Decoding the Big 10 List

I keep hearing about the 'Big Ten' universities. I know it's related to athletic conferences, but do they have academic significance as well? Would appreciate if someone could break down the Big Ten list for me.

Absolutely, happy to provide some clarity! The Big Ten is indeed an athletic conference, but the member institutions are also renowned for their academic strength. The conference comprises 14 institutions spread across the Midwest and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, which are:

1. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

2. University of Iowa

3. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

4. Michigan State University

5. University of Minnesota Twin Cities

6. Northwestern University

7. Purdue University

8. Indiana University Bloomington

9. University of Wisconsin–Madison

10. Pennsylvania State University

11. Ohio State University

12. University of Nebraska–Lincoln

13. University of Maryland, College Park

14. Rutgers University

On the academic side, these schools are public (with the only private institution being Northwestern) and generally carry robust research portfolios across various disciplines. They are members of the Association of American Universities (apart from Nebraska-Lincoln) and considered top-tier research universities in the United States.

For example, Michigan-Ann Arbor stands out for its strong engineering and business programs, and Northwestern is known for top-rated arts and sciences programs as well as its acclaimed journalism and theater programs.

So, while the Big Ten is often associated with athletics, the academic strengths of its member schools are equally notable. Students often benefit from the balance of having spirited school pride (stoked by the athletic competitions) along with serious academic pursuits, which offer a well-rounded college experience. For this reason, the Big Ten schools are popular choices among many students.