A new ranking by The Princeton Review reveals the top U.S. colleges where students dedicate the most time to studying, and surprisingly, the number one spot isn’t held by Harvard or MIT. Instead, the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) leads the list.
In their survey of nearly 400 colleges, Princeton Review asked students how many hours they study outside of class. Caltech students reported the highest amount of study time, while nearby Harvey Mudd College took the second spot. Both schools emphasise STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education, which often requires extensive study and preparation.
Here are the top 10 colleges from the survey, including their tuition fees for the 2025-26 school year and the median earnings of students 10 years after starting college:
1. California Institute of Technology (Caltech) – Pasadena, CA
– Tuition: $65,622
– Median Earnings: $128,566
2. Harvey Mudd College – Claremont, CA
– Tuition: $72,699
– Median Earnings: $138,687
3. Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering – Needham, MA
– Tuition: $64,552
– Median Earnings: $129,455
4. Grinnell College – Grinnell, IA
– Tuition: $71,788
– Median Earnings: $62,830
5. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology – Terre Haute, IN
– Tuition: $56,910
– Median Earnings: $101,253
6. Gettysburg College – Gettysburg, PA
– Tuition: $68,970
– Median Earnings: $71,517
7. Centre College – Danville, KY
– Tuition: $54,890
– Median Earnings: $66,240
8. Lafayette College – Easton, PA
– Tuition: $66,496
– Median Earnings: $91,410
9. Princeton University – Princeton, NJ
– Tuition: $65,210
– Median Earnings: $110,066
10. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) – Cambridge, MA
– Tuition: $64,310
– Median Earnings: $143,372
Caltech is renowned for its rigorous science and technology programs, and it encourages collaborative problem-solving among its students. Notably, its alumni include pioneers such as astronaut Frank Borman and Intel co-founder Gordon Moore.
While STEM majors generally require more study time, averaging about 17.1 hours a week, students in humanities and social sciences study about 15.6 hours weekly. The overall average across all disciplines is about 15.8 hours.
This latest ranking highlights the exceptional hard work and dedication required of students at these institutions, particularly those pursuing STEM degrees.
