A school's location is a factor many students weigh heavily when choosing where to apply. Some prefer bustling international metropolises, while others lean toward historic, tranquil small towns. Whether driven by rankings or cost of living, everyone has different location considerations. Ultimately, the best choice is the one that fits your personal situation, taking into account educational environment, major strengths, job opportunities, and more.
The U.S. Census Bureau divides the United States into nine major regions, each with its own character. Let's explore what each region offers—there's bound to be one that suits you.
New England Region
▌Educational Environment
Widely recognized as having the best educational environment in the U.S., home to four of the Ivy League schools, the world-renowned MIT, and two of the best liberal arts colleges.
Notable Universities: Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Brown University, Yale University, etc.
▌Advantageous Majors
Overall education quality is very high, with strengths in most fields, especially foundational sciences like math, physics, and chemistry; bolstered by MIT, it's a top choice for engineering applicants.
▌Job Opportunities
With the growth of microelectronics, education, high-tech, and other sectors, the region's economy has rebounded strongly. There is huge demand for biology majors thanks to numerous biotech companies and research institutes. Chemistry majors can pursue roles as research technicians, engineers, teachers, etc. Math majors can become business consultants, work in finance, securities, and more.
In short, graduates can find work in almost any industry; diverse job demands are met here.
Mid-Atlantic Region
▌Educational Environment
A top-tier academic scene with renowned scholars. Also home to four Ivy League schools. Additionally, prestigious private universities like University of Rochester, Carnegie Mellon University, and New York University, as well as top public universities such as Rutgers University and Penn State University.
Notable Universities: Princeton University, Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, Cornell University, etc.
▌Advantageous Majors
New York: finance, media; New Jersey: biochemistry, pharmaceuticals; Pennsylvania: computer science, AI, etc.
▌Job Opportunities
Most heavy industry has relocated, replaced by pharmaceuticals, communications, and service sectors, offering numerous jobs for pharmacology, medicine, business, and related majors.
Around half of graduates become computer engineers or IT programmers; the region's demand for computer and electronic engineering is arguably the highest in the nation.
Central Region (Northeast)
▌Educational Environment
The Great Lakes area, featuring the top-10 University of Chicago. Beautiful, historic, and with strong educational resources across the board.
Notable Universities: University of Chicago, Northwestern University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Purdue University, etc.
▌Advantageous Majors
Life sciences, information technology, manufacturing, etc. In Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois, business administration is the most popular major.
▌Job Opportunities
Chicago is a U.S. commercial and financial hub, with huge demand for business management graduates. Graduates can work in accounting, sales, and other roles in companies or government. Over 70% of mechanical and engineering graduates enter industry as managers, industrial engineers, and the like, typically earning high salaries. Journalism and communication have decent overall demand, though most graduates work in government or political groups rather than media.
Central Region (Northwest)
▌Educational Environment
Many international students, e.g., University of Missouri-Columbia, Washington University, University of Central Missouri. Missouri has the highest proportion of Chinese students among international students (30.0%), ranking as the 12th most popular state for Chinese students.
Notable Universities: University of Iowa, University of Missouri, Washington University in St. Louis, etc.
▌Advantageous Majors
Minnesota: finance, insurance, real estate
Iowa: advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, green energy
Missouri: new energy, automotive, information technology
Kansas: industrial manufacturing, electronic engineering
▌Job Opportunities
Finance graduates often work in corporate finance or government financial departments; biotechnology has strong demand; electronic engineering is the second most in-demand engineering field, with 60% of graduates becoming electrical/electronic or computer engineers.
South Atlantic Region
▌Educational Environment
Hosts renowned private universities and some of the best public universities. Large research-oriented public universities churn out tens of thousands of excellent graduates each year.
Notable Universities: Johns Hopkins University, University of Virginia, Emory University, etc.
▌Advantageous Majors
Business administration, political science & government, chemical engineering, international relations, environmental science, etc.
▌Job Opportunities
Environmental science covers broad subjects, leading to roles like environmental consultants or resource managers. Petroleum engineering job market has been impacted by reduced domestic drilling, but the relatively small number of graduates eases competition. Aerospace involves equipment development and testing. Chemical engineering is the third most in-demand engineering field nationwide and the highest-paying among engineering disciplines.
Central Region (Southeast)
▌Educational Environment
Educational resources are concentrated in Tennessee and Alabama.
Notable Universities: Vanderbilt University, University of Tennessee, Auburn University, etc.
▌Advantageous Majors
Transportation, electronics, chemical engineering, computer science, mechanical engineering, agriculture, etc.
▌Job Opportunities
Over 70% of mechanical engineering graduates enter industry with high average salaries; computer systems have good prospects; electronic engineering demand is strong.
Central Region (Southwest)
▌Educational Environment
The five schools with the most international students are: University of Texas at Dallas, Texas A&M University, University of Texas at Austin, Houston Community College, and University of Houston.
▌Advantageous Majors
Energy, chemical engineering, petrochemicals, agriculture, computer science, aerospace, biomedical sciences, etc. Humanities are not strong, but engineering graduates are highly sought after.
▌Job Opportunities
Chemical engineering demand is high; aerospace demand is moderate but salaries far exceed other engineering fields; employment for international students may be restricted.
Mountain Region
▌Educational Environment
Sandwiched between Texas and Arizona, Colorado has a great engineering vibe.
Notable Universities: Arizona State University, University of Arizona, University of Denver, etc.
▌Advantageous Majors
Architecture, manufacturing, business, logistics, computer science, etc.
▌Job Opportunities
Architecture is often a separate school outside engineering, with high admission requirements. Starting salaries are low but rise quickly. Computer science graduates are in high demand; about half become computer engineers.
Pacific Region
▌Educational Environment
Rich academic atmosphere, home to some of the world's most influential public universities, hailed as "the best public universities in the world" and "models of public higher education."
Notable Universities: University of California system, Stanford University, University of Southern California, etc.
▌Advantageous Majors
California: electronics, software, computer science; Washington state: manufacturing, international trade; California: oceanography, forestry, etc.
▌Job Opportunities
Pre-medical graduates in Washington and California earn higher salaries; Oregon has strong demand for electrical engineering; petroleum engineering competition in Alaska is easing.
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