The ENTJ (Extroverted intuition, thinking, judging) personality is defined by extrovertive and introvertive intuition, and is often imagined as the “commander” personality type. They make up only 3% of the population, but their impact on society is felt throughout history as they are responsible for many businesses, companies, and institutions that shape our world. The ENTJ personality is bold and is characterized by a courage to follow their personal intuitions. To the ENTJ their dreams are clear as day and they know them intimately, and everything else is secondary to them, for better or worse. ENTJs also love challenges and employ their ruthless logical minds to achieve their high-set goals. They work well in teams with like minded goals and standards, but often have impatience towards weaker or lazier personality types.
The ENTJs make great entrepreneurs as they have a drive, determination, and vast willpower that make them forces of nature in business. And provided with the right environment to follow their inner voice and grow through proper challenges, they will likely become successful whether as a student or professional. In this article we explore 25 of the top college options for the ENTJ personality through use of a metric that establishes the conduciveness of the school itself, student body, and relevant opportunities to the ENTJ personality. You can find an explanation of the metrics used in this ranking below.
Looking for advice on what type of school and major to choose? Check out our Interview Series. Are you an ENTJ? Check out our Best Career and College Advice for ENTJs from 3 Successful ENTJs.
Methodology:
Established in 1887, Pomona College is a private liberal arts college in Claremont, California, which is located just 35 miles east of Los Angeles. With 91% of students graduating in the top 10% of their high school classes, the ENTJ personality will find a highly competitive and challenging environment among their peers. Also with opportunities and options designed specifically to suit the budding entrepreneur, ENTJs will be able to follow their creative and innovative intuitions. With 250 student clubs and organizations, ENTJs will be pleased to find a committed and active student body where they can hone their leadership abilities and start their own club or organization if they desire. These factors combined with Pomona’s promotion of academic rigor and commitment to developing leaders make it an excellent choice for students with the ENTJ personality.
Composite score: 99
Harvey Mudd College opened its doors in 1957, and today the college labors to uphold the standards and values of its namesake, Harvey Seeley Mudd, who was a leader, an entrepreneur, and an innovative engineer who chose to dedicate his legacy to furthering education in America, rather than seeking to simply amass his fortunes. Harvey Mudd would be proud to see the College earning a multitude of prestigious accolades, evidencing its commitment to delivering a quality education. U.S. News & World Report, PayScale, and Princeton Review have named Harvey Mudd College a best return for a student’s investment, a top college in the nation, a school with the best career placement, and numerous others titles that are extremely conducive to the ENTJ personality, including “Students Study the Most,” meaning ENTJ students will find that their classmates maintain a high level of drive and dedication.
Composite score: 97
Claremont McKenna College (CMC) boasts a dedication to its students creative thinking, innovation, and personal growth both in the academic and professional dimensions. With many of its faculty having impressive history with entrepreneurial pursuits and developments, students are encouraged to think outside of the box and to follow their dreams. ENTJ students will find both faculty and programs that encourage and foster their entrepreneurial spirit. This coupled with the highly competitive class, 78% of which graduated in the top 10% of their class, means that CMC offers ENTJ students the perfect environment in which to both be empowered and challenged–two qualifications that are crucial to the ENTJ’s growth and performance. ENTJs will also be pleased to see extremely active classmates where there are 238 organizations and clubs in a student body of just 1,324, indicating highly impressive participation rates.
Composite score: 96
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is an internationally recognized name in both education and technology development. With a rich history in creativeness and entrepreneurism, MIT held its first classes over 150 years ago after its founders had dedicated their lives to creating a hub for industrial sciences. Today MIT is thriving and has validated the founders’ dedication through acting as an international hub for technology, education, and industrial sciences. With 97% of students graduating in the top 10% of their high school classes, 450 student clubs and organizations, and a highly challenging curriculum, ENTJ students will find themselves amidst the constructive competition and engaging environments they require to thrive as students. With enormous resources for technology development and research at its disposal, at MIT ENTJ students will find huge potential to pursue and actualize their dreams, and will be able to participate in some the world’s most progressive research projects and experiments.
Composite score: 93
Chartered in 1749, Princeton is the fourth-oldest college in the United States and in the time since its establishment Princeton has earned the highest levels of distinction as a research university. With over 96% of its students graduating in the top 10% of their high school class and one of the most challenging curriculums and academic standards in the nation, ENTJ students can expect a learning environment that requires their best performance. And the ENTJ personality is at its best when navigating the greatest of challenges. Princeton prides itself on creating the next generation of leaders of the United States, and as such provides a great deal of support for student ideas, be they to start a new student organization, start a research project, or follow some other creative path. It is this sort of empowerment that leads to ENTJs becoming the leaders that their personalities are so suited to become.
