ENFJs make up 2% of the population, and they’re among our very best, defined by their charisma, optimism, and extraordinary leadership skills. ENFJs are also selfless, sometimes to a fault, always searching for ways to put others before themselves. They have an uncanny ability to unite groups of people (sometimes from disparate factions) toward a common good and goal, which is in part premised upon their profound belief in the general goodwill of the public. They’re politicians (often presidents), service leaders, non-profit heads, teachers, and even CEO’s. If they’re idealism occasionally trips up ENFJs, so be it: this is who they are. They are passionate and enthusiastic about their causes, and they want the world to see why (and join them). Below, we’ve compiled the top 25 schools for ENFJ personalities who prize opportunities in leadership, service, and civic engagement.
Looking for advice on what type of school and major to choose? Check out our Interview Series. Are you an ENFJ? Check out our Best Career and College Advice for ENFJs from 3 Successful ENFJs.
Methodology:
Well, this shouldn’t come as much of a surprise: the United States Air Force Academy is an obvious fit for the ENFJ, a school that demands leadership, passion, optimism, and total selflessness. In fact, some of the typical ENFJ traits are embedded directly into the school’s core values, defined as “Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence in All We Do.” Located just north of Colorado Springs, Air Force’s total enrollment stands a hair below 4,000 students, with a tough-to-top 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio. There are 92 clubs and organizations on campus, including several designated for religious, minority, or cause-based groups. Among the most popular areas of study are Engineering, Business, Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary Studies, and Biological and Biomedical Sciences. For its commitment to the people at large, the Air Force Academy ranks as the top school for ENFJs.
Composite Score: 79
Yeshiva University, with a main campus in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, currently has 6,438 enrolled graduate and undergraduate students for a student-to-faculty ratio of 7:1. ENFJs will particularly enjoy Yeshiva’s emphasis on student-led organizations and governing bodies. (There are 85 total clubs and organizations on campus, 5 of which represent religious, minority, or cause-based groups.) Among the most influential groups on campus are the Yeshiva Student Union, the Stern College and Syms Student Councils, the student newspaper, “The Commentator,” and many more divided between the girls’ and boys’ schools. Created in 2009, the Tolerance Club is one of the newer organizations on campus, which should appeal to the ENFJ whose first instinct is to unite groups of disparate groups together. Some notable ENFJ-like Yeshiva alumni include former Governor of Vermont Howard Dean, former Speaker of the New York State Assembly Sheldon Silver, and diplomat Daniel C. Kurtzer.
Composite Score: 74
Holy Cross, located in Worcester, Massachusetts, is one of the oldest Catholic colleges in the United States. With an enrollment just below 3,000, the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10:1. The school’s Montserrat Program, previously known as the First Year Program, is nationally recognized for its unique, interdisciplinary curriculum, which is largely built by each individual student and fundamentally framed around Tolstoy’s famous inquiry, “How, then, shall we live?” Holy Cross describes the program’s chief initiative as building a gap between the academic and social aspects of students lives. For the average ENFJ, this kind of character-focused education is spot on. The Jesuit background also provides the school with a strong emphasis on social justice: the mission statement reads “What is our special responsibility to the world’s poor and powerless?” With 100 clubs and organizations, ENFJs have plenty of opportunities to lead the effort.
Composite Score: 72
Georgetown University, situated in the eponymous D.C. neighborhood, has a student body of around 18,000, which makes its admirable 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio all the more impressive. Unsurprisingly, Georgetown has some historic credentials as the oldest Catholic and Jesuit institution of higher education in the country. It also counts a number of highly influential alumni, many in the ENFJ vein, from U.S. President Bill Clinton, to U.S. Chief Justice Edward Douglass White, to U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia, and an endless list of other diplomats, dignitaries, and political figures. But Georgetown students don’t wait until they’ve graduated to start taking on leadership roles. In fact, among the 257 student organizations (including 32 special interest groups), Georgetown is home to the largest student-run business and largest student-run financial institution.
