exactly what you’re looking for, you’ll have to do a little more research than looking at rankings. Go on a school’s website, talk to a college counselor, or go on a college visit to see it for yourself!

The US News and World Report Top 25 Colleges

What national universities made the grade? Check out the top 25 colleges according to the US News and World Report rankings. Schools with the same number indicates there was a tie among multiple schools.

1. Harvard University
1. Princeton University
3. Yale University
4. California Institute of Technology
4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
4. Stanford University
4. University of Pennsylvania
8. Columbia University
8. University of Chicago
10. Duke University
11. Dartmouth College
12. Northwestern University
12. Washington University in St. Louis
14. Johns Hopkins University
15. Brown University
16. Cornell University
17. Emory University
17. Rice University
17. Vanderbilt University
20. University of Notre Dame
21. University of California – Berkeley
22. Carnegie Mellon University
23. Georgetown University
24. University of California – Los Angeles
24. University of Virginia

How Colleges Are Ranked

How does the US News and World Report come up with these college rankings?

The rankings are determined by a lot of different factors, but one of the main contributions to the college rankings is the opinions of high-ranking officials at peer colleges, like university presidents and deans of admissions.

Other important factors in the college rankings include graduation rate, information about admitted students (like their average test scores and high school class rank) and faculty information (like the average salary of professors and class size). A college’s financial resources and alumni donation rate also are  considered in the college rankings.

One of the new features of the 2010 US News and World Report college rankings is the inclusion of both the SAT and the ACT scores of admitted students in the data. In previous years, US News and World Report  considered only the test at each school that the majority of students submitted. The inclusion of both scores indicates that more students are using the ACT than ever before, so consider both options when picking the test that best highlights your skills.

The numbers vary widely, however, depending on your occupation and your college major.

Many of the highest starting salaries go to college graduates in engineering and computer science-related fields, the NACE Summer 2009 report states. For example, chemical engineering graduates saw their average salary offer increase to $64,902, and computer science graduates received an average salary offer of $61,407.

Those numbers might be enough to make the English and psychology majors among us weep. The average salaries of liberal arts graduates are thousands of dollars less, at $36,175.

One other interesting note from NACE: Many 2009 college graduates continue to look for jobs, but the starting salaries for those who have been offered one are similar to those from last year. So remain optimistic, recent college graduates! Maybe there really is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Average Starting Salaries for New College Graduates

Obviously, salary alone should never be the sole determining factor on what career you choose or what job you take after graduation. Your happiness matters much more — as anyone who has taken a high-paying-but-unfulfilling job can attest to.

But knowing the average college graduate salaries for entry-level jobs in your field can tell you what to expect during your job hunt– and when to start negotiating with your new employer.