Composite score: 92
Founded in 1891 as Throop University and later renamed to California Institute of Technology in 1920, Cal Tech is a world-renowned science and engineer research and education institution with an incredibly selective admissions department, evidenced by the 100% of students who graduated in the top 10% of their high school class. Cal Tech’s five most popular majors are engineering, physical sciences, computer and information sciences, biological and biomedical sciences, and mathematics and statistics. All 5 of which appeal to the ENTJ’s proclivity towards the highly rational and logical thinking that underpins these areas of study. Cal Tech also boasts one of the most impressive student-faculty ratios in the nation with there being just three students to everyone faculty member. This combined with the impressive accolades and qualifications of its faculty means that the ENTJ student will be challenged in every sense of the word by faculty they can respect.
Composite score: 91
Founded in 1920, Duke University is younger than most comparable universities, however, it has still managed to earn world-renowned distinction and a highly impressive list of accolades, which will be attractive to the “achievement-minded” ENTJ personality. 91% of Duke’s student body consists of those who graduated in the top 10% of their high school classes. This combined with over 400 student clubs and organizations and impressive participation rates means that the ENTJ student will find peers that can constructively challenge them, creating an interplay of mutual respect. Duke’s top five most popular majors are: economics, biological sciences, public policy analytics, psychology, bioengineering and biomedical engineering. All five of which are characterized by the strong adherence to logic and rational thought that similarly characterizes the ENTJ personality.
Composite score: 89
In 1891, businessman and entrepreneur tycoon, William Marsh Rice, founded the Rice Institute for the Advancement of Literature, Science, and Art as a gift to the City of Houston, Texas where he had amassed his empire. Inline with the ENTJ student’s entrepreneurial spirit, Rice University adheres to the tenant that knowledge is limitless, that there is no “what if” that cannot become “what is” through research, scholarship, and creativity. As a comprehensive research University, ENTJs will find their extreme desire for logical thought and rational problem-solving rewarded. Pulling from the vast resources of Houston, Texas, the nation’s fourth-largest city, Rice offers students a great deal of entrepreneurial programs and internship opportunities that will shape the ENTJ student into the leaders they strive to become.
Composite score: 89
Founded in 1870, Wellesley College is a private nonprofit liberal arts college for women accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Despite being a smaller school, Wellesley is able to pool enormous resources through The Three-College Alliance with Babson College and Olin College and cross-registration options with MIT, and thus emphasizes an interdisciplinary and collaborative learning environment. Young women with the ENTJ personality will find that Wellesley College’s commitment to academic excellence and personal responsibilities is highly conducive to their personal achievement-oriented thinking. In Wellesley’s word, “Every woman can–and should–make a meaningful contribution to her world.” Women’s empowerment and leadership are the top priorities of Wellesley, which is the perfect environment for the ENTJ’s growth.
Composite score: 89
With over 250 years of history in higher education excellence, Columbia University has earned world-renown, and is committed to pioneering new discoveries in service of society. 93% of Columbia students graduated in the top 10% of their class, meaning that the ENTJ will find themselves among classmates with equal talent, boldness, and dedication–the learning environment best suited for the ENTJ. The top 5 most popular majors at Columbia are: Engineering, Social Sciences, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics, and Psychology. All 5 of which are conducive to the ENTJ’s proclivity towards hyper-logical thinking. Columbia’s mission statement also conveys its dedication to maximizing the benefit of its location in New York City, one of the most popular cities in the nation, where resources are vast for both the student and the budding professional. The ENTJ personality will likely benefit from these resources as their personality is bold and draws the attention of recruiters and employers.
Composite score: 88
The University of Chicago’s long and rich history reaches back to roots as early as 1890, and in the time since the University has established itself as one of the premier destinations for a transformative education in the nation if not the world. The University of Chicago has received numerous accolades and awards for its ground-breaking research, producing many of science’s great breakthroughs and historic leaders. Today, the University upholds these standards for achievement, which will mesh well with the ENTJ’s achievement-driven goals. With 98% of the University’s students graduating in the top 10% of their class, ENTJs will find themselves among peer groups that can collaborate and challenge each other. As one of the most prestigious schools in this article, the ENTJ can expect to have their dreams for bold achievements not only respected but also empowered.
Composite score: 88
Founded in 1891, Stanford is celebrating its 125th year of impact in its students, in the country, and in the larger world. Stanford is a highly prestigious university with a dedication to grooming and creating the next generation of leaders, entrepreneurs, and creatives. With a highly selective admissions department, over 95% of enrolled students graduated in the top 10% of their high school classes. Stanford also boasts an incredible student faculty ratio with there 1 faculty member for every 4 students, and the faculty are some of the highest rated in the country and include numerous Nobel Prize Laureates. These factors combined with Stanford’s $1.22 billion budget for research create an environment where the ENTJ student can pursue their dreams of the highest levels of achievement. With 5,500 externally sponsored research projects, they will also have every opportunity to interact with some of the greatest experts in the country and build professional networks to polish their leadership skills. With a high level of support for student ideas, the ENTJ student can also start his/her own club or organization if they cannot find a fit among the existing 650.