Composite Score: 71
Skidmore College, tucked away in Saratoga Springs, New York, has approximately 2,600 enrolled students and a student-to-faculty ratio of 8:1. Students take on many of the day-to-day activities at Skidmore, providing valuable leadership opportunities for ENFJs to explore. The Student Government Association (SGA) is the central organization on campus, in charge of the 110 other clubs and groups, 14 of which are focused on religious, minority, or cause-based interests. Other student-run groups include the student newspaper, SkidTV (the college’s official closed-circuit TV station), and WSPN, which the Princeton Review ranks as one of the best college radio stations in the U.S. Of the 60+ areas of student, the most popular are in the Visual and Performing Arts, Social Sciences, Psychology, Business, and English Literature.
Composite Score: 70
With its epicenter in Manhattan’s Washington Square, New York University’s student body is hair below 50,000, but still manages to maintain a student-to-faculty ratio of 10:1 – almost unheard of for a school of its size. Predictably, leadership opportunities abound for ENFJs here. There are – count them – 638 clubs and organizations on campus, 67 of which represent minority, religious, or cause-based groups. The Student Senators Council directs all of them, which also include political, cultural, artistic, and other clubs. ENFJs should also obviously take into account the city of New York itself, which provides a truly countless number of ways to engage in community issues. In terms of developing essential leadership skills, few cities, other than of course Washington, D.C., are more appropriate.
Composite Score: 70
Wheaton College, 25 miles west of Chicago, was founded by abolitionists in 1860. In other words, the ENFJ codes of tolerance and social justice has been ingrained in the school’s identity from its outset. (One of the school’s most prominent buildings, Blanchard Hall, was a stop on the Underground Railroad.) Little wonder, then, that the school was listed in a book titled Colleges That Change Lives. Among its influential, ENFJ-ish alumni include the Reverend Billy Graham, former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, United States Senator Dan Coats, United States Representative Jim McDermott, and many more. There are 92 clubs and organizations on campus, 17 of which are religious and 5 of which are minority organizations. Among the most popular areas of study are the Social Sciences, Business, the Visual and Performing Arts, English Literature, and Education.
Composite Score: 70
George Washington and Robert E. Lee were nothing if not charismatic leaders, so it’s little surprise that the school named after them (and which the latter served as President) shares those qualities. Situated in the hills of Lexington, VA, W&L has an undergraduate and graduate student body of around 2,200 students and a student-to-faculty ratio of 8:1. The school’s strict honor code, which is upheld and administered by a student-elected government, perhaps best encapsulates the ideals of the university. In total, there are 100 student clubs and organizations on campus (17 of which are for special interests), a large number for a liberal arts school of its size. The most popular areas of study include Business Administration and Management, Economics, Political Science and Government, Accounting, and History, among others. Some notable alumni that resemble ENFJ types are three United States Supreme Court Justices, 27 U.S. Senators, 67 U.S. Representatives, and 31 state governors.
Composite Score: 68
Vassar College, in the quaint, upstate town of Poughkeepsie, New York, has a student body of around 2,400 students and a student-to-faculty ratio of 8:1. The most prominent student organization on campus is the Vassar Student Association (VSA), which actually includes all enrolled students, and is led by the VSA Council, a legislative, elected body. In other words, by nature of being a Vassar student, you’re engaged with the college’s issues. There are more than 100 other student clubs and organizations on campus (19 special interest), which range from a cappella and comedy groups, to student newspapers, to activist organizations – all of which provide ENFJs opportunities to lead. Among the most popular areas of study include the Social Sciences, the Visual and Performing Arts, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Foreign Languages, and English Literature. Some notable alumni that resemble typical ENFJs include education and prison reform advocate Julia Tutwiler and politician and activist Frances Farenthold.
Composite Score: 67
Synonymous with New Haven, Connecticut, Yale University’s student body is approximately 12,300 and holds a student-to-faculty ratio of 6:1, nearly one of the lowest in the world. Yale practically shoots out ENFJ-like leaders – to wit, 5 U.S. Presidents, 19 U.S. Supreme Court Justices, and many foreign heads of state. (In addition to Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, and 52 Nobel Laureates.) There are 500 student-run organizations and groups, which include the Yale College Council, Yale Political Union, Yale International Relations Association, and many more that promote leadership skills. Among the most popular areas of study include Economics, Political Science and Government, Biology, History, and Psychology. Given its curricular emphases, student group infrastructure, and proven track record, it’s easy to see how Yale often operates as a training ground for ENFJs.
