Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (RHIT)

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, a celebrated STEM school in Indiana, "does a great job of developing well-rounded engineers." One senior explains that "we truly not only build strong foundations of knowledge as students but are great problem solvers and don't shy away from challenges." Students rave about getting to put principles immediately into practice, given that "nearly every class has a lab associated with it, usually built into the class. From the minute students walk through the door they are already doing labs and getting to use equipment." Students also list a ton of beloved academic projects, like a "biology lab where we got to find our own sample and then do tests to find antibodyproducing bacteria and identify it," an in-class competition where they programmed robots to "autonomously navigate a maze," and building the "capstone design projects for seniors."

Students commend the school's flexibility when it comes to switching or doubling STEM majors and applaud the support systems: "They have tutors who are in the basement study rooms of the biggest sophomore dorm every night until about 2 a.m.!" Students also enjoy that "career services" at Rose are "a powerhouse." The overall sense is that "students have a chance to participate in anything that they are interested in" and "the sheer amount of extracurriculars and elective classes in anything from neuroprosthetics to building race cars" backs that up.

The sense of "closeness and trustworthiness" at Rose comes from everyone's passion for STEM: "Since we only have STEM majors, you always have something in common." Students are "highly focused, taking challenging courses," and "driven to make a mark in [their] industry." Within those shared areas, Rose students also celebrate their differences. "I would describe my peers as very unique as most people I meet come from different places and backgrounds," explains one junior. The school's collaborative spirit helps students to observe: "that people are conversational and love to bring others into study groups." Many students point out the gender imbalance at Rose, as the student population is roughly 75% male and 25% female. However, many women find community through organizations such as the Society of Women Engineers, the Association of Women in Mathematics, Women of Like Fields Passionate About Computing, sororities, and women's sports. Overall, this "dynamic and bustling community," makes for "a warm and welcoming home, and while some may underestimate our small size, there's always something new and exciting going on."rose-hUlmAn institUte of technology THE PRINCETON REVIEW SAYS

Many students share that "we fill our days with studying and homework," yet "the culture on campus is very active, with residence halls and floors hosting movie nights or activities." Those who participate in Greek life say they "love the atmosphere" it offers: "It's a great support system, both socially and academically." Other favorite extracurriculars at Rose include intramural sports, participating in one of the many clubs on campus-drama, student leadership, and pre-professional organizations are popular-and gaming. One third-year student loves being able to switch between "intellectual conversations" and talking about "a new game mechanic in Call of Duty or a Minecraft update."

Attendees note that they felt "immediately welcomed into the community," which might have something to do with the structure of its collaboratively minded residential halls (and the assistants and advisors there to provide support): "Every night my floor will be doing something together...and I can count on our open door policy to collaborate on some homework or have a new conversation at nearly any time of day."

Rose-Hulman is one of the top undergraduate engineering schools in the country, and “the job placement rate and starting salary are amazing.” According to the school’s website, the rate of job placement is an astounding 98 percent! Students enter the workforce prepared because the academics are strong and “the opportunities for gaining experience in your field of study are endless.” On campus, students can intern at Rose-Hulman Ventures and apply engineering skills to real-world problems. Career Services features numerous companies at three annual career fairs for jobs, co-ops, and internships. The department also sets up mock interviews, reviews résumés, and even helps students field official job offers for a smooth transition to the workforce. Jobs and networking events are also available on the Handshake platform. Graduates who visited PayScale.com reported a median starting salary of $88,100, and 51 percent felt their job had a meaningful impact on the world.