Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (RHIT)

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology delivers a top-notch STEM education that is driven by a “strong hands-on, project-based learning environment” and “dedicated professors who prioritize mentorship and student success.” Practical experience is a key component of the curriculum, and students “do interesting labs in most classes to support what we learn in lecture.” One elaborates: “For my concrete class, we got to actually tie and pour concrete for a beam. A month later, we got to test it in a barn to see at what force it cracks.” As a relatively small school, the “one-on-one connections you can build with the professors [are] a huge benefit,” and they “make themselves very available through office hours, drop-ins, and appointments.” There is a constant flow of information, and faculty members “have so much industry experience and share that knowledge at every opportunity…to make sure that we are set up the absolute best that we can be for our careers.” Students also note that most teachers are flexible in their styles, and “genuinely [take] feedback from students and [are] willing to adapt on the fly to each individual student.” The school also offers “extensive academic support and resources,” with one student suggesting that “Whether you struggle academically, personally, with health, or with something else, if you can ask, there are always resources available.” This “focus on the undergraduate experience along with a fantastic Career Services” yields “one of the most challenging and rewarding educational experiences.”

“Everyone here is an engineer, which allows for a very unique student body makeup,” and one that lends itself to “a collaborative focus with many group projects that require cooperation.” To put it another way, “If you love STEM, you will be in your happy place.” These “extremely hard-working, motivated, and caring” students are “technically-oriented with multitudes of close-knit circles usually bonded based on majors.” Between majors and the residence hall system, “there is a very strong community built up starting [the first year] and it carries throughout your whole time here.” Everyone is here “to get a top-tier STEM education and we are all in this together, so they are willing to help.” A student says, “I feel surrounded by ‘my people’ while at the same time standing out for my own unique solutions to problems.”

Rose-Hulman is a homework-intensive school, so much of campus life is built around having fun while working: “Being able to get your friends together and interact, have fun, [and] make jokes [is] a core part of the experience.” All first-years are required to live on campus, which makes for “a super close-knit community,” and events like “Greatest Floor and Hallympics” are common. As one student confidently puts it, “On our floors, I know almost everyone.” For a tech school, “the arts are VERY popular…and they provide an amazing outlet away from engineering and science.” Intramurals are also beloved: “It’s a big deal here and the different residence halls each have their own team.” Additionally, the “Student Activities and Student Affairs offices do a great job with planning fun events and social opportunities,” including comedy nights, bonfires, and dance lessons. Rose students “like to keep themselves busy, so almost everyone is in a sport or multiple clubs,” and there are more than 90 clubs, teams, and organizations to choose from. There is “always something happening on campus, as long as you read the bulletin boards and just show up.” As another student puts it, “The grind never stops, but it’s a part of what makes Rose so much fun and challenging!”

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.