Top 10 Universities in the the U.S.

By Karin Lehnardt, Senior Writer

Published July 12, 2019

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Established: 1861
Motto: “Mind and Hand”
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MIT was established two days before the beginning of the U.S. Civil War (peterspiro / Getty Images)

Stanford University
Stanford, California
Established: 1891
Motto: Die Luft der Freiheit Weht (The Wind of Freedom Blows)
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The book and movie Legally Blonde is largely based on the author's experience at Stanford University

Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Established: 1636
Motto: Veritas (Truth)
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Harvard is older than calculus

California Institute of Technology (CalTech)
Pasadena, California
Established: 1891
Motto: "The Truth Shall Make You Free"
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The mascot of Cal Tech is a beaver, a homage to one of nature's best engineers

University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Established: 1890
Motto: Crescat scientia; vita excolatur (Let Knowledge Grow from More to More and So Be Human Life Enriched)
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Mansueto Library not only has the capacity to house 3.5 million volumes, it also inspired the home of the Erudite branch in the movie Divergent.

Princeton University
Princeton, New Jersey
Established: 1746
Motto: Dei Sub Numine Viget (Under God's Power She Flourishes)
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Princeton University was the first to use the word "campus" (Juanmonino / Getty Images)

Cornell University
Ithaca, New York
Established: 1865
Motto: "I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study." —Ezra Cornell
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