When considering prospective universities, testimonials from fellow students can bear a significant weight on your final decision. After all, who better to evaluate an institution’s teaching, social life and amenities than the students who are experiencing it first hand?
This is why, in the WSJ/THE US College Rankings 2020 student survey, we asked students: “If a friend or family member were considering going to university, based on your experience, how likely or unlikely are you to recommend your college or university to them?” Students gave their colleges a score between 0 and 10, with 0 being “not at all likely” and 10 being “extremely likely”.
We analysed the answers to this question, looking at the universities that had the highest average scores to determine which institutions were the most likely to be recommended by students across the United States.
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Top 5 most-recommended universities
1. Samford University
Samford University is a private Christian university in Homewood, Alabama.
Students from 44 states and 30 different countries attend Samford University, with 66 per cent of the undergraduate student body coming from outside the state of Alabama.
Having been founded in 1841, it is one of the oldest higher education institutions in the United States.
The university hosts a weekend called Connections specifically for incoming students. A team of 100 returning students guide new students through the weekend, which encompasses activities on and off campus, including dances and meals in local restaurants.
2. James Madison University
James Madison University is a public research university in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
The institution has 35 halls of residence, and several of those provide services other than just accommodation. For example, Chandler Hall offers a basement dining facility and a computer lab.
There are more than 350 clubs and organisations for students to choose from, such as the Student Government Association, the speech team, a variety of sports teams and the student-run newspaper, The Breeze.
The university aims to be a national model for student engagement in three separate strands: engaged learning, community engagement and civic engagement.
3. University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame is a private Catholic research university in Notre Dame, Indiana.
There are more than 400 student clubs at the university, and they span many different areas of interest and backgrounds including diverse faith practices, sports clubs, academic debate, foreign affairs and much more.
There are also nine student-run media outlets, among them three newspapers, a radio and television station as well as several magazines and journals.
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=4. University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor is a Christian co-educational university located in Belton in the state of Texas.
There are a number of student activities that take place throughout the school year, such as the Crusader Knights and the Easter Pageant. The university also encourages students to submit their ideas for future student-led activities.
There are also a number of fitness classes and sports leagues that students can get involved with.
=4. University of Wisconsin-River Falls
The University of Wisconsin-River Falls is a public liberal arts university located in River Falls, Wisconsin.
The university created the St Croix Institute for Sustainable Community Development in 2011, which aims to encourage the development of sustainable community development principles.
There are a number of student events that are organised throughout the year, among them the 48-hour film fest, the RADD Jazz series, a summer concert series and many smaller daytime and weekend programmes.
Top 20 most-recommended universities in the United States
Click each institution to view its full World University Rankings 2020 profile
| Most-Recommended Rank 2020 | WSJ/THE US College Rank 2020 | University | City | State |
| 1 | =170 | Samford University | Birmingham | Alabama |
| 2 | =279 | James Madison University | Harrisonburg | Virginia |
| 3 | 32 | University of Notre Dame | Notre Dame | Indiana |
| =4 | >600 | University of Mary Hardin-Baylor | Belton | Texas |
| =4 | >600 | University of Wisconsin-River Falls | River Falls | Wisconsin |
| =6 | 16 | Rice University | Houston | Texas |
| =6 | =7 | Stanford University | Stanford | California |
| 8 | 2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge | Massachusetts |
| =9 | =105 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | Blacksburg | Virginia |
| =9 | 3 | Yale University | New Haven | Connecticut |
| 11 | 501-600 | Biola University | La Mirada | California |
| =12 | 401-500 | Cedarville University | Cedarville | Ohio |
| =12 | 401-500 | Utah State University | Logan | Utah |
| 14 | =199 | Fairfield University | Fairfield | Connecticut |
| 15 | >600 | University of Southern Indiana | Evansville | Indiana |
| 16 | 1 | Harvard University | Cambridge | Massachusetts |
| 17 | =107 | University of Virginia (Main campus) | Chrolttesville | Virginia |
| =18 | =93 | Skidmore College | Saratoga Springs | New York |
| =18 | 147 | University of Georgia | Athens | Georgia |
| 20 | 43 | Wesleyan University | Middletown | Connecticut |
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