Composite score: 87
Scripps College was first founded in 1926 in Claremont, California as one of the nation’s few institutions dedicated to educating women for lives of dedication, achievement, and engagement. In the years since Scripps has labored to provide women with an education that will elevate them in today’s society. Such an achievement-drive mission is extremely conducive to the ENTJ personality. Scripps also employs a multidisciplinary curriculum, which promotes bold thinking and creative problem solving. Every Scripps student will also undergo the challenge of completing a senior thesis or project, culminating their personal perspective and amassed knowledge. With only 988 students and over 200 clubs and student organizations, ENTJ students can expect the high level of engagement and student talent that create the challenging learning environments they desire.
Composite score: 87
Founded in 1740, The University of Pennsylvania was conceived as part of Benjamin Franklin’s vision for advanced education in the United States. This vision was outlined in his famous essay entitled, Proposal Relating to the Education of Youth, which proposed that education should drive the next great evolutions in America, that education’s highest purpose was to empower those with the potential to become great leaders. This philosophy of education is perfectly suited to that of the ENTJ personality, and satisfies their achievement-oriented minds and desire for challenge. At the University of Pennsylvania, the ENTJ will find that their entrepreneurial and innovative spirits are nurtured and empowered through multiple research initiatives, creative internships, and independent projects where ENTJs can pursue their ideas if they are deemed to be legitimate entrepreneurial pursuits. with 93% of students graduating in the top 10% of their high school class ENTJs can expect a peer culture with equal talent and drive.
Composite score: 84
John Hopkins University is a nationally renowned research and medical initiatives institution with a history dating back to 1876 when it was founded as America’s first research university. When Coit Gilman, the University’s first president, was asked what the University was all about exactly, he answered: “The encouragement of research, and the advancement of scholars, who by their excellence will advance the sciences they pursue, and the society where they dwell.” It is this philosophy of empowering students with great potential that will likely be very appealing to ENTJs, who desire nothing more than to achieve their highest potential. The University’s top five majors all appeal to the ENTJ’s logical and scientific way of thinking: bioengineering and biomedical engineering, international relations and affairs, neuroscience, public health, and cellular and molecular biology.
Composite score: 84
Harvard University is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States, as it was established in 1636 through a voting process of the Great and General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In the 380 years since, Harvard has established itself as one of the most formidable and prestigious academic institutions in the nation and in the world, generating 47 Nobel Prize Laureates, 32 heads of state, and 48 Pulitzer Prize winners. For the ENTJ student whose achievements are everything, they will have a hard time finding a more challenging and empowering school. The Harvard Library is the largest academic library in the world and includes 20.4 million volumes, 180,000 serial tites, 400 million manuscript items, 10 million photographs, 124 million archived web pages, 5.4 terabytes of born-digital archives and manuscripts. These resources should satisfy the endlessly curious scientific mind of the ENTJ student.
Composite score: 84
Carnegie Mellon University has a vibrant history of American pioneerism and dates back to 1900 when it was first founded by Andrew Carnegie, who at one point the richest man in the world and decided that “to die rich is to die disgraced,” which led to his funding of the University. Today the University has received numerous accolades and ‘number one’ rankings for various programs and departments. Its most successful programs are also those that most align with the ENTJ’s scientific mind such as computer science, electrical and electronics engineering, mechanical engineering, systems science and theory, and chemical engineering. The University also encourages student collaboration and entrepreneurial pursuits, supporting over 290 student clubs and organizations.
Composite score: 82
As a relatively new institution, Pitzer College was founded in 1962 and prides itself on producing “engaging, socially responsible citizens of the world through an academically rigorous, interdisciplinary library arts education.” Pitzer has been awarded the most Fulbright Fellowships (per 1,000 students) for six straight years. This means that the ENTJ student can expect to have their entrepreneurial dreams of achievement supported and rewarded, with a nice shot at earning of the most prestigious awards in the nation. With a ratio of students to student clubs and organizations of 16 to 1, ENTJ students can expect a peer culture that is active, talented, and engaging, which creates an environment of mutual respect that is crucial for the ENTJ personality growth.
