USU.EDU
Utah State University offers the small-school feel of a beautiful campus with the breadth of opportunities of a large university.
Founded in 1888, Utah State University (USU) has advanced its reputation from a small-town college to a leading research university. Located in the northern mountains of Logan, Utah, USU’s main campus is situated roughly 80 miles northeast of Salt Lake City. It sits near two mountain ranges and is just a half-day’s drive from six national parks, including Yellowstone and Arches. In addition to the Logan campus, there are eight other campuses and 23 education centers across the state. The settings provide a small-school feel, but with the abundance of opportunities offered by a large university system.
For Indigenous students especially, USU extends solid academic and cultural support. The MESAS (Mentoring and Extending Student Academic Success) program provides academic assistance and cultural programming for all Native students, well beyond the program’s original goal of encouraging Indigenous students to pursue advanced STEM degrees. The growing MESAS program held its first Indigenous Knowledge Symposium last spring. Another exciting development is the construction on the Blanding campus of a traditional Navajo Hogan, which will be used for classes, meetings, and gatherings. At Blanding, 68 percent of the student body is Indigenous and 90 percent identify as Navajo.
USU has been recognized for its academic programs, faculty, and students, as well as its attractive campus. In 2020, it was ranked as the No. 2 public university in the nation by Washington Monthly’s “2020 National Universities Rankings.” Also that year, U.S. News & World Report listed USU as Utah’s No. 1 online university and ranked it 23rd for online bachelor’s programs, 6th in graduate education, and 18th in online bachelor’s for military veterans. What’s more, USU was named the most beautiful college in Utah by both TIME magazine and Travel + Leisure in 2017 and 2019, respectively.
With nearly 25,000 undergraduate students and an additional 5,500 students pursuing advanced degrees, USU’s campus is bustling. In accordance with its mission, it fosters the principle that academics come first by cultivating diversity of thought and culture, and by serving the public through learning, discovery, and engagement. Diverse academics is part of that equation. USU offers 114 undergraduate degrees, 130 undergraduate minors, 90 master’s degrees, and 42 doctoral degrees, but the most popular programs are Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education; Economics; Psychology; Mechanical Engineering; Biology; Elementary Education, Human Movement Science; and Computer Science. A student-faculty ratio of 19.5 to one helps ensure students are receiving focused and personalized instruction.
USU fields 16 varsity teams, which compete in the NCAA Division 1-A, Mountain West Conference. Aside from athletics, there is ample opportunity to get involved on campus. With more than 200 student clubs and organizations, students are encouraged to try new things, meet new people, and make a difference in the community.
UALBERTA.CA
Committed to the success of its Indigenous population, the University of Alberta has staff dedicated to recruiting and supporting Native students.
If you’re looking for plenty of academic options on a bustling campus — actually, five campuses — take a look at the University of Alberta. This well-regarded research university is one of the top five in Canada and one of the top 150 in the world. Eighty percent of the diverse student body of 42,000, from over 150 countries, is made up of undergrads. They can take advantage of a wide choice of 200 program options, while graduate students have more than 500 programs, 250 specializations, and 300 research concentrations. What’s more, the school has more than 400 research and study exchange agreements with institutions around the world, opening the globe to UAlberta students.
But it’s not all work at UAlberta. On this campus students are serious about community service and about making friends. There are nearly 500 student organizations, representing just about every constituency and interest group you can think of, ready to invite you to get involved. And if you are interested in sports and athletics, or just getting in some serious gym time, they’ve got you covered too.
The main University of Alberta campus features some of the most advanced facilities in the world, with research opportunities to match. The university also offers a valuable chance to connect your class work to the real world through co-op and internship programs, such as the Science Internship Program and the Engineering Co-op Program.
“For Indigenous students, the university has a dedicated staff focused on recruiting and support.”
For Indigenous students, the university has a dedicated staff focused on recruiting and support. Indigenous students are eligible for special funding opportunities and many programs, such as the full-time, on-campus Transition Year Program for those looking for additional academic support coming out of high school.
Four of the five UAlberta campuses are located in Edmonton, a metropolitan center of one million surrounded by wilderness where you are likely to see bison, the Northern Lights, and people enjoying the outdoors. The city itself stretches along the picturesque valley of the North Saskatchewan River, bordered by the most expansive parkland in North America. You will not run out of hikes and walks. And you will have plenty of opportunities for your other favorite outdoor activities, year-round.
The city and environs are home to several Indigenous nations, who together make up the second-largest Indigenous population in Canada. Be prepared to feel at home in a city where talented Indigenous STEM professionals, artists, musicians, and chefs, among others, are eager to share their creative endeavors.
RUTGERS.EDU
With three campuses and more than 150 undergraduate programs, Rutgers offers students a wide range of options.
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, is a diverse public research university. The oldest and largest public university in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area, Rutgers is located in the New Jersey cities of New Brunswick, Camden, and Newark. With its diversity in both academic programs and campus sizes, students can find the fit that’s best for them.
The eighth-oldest university in the United States, Rutgers has established its place as a top research institution. With annual research and development expenditures totaling $736.8 million, and another $750.8 million in annual research grants and sponsored programs, the university brings more federal research dollars to New Jersey than all other colleges and universities combined. This is in keeping with its mission to conduct innovative research that contributes to the medical, environmental, social, and cultural well-being of the state, as well as supporting the economy and the state’s businesses and industries.
Rutgers’s long history in research and expansive academic offerings, combined with its cultural opportunities, diverse student body, and proximity to both New York City and Philadelphia, make it an appealing choice for students who are looking for a balanced college experience. Students can choose from more than 150 undergraduate programs and 400 graduate programs across the university’s 29 schools and colleges to find a rigorous and rewarding academic path that fits their interests and career goals.
There is also ample opportunity for students looking to continue their athletic pursuits or to show some school pride from the sidelines. The birthplace of college football, Rutgers–New Brunswick is part of the Big Ten athletic conference and competes at the NCAA Division I level in both men’s and women’s sports.
“Rutgers draws from the variety of perspectives and life experiences of its community.”
No matter what brings a student to Rutgers, the university is committed to delivering a positive experience. Recognized as one of the nation’s most diverse universities, Rutgers draws from the variety of perspectives and life experiences of its community. It strives to identify and address social, economic, and racial inequities through ongoing conversations with members of the university community.