Composite Score: 67
Sarah Lawrence College is located 15 miles north of New York City, in Yonkers. Due in part to its proximity to New York, Sarah Lawrence is well-known as an activist school, with notable work accomplished before and during World War II, the McCarthy era, the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, and the Iraq War. At under 2,000 students, the student-to-faculty ratio is 10:1. Student organizations and clubs add up to over 80, several of which are concentrated on minority, religious, or cause-based groups. Among the most popular areas of study are Liberal Arts, the Sciences, and Humanities, but curricula are largely determined by each individual student in collaboration with a faculty advisor, or “don,” modeled after the Oxbridge tradition. Among some of the college’s notable alumni who exhibit ENFJ-type traits include Mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel, Republican Congresswoman Sue W. Kelly, and Sharon Hom, the Director of Human Rights in China.
Composite Score: 67
Northwestern University, located outside of Chicago in Evanston, Illinois, has about 20,300 enrolled students but maintains an impressive 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio. The Associated Student Government, the largest student-run organization on campus, consists of elected representatives. In total, Northwestern has 480 student clubs and organizations, including 50 devoted to minority, religious, and cause-based groups, providing ENFJ personalities with a wealth of opportunities to engage with their peers and earn leadership positions. Other active groups include the Northwestern Debate Society, winner of 15 National Debate Tournaments (more than any other in the country), and several service organizations. (One prominent non-profit, he World Health Imaging, Informatics and Telemedicine Alliance, began as a Northwestern student’s honors thesis.) Among the most popular areas of study include Economics, Journalism, Biology, Psychology, and Drama. The school has had numerous influential political alumni.
Composite Score: 66
The New School has a long history of activism and social justice efforts. (The school was originally named The New School for Social Research.) Perhaps most importantly, the university served as a refuge for academics and intellectuals escaping Nazi persecution in the 1930s and 40s. It has also started such eminent institutions as the World Policy Institute, the Vera List Center for Art and Politics, the India China Institute, the Observatory on Latin America, and the Center for New York City Affairs. In short, passionate, driven ENFJs should feel right at home. There are 65 student organizations and clubs on campus, 14 of which are for religious, minority, or cause-based groups. Among the most influential of these are University Student Senate (itself divided into several other representative bodies), the ReNew School, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), The Radical Student Union (RSU), and more. While these are obviously of a political bent, there are countless clubs for cultural and artistic interests, as well. Among the most popular areas of study are the Visual and Performing Arts, Social Sciences, Humanities, English Literature, and Psychology.
Composite Score: 66
Another self-evident choice for many ENFJs is the United States Naval Academy, located in Annapolis, Maryland, and consisting of just over 4,500 students, or “midshipmen,” for a student-to-faculty ratio of 8:1. The honor code is particularly unique and emblematic of the universities core values; if a midshipmen witnesses a peer violating the code, they are allowed to confront the offender without formally reporting it, which is believed to actually strengthen the code and hold each student personally accountable. There are 100 student organizations and clubs on campus, including 25 for special interest groups. Among the most popular areas of study are Oceanography, Political Science and Government, Economics, History, and Mechanical Engineering. For committed ENFJs, the service academies offer opportunities rarely found elsewhere.
Composite Score: 66
Hillsdale College, located in the small town of the same name in Michigan, has a student body of just 1,504 and a student-to-faculty ratio of 10:1. Its unique curriculum focuses on the pillars of Western thought, including a critical study of canonical works and the U.S. Constitution, which all students must complete. For ENFJs, this broad-based core curriculum can be a particularly effective introduction to the issues – political, philosophical, religious – that have challenged mankind throughout history. The school also invites leading intellectuals to speak on some of these questions through Hillsdale’s Center for Constructive Alternatives; past speakers have included Stephen Ambrose, Russell Kirk, Harvey Mansfield, Charles Murray, Ralph Nader, P.J. O’Rourke, Phyllis Schlafly, and Juan Williams. Further, Hillsdale encourages students to take internships in D.C. through its Allan P. Kirby, Jr. Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship, in partnership with the Heritage Foundation and the Federalist Society.