Composite score: 82
The University of California, San Diego boasts an interesting history that has been intertwined with the development of American society for over 100 years. Today, the University of California, San Diego is recognized as one of the top 15 research universities worldwide, delivering a culture of collaboration that drive discoveries both inward and outward. The University’s admissions department is one of the most selective in the country with 100% of enrolled students graduating in the top 10% of their high school classes. The University’s top five most popular majors are also highly conducive to the ENTJ’s personality. The majors include biology, economics, computer engineering, electrical and electronics engineering, and psychology.
Composite score: 81
The University of California, Irvine (UCI) was founded in 1965 and in the years since has combined its strengths as a major research university with the vast resources of the Southern California location. The University is highly selective with over 96% of its students having graduated in the top 10% of their high school classes. Despite its relatively young history, UCI has quickly become one of the most dynamic campuses in the University of California system, offering multiple “create-a-major” options, internship tracks, and multidimensional support for innovation and creative ideas. With 624 student clubs and organizations, and impressively high student participation rates, ENTJ students can expect to find the environment of challenging peers and active lifestyles that stimulates and motivates their learning abilities.
Composite score: 81
The University of Maryland, College Park began as an agricultural college in 1856 and today has earned numerous awards and accolades across a multitude of categories. The University prides itself in its generation of Nobel Prize Laureates, and sets the bar high for its students. While its admissions department is slightly less selective than others in this article, students are held to the highest standards and are expected to generate achievements that will honor both the student and the University. This achievement-oriented philosophy meshes extremely well with the likeminded ENTJ personality. Furthermore, the University boasts 838 student organizations and clubs, more than any other listed in this article, evidencing a highly active and engaging student body that will create the challenging environment in which ENTJs thrive.
Composite score: 79
Since its founding in 1864, Swarthmore is dedicated to an “open-dialogue” style education and campus, where students may pursue personal beliefs and values amidst those they may disagree with while maintaining an environment of mutual respect. With an impressive student to faculty ratio of just 8 to 1, ENTJ students can expect collaborative environments where they can sharpen their team-leading skills and intuitions. With 88% of students graduating in the top 10% of their high school class combined with a high level of student participation in clubs and organizations, the ENTJ will find the environment of proactiveness, talent, and innovation that is a characteristic desire of their personality. The University also offers honor programs for those outstanding students who show promise amidst even the most rigorous challenges, making the University further appeal to the achievement-minded ENTJ personality.
Founded in 1883, Haverford College has a long history in the higher education of sciences in the liberal arts philosophy. Today, the College defines itself through designing a classroom experience where each student can be an active, and vital participant in every class. For the ENTJ student, who desires to impact their environment, this is likely a very attractive feature. With a 9 to 1 student to faculty ratio, and with 98% of faculty holding the highest degree in their field, the ENTJ student can rest assured that they will be challenged in the classroom by equally bold and talented instructors. With 94% of students graduating in the top 10% of their high school classes, ENTJ students can also expect the same level of talent among their peers that fosters the environment of constructive competition in which they thrive. ENTJs will further find their achievements rewarded through Haverford’s generous grant programs, which award grants to nearly half of its students.
Composite score: 74
Hamilton College was founded in 1793 and is the third oldest college established in New York State. Hamilton College’s namesake, Alexander Hamilton, U.S. statesman, first secretary of the U.S. Treasury, embodies the College’s academic philosophy and aspirations, meaning the curriculum heavily emphasizes student leadership and a responsibility to one’s society–values that also characterize the ENTJ personality. Further conducive to the ENTJ personality are Hamilton’s top five most popular majors: economics, international relations and affairs, psychology, biology/biological sciences, and mathematics. Hamilton College also boasts an incredibly impressive alumni involvement network, ranking in the top 1% (as measured by percentage of alumni donors), meaning that the ENTJ personality will have an enormous and involved network to engage in to further their professional dreams.
Composite score: 73
Davidson College was founded in 1837 by Presbyterians of North Carolina, who were dedicated to creating an institution that cultivated human instincts and disciplined, creative minds. Today Davidson respects its roots in presbyterianism, but it also promotes free inquiry into areas of spirituality and religion. Davidson offers its student some highly progressive options through unique initiatives with the ultimate goal of motivating its students and enhancing their creative aspirations. Most conducive to the ENTJ personality is the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative, which is a campus-wide collaborative project designed to connect and enable a dynamic community of entrepreneurs, tapping into both community and alumni networks to further advance the initiative. With 74% of students graduating in the top 10% of their high school class and a retention rate of first-year students returning for sophomore year of 95%, the ENTJ student will be pleased to find that their classmates are both talented and dedicated to the College, and further it indicates that the College is appealing and satisfying to students overall. And with only 1,950 students enrolled, there is plenty of room to enjoy the 665 acre main campus and its 110 acre lake, located in the beautiful Charlotte, North Carolina. .
Composite score: 71