Top 10 Most Innovative National Universities
Schools That Are Ahead of the Curve
Colleges and universities regularly embark on new initiatives that ensure students have the best options for learning. But some schools are more forward-thinking than others when it comes to making changes.
Here are the 10 National Universities that were deemed the Most Innovative Schools in a survey of college officials, along with examples of the kinds of efforts that may be helping them to stand out.
8 (tie). Drexel University (PA)
Number of undergraduate students: 14,503
National Universities rank: 99 (tie)
Innovative achievement: Engineers from Drexel recently helped launch LiveNote, an app that provides historical and musical data for concert-goers at a show. The school also has a program that explores the technology behind digital music.
More on Drexel University.
8 (tie). Harvard University (MA)
Number of undergraduate students: 6,694
National Universities rank: 2
Innovative achievement: Researchers at Harvard collaborated with Princeton University for a new study on cellphone data, which proved the information could be used to effectively track the transmission of infectious disease.
More on Harvard University.
8 (tie). University of Michigan--Ann Arbor
Number of undergraduate students: 28,395
National Universities rank: 29
Innovative achievement: Michigan houses a Mobility Transformation Center, which is developing technology that will allow cars to talk to each other and improve safety on the road.
More on the University of Michigan--Ann Arbor.
7. Duke University (NC)
Number of undergraduate students: 6,626
National Universities rank: 8
Innovative achievement: Duke professor Zackary Johnson received a grant in August from the U.S. Department of Energy to establish a consortium for the study of algae. Johnson will research topics such as how to drive down the cost of oil extracted from this plant.
More on Duke University.
6. Northeastern University (MA)
Number of undergraduate students: 13,510
National Universities rank: 47 (tie)
Innovative achievement: Northeastern signed an agreement with the U.S. Army Research Laboratory in September to conduct national security research. The university will receive up to $20.4 million over the next three years for the research projects.
More on Northeastern University.
5. Georgia State University
Number of undergraduate students: 25,315
National Universities rank: RNP
Innovative achievement: Georgia State University, in collaboration with partner institutions, introduced a new survey in August that will enable colleges and universities to better follow the prevalence of sexual assault on campus.
More on Georgia State University.
4. University of Maryland--Baltimore County
Number of undergraduate students: 11,379
National Universities rank: 156 (tie)
Innovative achievement: UMBC is building a virtual reality system, which will enable new research in biology, math, engineering, visual arts and digital humanities, among other subjects.
More on University of Maryland--Baltimore County.
3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Number of undergraduate students: 4,512
National Universities rank: 7
Innovative achievement: Researchers from the school's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory announced in August that they'd found a way to make a more user-friendly, reliable 3-D printer that can print with 10 different materials at once.
More on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
2. Stanford University
Number of undergraduate students: 7,019
National Universities rank: 4 (tie)
Innovative achievement: At Stanford's Product Realization Lab, students create objects for everyday use as well as scientific advancement, designing chairs, wind turbine masts and more.
More on Stanford University.
1. Arizona State University--Tempe
Number of undergraduate students: 39,968
National Universities rank: 129 (tie)
Innovative achievement: Undergraduates research how refugee camps, military camps and other types of neighborhoods form; work with the National Science Foundation to study domestic violence; and participate in other research projects that affect daily life.
More on Arizona State University--Tempe.
More About Innovative Schools
Find out about other National Universities that are also starting new research initiatives and advancing their curriculums and get our complete rankings of the 2016 Best Colleges.
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Delece Smith-Barrow is an education reporter at U.S. News, covering graduate schools. You can follow her on Twitter or email her at dsmithbarrow@usnews.com.