Composite Score: 65
Columbia University, in the Morningside Heights section of Manhattan, has a total enrollment of just under 25,000 (only about a 1/3 of which are undergraduates), with an exceptional student-to-faculty ratio of 6:1. One of the most politically influential university in the U.S. (and the world), Columbia alumni include 5 Founding Fathers, 9 Supreme Court Justices, and 29 heads of state, including 3 U.S. Presidents. The student body is well known for leading activist causes, including prominent 1968 Civil Rights and Vietnam War protests. The tradition of intellectual engagement continues today, with 580 student clubs and organizations, from numerous student newspapers to the Philolexian Society, the third oldest literary and debating club in the country. Perhaps most relevant to ENFJ types is the World Leaders Forum, which invites speakers from across the globe to discuss current events in government, religion, industry, finance, and academia. Past speakers have included Bill Clinton, Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan, the Dalai Lama, George Soros, and many more political and international figures.
Composite Score: 65
Located in North Philadelphia, Temple University is big at nearly 38,000 enrolled students but still maintains a manageable 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio. ENFJs will certainly enjoy engaging with a city as historic and vibrant as Philadelphia, with more than a few opportunities for political and social work. Temple itself has 336 student-run organizations and clubs, including 64 for religious, minority, or cause-based groups. Other popular organizations with leadership opportunities include the Main Campus Program Board (which plans and coordinates student events), Temple’s college radio station, an alternative weekly newspaper, and many others. The most popular areas of study are Business, Communication/Journalism, the Visual and Performing Arts, Education, and Psychology.
Composite Score: 65
The United States Military Academy, in West Point, New York, is another shoe-in on the ENFJ list, like every other service academy. Among its elite alumni include Ulysses Grant, Dwight Eisenhower, innumerable famous generals, and 76 Medal of Honor award winners. Still, West Point’s leaders have made their presence felt off the battlefield, too. CEO’s and founders of AOL, Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, and Electrolux all attended West Point – as have 18 NASA astronauts. The academy holds the fifth most Rhodes Scholars, seventh most Marshall Scholars, and fourth most Hertz fellows. All this is to say that ENFJs who prize “Duty, Honor, and Country” will find themselves at home here. With a total student enrollment of about 4,400 cadets, the student-to-faculty ratio is 7:1, and there are 88 student-run organizations on campus. The most popular areas of study are Engineering, Social Sciences, Foreign Languages, Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Engineering Technologies, and Engineering-Related Fields.
Composite Score: 64
Biola University, founded as the Bible Institute Of Los Angeles, has a total enrollment of approximately 6,400, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 16:1. As its original name implies, Biola’s commitment to social justice and service has its roots in a strong religious foundation. All undergrads must complete a minor in theological and Biblical studies, which consists of 30 units, regardless of their major. There are 60 student organizations and groups, 7 of which are religious, minority-oriented, or cause-based. The school also has numerous publications, which may attract literary ENFJs wanting to project their voice on a variety of topics, including philosophy, religion, culture, humor, politics, and more. The most popular areas of study are in Business, Visual and Performing Arts, Communication/Journalism/, Theology and Religious Vocations, and Psychology.
Composite Score: 64
Azusa Pacific University is located 20 miles north of Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley. With a student body just below 10,000, the student-to-faculty ratio stands at 12:1. As the second largest evangelical student body in the country, Azusa’s strong religious background is a major catalyst for its mission of service and social work. In 2010, it earned the Carnegie Foundation’s 2010 Community Engagement Classification. Its community service and mission outreach programs have been recognized across the country, including by Learn and Serve America – all something an ENFJ can appreciate. Still, APU’s students aren’t restricted to domestic issues: through its Focus International program, the school sends around 200 students to serve in 20 countries, including India, Kenya, and Thailand; and APU’s Center for Global Learning and Engagement provides opportunities in 40 countries worldwide, in England, China, Italy, Lithuania, and more. In total, there are 31 students organizations on campus. The most popular areas of study are in Business, Health Professions, the Visual and Performing Arts, Humanities, and Psychology.
