Brandeis University (Brandeis)

At Brandeis, learning goes beyond the classroom. Our liberal arts education has always been defined by curiosity, rigor and a commitment to social justice and inclusivity. Today, it's also shaped by real-world experience and career readiness for the digital age. Through the Brandeis Plan to Reinvent the Liberal Arts, you'll pair big ideas with hands-on learning, building career-ready credentials and sought-after skills. From your first semester, you'll work with both an academic and a career advisor to chart your path. Along your academic journey, you'll earn microcredentials that highlight your achievements — creating a verified second transcript of your strengths alongside your academic transcript. This proof of your skills and leadership will show future employers or graduate schools that you have what it takes to succeed. At Brandeis, you don't just earn a college degree. You graduate with proof of what you know, what you can do, and the difference you're ready to make.

Brandeis has more than 200 student-run clubs and organizations, including service organizations, cultural awareness groups, performing groups, spiritual and religious groups, sports and games clubs, student leadership and activism groups, student publications, a radio station (WBRS) and an active Hillel. As a member of the University Athletic Association, Brandeis also fields 19 Division III varsity athletic programs.

Brandeis has more than 200 student-run clubs and organizations, including service organizations, cultural awareness groups, performing groups, spiritual and religious groups, sports and games clubs, student leadership and activism groups, student publications, a radio station (WBRS) and an active Hillel. As a member of the University Athletic Association, Brandeis also fields 19 Division III varsity athletic programs.

It's safe to say that Brandeis students really care for their peers. After all, they rush to describe them as "intelligent, driven, [and] kind-hearted." They also seem to maintain "a diverse range of interests (both academic and extracurricular) and are extremely passionate about everything they are involved in." Moreover, undergrads readily admit that they "do have the tendency to be a little more on the introverted and nerdy side." And they truly love that their classmates are often "quirky and a little weird in the best way possible." As one student explains, "There is no normal Brandeis. I love that I can wear whatever I want because I know there's nowhere where it will be a problem that I don't fit in or feel judged. Everyone's attitude is kind of 'do whatever you want to/need to do.'" Given that openness, it's not too surprising to learn that Brandeis students also report that their classmates are quite "friendly." Indeed, a student reports, "Everyone here is very welcoming and supportive and they push me to try a bit harder every day, while offering support whenever it is needed without even having to be asked to do so."

At Brandeis, academics often take top priority. And first-year students quickly discover that "on weeknights the library is the most social spot on campus." But fear not; undergrads here still manage to find plenty of time to step away from the books. In fact, we're told that "Brandeis thrives on its campus club and student activities culture," which makes sense given that there are over 200 clubs on campus to join. Many students can be found participating "in community service clubs, cultural clubs, electronics clubs, and religious organizations, do research in labs, perform in musicals and plays, participate in sport events, and play music in ensembles." Undergrads also simply "enjoy the green spaces on campus and have fun connecting [there] with other students." Once the weekend rolls around, "there are always shows going on, whether it's theatre, a cappella, or improv." Additionally, there tend to be "sports events and guest lecturers." Undergrads also frequently attend "Greek life events off campus." However, those gatherings are "not sanctioned by the university." Lastly, students love the school's "[close] proximity" to Cambridge and Boston. And since Brandeis has a commuter rail stop on campus and runs a free shuttle on weekends, both cities are wholly "accessible" and provide a great respite from campus life.

Hiatt Career Center at Brandeis helps undergraduate students and alumni implement career skills and strategies to develop and harness the adaptability, creativity, entrepreneurship, and resiliency needed to succeed in an ever-changing professional world. The Career Center works to create an ecosystem of partnerships and collaboration across faculty, alumni, and employers, allowing students to form relationships at all stages of their career education. This is made even easier via the online Rise Together Mentor platform, which is dedicated solely to connecting Brandeis students and alumni for advising and networking purposes. The center also offers position postings, industry meetups, job treks, company information sessions, discovery tools, on-campus interviews, and career fairs, and stresses the importance of experiential learning and adaptability of skills in the modern world. Brandeis is generous with funding for internship experiences; for example, the World of Work Fellowship program awards approximately $200,000 annually to undergrads who pursue summer internships with organizations unable to provide a salary. Brandeis alumni who visited PayScale.com reported a median starting salary of $70,000 with a median mid-career salary of $148,900, and 46 percent say their jobs give them a high level of meaning.