Cool schools: the author of the best 345 colleges picks his top 20 underrated gems - The Princeton Review - Selecting A School

Careers and Colleges, Sept-Oct, 2003 by Robert Franek

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9. Hawaii Pacific University, Honolulu, HI

WWW.HPU.EDU COST: $10,368 R&B: $3,805 SIZE: 6,899

Some say "Aloha Spirit" is an attitude; others call it a way of life, but all agree that it is embodied by the friendliness that pervades HPU. This liberal arts school counts diversity as a key element of its undergrad experience. More than half of the students come from abroad, and more than half study business/marketing. A reasonable sticker price and paradise outside every door are just icing on the cake. As one student said: "... on weekends, there's always Waikiki"--nice, dude.

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10. Hood College, Frederick, MD

WWW.HOOD.EDU COST: $22,175 R&B $7,420 SIZE: 820

Located outside the Baltimore- Washington D.C. corridor, Hood is a college in transition. The school, which had an all-female resident population, recently began to offer on-campus housing to males. What hasn't changed is a racially diverse student body that feels secure, energized, and ready to work. The school honor code is a way of life. No profs are present during student exams EVER! Social sciences, history, education, and legal studies are among the top majors.

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11. New College of the University of South Florida, Sarasota, FL

WWW.NEWCOLLEGE.USF.EDU IN-STATE COST: $4,046 OUT OF STATE: $16,484 R&B: $5,660 SIZE: 650

One of the best deals in higher education can be found on the Gulf of Mexico. Once a private school, but now the honors institution in the Florida state university system, this college stresses academic freedom with rigorous standards--all at state school prices. College life is very similar to a graduate-student experience. Students receive written evaluations instead of grades, and they pursue independent research and often publish in scholarly journals.

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12. Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA

WWW.ODU.EDU IN-STATE COST: $5,278 OUT OF STATE: $14,428 R&B: $5,636 SIZE: 13,578

As a large commuter school, Old Dominion draws heavily from the local community: students straight from high school learn side-by-side with working professionals and enlisted folks from Norfolk's military base. Students sure aren't complaining--they laud their classroom experience, citing both the accommodating faculty and the diverse student population. The top major is health sciences, and all students are guaranteed work or internship experience for credit.

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13. Prescott College, Prescott, AZ

WW.PRESCOTT.EDU COST: $21,050 R&B: $6,200 SIZE: 500

Independence and liberal thought are the hallmark of Prescott. The school's curriculum focuses on environmental studies, and both students and faculty view the college's natural setting as the best possible classroom. Students are given the option to not receive grades for coursework. Faculty focuses on the relationships of students to the world around them. White Prescott might appear a bit crunchy, students say more layers are here than meet the eye, citing their commitment to openness and respect for differences.