The Best Colleges/Universities that You May Not Know About

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The Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies - Chicago, IL

The Spertus Institute has degree programs in Jewish Studies, Professional Studies, and Non-Profit Management. This is a graduate program/degree only institution, with approx. 300 students. Founded in 1924 as Chicago's College for Jewish Studies, Spertus promotes Jewish learning initiatives and culture. Spertus has a large library and a museum in its building on Michigan Avenue. Promoting lifelong learning and distance learning, Spertus also preserves Judaic history, especially in the Chicago area Jewish community.

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EXCO - The Experimental College of the Twin Cities - St. Paul, MN

Started in 2006 as an experimental attempt at Macalester College (St. Paul, MN), EXCO was designed to be an alternative college experiment, similar to the experimental colleges of the 1960's (example: Franconia College, 1963-1978). The focus here was to provide equal financial aid for all rather than a system designed to give wealthy students an advantage. Yet another attempt to provide a University with utopian ideals, EXCO has focused on producing an all-volunteer institution, offering approx. 60-70 classes a semester. The emphasis at EXCO is the practice of co-learning, where learning is shared between all participants. EXCO offers programs that are dramatically different from the collegiate norm. This academic community remains intent on breaking down all barriers to a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, educationally and economically equal organization. EXCO is a modern continuation of the "Colleges Who Experiment" movement (see Colleges Without Walls).

Notes: see Eli Meyerhoff, Papers -Toward a University of the Commons- The Experimental College of the Twin Cities.