America’s best colleges revealed – with popular East Coast school taking top spot for second year in a row

As the new academic year begins, a new study ranks U.S. colleges based on how financially successful their graduates are, with Ivy League schools taking the top spots.

The Wall Street Journal compared a wide range of schools—large and small, public and private, tech and arts—to determine which school offers the best college experience.

Rather than focusing on a college’s reputation or personal finances, the magazine assessed “the extent to which a school increases students’ chances of graduating and their future earnings, weighing these outcomes against student feedback about college life.”

These are the top 10 American universities with the most financially successful students:

1. Princeton University

This Ivy League university in New Jersey has taken the top spot for the second year in a row. With its incredible graduation rate and influential alumni network, Princeton has long been a favorite among prospective students.

Just a few months after arriving on campus, students can apply for a ‘Princeternship’, a short internship and work shadowing during their first winter break.

Rose Weathers, a sophomore who interned at WestBridge Capital, said, “I reached out to a number of former students in fields I was interested in, and almost everyone responded and agreed to meet with me.”

2. Babson College

Babson College, a well-known business school in Massachusetts, has risen to the number two spot on the rankings, largely due to the school’s emphasis on providing students with a hands-on college experience.

Required courses such as the fundamentals of management and entrepreneurship, in which students work in groups to set up a startup during the first two semesters of their studies with the help of a loan of up to $3,000 provided by the school, have proven to be hugely popular.

Ethan Ide, a junior at Babso, explained, “It’s not a simulation. You’re working with international suppliers, you have a website, and you’re selling to people all over the world. That hands-on experience from day one was really amazing.”

3. Stanford University

While not an Ivy League university, this 150-year-old institution has long been the most popular college for those seeking to study medicine, finance, business, or law.

In addition, Stanford doctoral students have been producing groundbreaking research for years, and the university is one of the most successful in raising funding for startups.

4. Yale University

This private Ivy League research university in Connecticut is best known for its programs in economics, political science, law, and biology. It is one of the third-oldest institutions of higher education in the U.S.

Yale University is also one of the world’s leading institutions for scientific research and has one of the nation’s top performing arts and literature programs, making it a favorite among students with a wide range of interests.

5. Claremont McKenna College

Founded in 1946 as a men’s college and becoming coeducational in 1976, Claremont McKenna is one of the nation’s leading private liberal arts colleges.

Although it is a collaboration between seven colleges, the college can boast the fact that it can offer almost all of its students a job.

According to his websiteMore than 90 percent of students complete an internship and almost half study off-campus during their four years.

6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MIT is one of the world’s leading universities in technology and has long been known as a cutting-edge research institution.

The renowned alumni and faculty members have also contributed significantly to students developing specific skills in their field and finding employment.

The university achieved an absolute maximum of 100 for its Salary Impact Score in the publication’s rankings.

7. Harvard University

Founded in 1636 as Harvard College, this private Ivy League research university is the oldest institution in the US.

The university is renowned for its programmes in engineering, political science, psychology, mathematics and economics and, with the help of its world-famous alumni, offers numerous opportunities for career development in the real world.

8. University of California, Berkeley

The UC Berkeley, California’s first agricultural university, is known for its unique offerings in many majors, including ecology, physics, sociology and statistics.

Berkeley has long been a center of liberal student activism, most notably the Free Speech Movement of 1964. The university promotes top-quality research and public service.

9. Georgia Institute of Technology, main campus

The Georgia Institute of Technology, a public research university, has established itself as one of the nation’s top engineering and computer schools.

The institute also offers excellent programs in business, design, liberal arts and sciences.

Ava Maalouf, who graduated from Georgia Tech earlier this year with a degree in chemical engineering, said she receives four or five internship offers each year at Georgia Tech. She recently had seven full-time positions to choose from.

10. Davidson College

Founded in 1837, Davidson prides itself on its personalized consulting and professionalization workshops, with an emphasis on developing technical and social skills.

This North Carolina college focuses more on academic potential and performance than on a student’s ability to pay tuition.