Composite Score: 64
Boston University, along the historic city’s Charles River, has a total enrollment of 32,000 students (half undergraduate) and a student-to-faculty ratio of 13:1. Among its distinguished alumni include 7 Nobel Laureates, 23 Pulitzer-Prize winners, and MacArthur, Sloan, and Guggenheim Fellowship holders. In short, BU graduates smart, motivated, and transformative characters, something that should appeal to every ENFJ. There are nearly 500 student organizations and clubs, including 49 devoted to religious, minority, or cause-based groups. Of particulate note is the school’s community service program, which is almost entirely student-run, providing invaluable hands-on leadership experience. Each semester the Boston University Community Service Center runs 13 volunteer programs in addition to two popular one-week outreach programs. Some ENFJs may also note the school’s historic ROTC program, which dates back to 1919, and is one of only twenty-five schools that hosts Army, Navy, and Air Force programs.
Composite Score: 62
The University of Pennsylvania – with 20,000 total enrolled and a 6:1 student to faculty ratio – can certainly boast one factoid many schools can’t match (though some on our list, in fact, have…): its founder was among the Founders, Benjamin Franklin. Franklin envisioned a curriculum that stressed practical public service as much as the usual classical humanities. The legacy of that vision continues today. There are 350 student organizations and clubs on campus, 70 of which are for religious, minority, or cause-based groups. (In 2015, one of these groups – the Penn Newman Catholic Center – managed to to get a visit from Pope Francis for the World Meeting of Families.) Other groups include several student-lead publications, performing arts clubs, and the Philomathean Society, the oldest continuous literary society of its kind in the U.S. Still Benjamin Franklin isn’t the only notable figure from the school that ENFJs can admire: William Henry Harrison, Jon Huntsman, Noam Chomsky, 8 signers of the Declaration of Independence, and numerous other diplomats, dignitaries, and world leaders have passed through Penn.
Composite Score: 62
The University of Southern California in sun-kissed Los Angeles has a student body of about 42,000 (19,000 undergraduate) but maintains an impressive 9:1 student to faculty ratio. ENFJs won’t have to look far to see how USC alumni have shaped the world: 8 Rhodes Scholars, 3 MacArthur Fellows, 181 Fulbright Scholars, and the founders of Lucasfilm, Myspace, Salesforce.com, Intuit, Qualcomm, and Tinder all attended the university. With a whopping 850(!) student organizations and clubs – 200 of which are focused on religious, minority, or cause-based groups – ENFJs at USC certainly have more than enough opportunities to engage with their community. In particular, the Undergraduate Student Government oversees al student activities and is comprised of an executive leadership committee, an elected legislative branch, and a program board. The most popular areas of study at USC are in Business, the Social Sciences, the Visual and Performing Arts, Engineering, and Communications/Journalism.
Composite Score: 62
The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., has a total enrollment of about 6,700 students and a student-to-faculty ratio 7:1. It has hosted three Popes and the American Cardinals Dinner. There are 89 student clubs and organizations on campus, including 14 groups dedicated to religious, minority, or cause-based concerns. In particular, the university has a long history with Knights of Columbus, supporting religious, education, and community service initiatives. Other groups offer opportunities in music, drama, and campus ministry. In honor of the school’s 125th anniversary, CUA challenged its students, alumni, and faculty to complete 125,000 hours of community service, which was accomplished. The most popular areas of study are in Political Science and Government, Psychology, Nursing, Architecture, and History.
Composite Score: 61
The University of Denver has a student body of approximately 11,800 students (half undergrad) and a student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1. ENFJ-like alumni include a bevy of current and former U.S. Senators, Condoleezza Rice, and the current or former CEO’s of Emirates Airlines, Best Buy, Spyglass Entertainment, MGM Studios, Radio Shack, Pep Boys, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and many more. There are 144 student organizations and clubs, 47 of which are for religious, minority, or cause-based groups. Among the most popular areas of study are in Business, the Social Sciences, the Visual and Performing Arts, Communication/Journalism, and Psychology. ENFJs will likely enjoy the Denver area, which combines the resources of a large metropolitan city with a community-oriented foundation that promotes numerous opportunities throughout the region for leadership and service activities.
Composite Score: 60