Like the ENFJ cousins, INFJs are a select group, accounting for less than 1% of people. And also like INFJs, they care passionately about social justice, have an innate moral compass, and are well-known (and sometimes outspoken) idealists. However, where ENFJs gravitate toward leadership roles, INFJs prefer to work a little more behind the scenes (many are downright shy). Rather than presidents, they’d prefer to be diplomats, where most of the real work gets done, anyway. They’re writers, thought leaders, activists, and socially conscious artists; in general, corporate and business tracks won’t satisfy them, unless they have a specific cause-based mission. INFJs are tireless and relentless in their commitment to their principles, which can be both exhausting and inspiring. They’re also perfectionists, perhaps unsurprisingly given their idealistic bent. This can occasionally produce hyper-sensitivity and self-awareness, but emotionalism comes with the territory. Without feelings, INFJs wouldn’t be what they are: caring, selfless, social justice warriors. Below, we’ve compiled the best universities for INFJs to continue doing what they do best – and hopefully get better.
Looking for advice on what type of school and major to choose? Check out our Interview Series. Are you an INFJ? Check out our Best Career and College Advice for INFJs from 3 Successful INFJs.
Methodology:
Columbia University, in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, has a total enrollment of about 24,000 students (8,000 undergrad) and an excellent student-to-faculty ratio of 6:1. This combination of a large setting with intimate interactions is ideal for the average INTJ, giving the opportunity to be heard without being overwhelmed. In fact, this holds true for much of New York in general where, despite its megapolis-like size, like-minded individuals find and form communities surprisingly easily. And obviously, for dreamers and idealists like INFJs, there are few places to make a bigger impact than in the Big Apple. The university itself is a well-known activist camp, with particularly historic movements in the 1960s during the Civil Rights Movement and Vietnam. Recently, the World Leaders Forum has served as an excellent platform (and occasional lightning rod) for crucial foreign events debates. For INTJs eager to engage in the pressing issues of the day, Columbia is tough to top.
Composite Score: 95
Morehouse College, the all-male historically black college in Atlanta, has a total enrollment of just under 2,200. This intimate environment allows for the kind of rigorous intellectual discourse, often concerning contemporary issues in social justice, that INFJs cherish. In fact, it’s most famous alumnus, Martin Luther King, Jr., is considered an INFJ by many. The school has a wealth of opportunities for students to get involved, including nearly 80 student organizations and clubs, 54 of which are vested in special interests and volunteerism. Of particular interest to INFJs may be Morehouse’s Mock Trial Association, which won 4 consecutive regional championships. Other organizations include a student newspaper, Glee Club, marching band, and numerous religious organizations. Among the most popular areas of study are in Business Administration and Management, Political Science and Government, Biology, and Psychology.
Composite Score: 90.4
The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry has a total enrollment of about 2,500 students. Directly adjacent to Syracuse University, ESF is one of the leading environmental research universities, with a core curriculum that includes studies in natural sciences, design, engineering, policy, and natural resources management. It is considered by some to be the best school in the country on such issues, and its alumni and faculty have gone on to found some of the most important environmental advocacy organizations the country, including The Nature Conservancy, Society of American Foresters, The Wilderness Society, National Parks Association, and the Ecological Society of America, among others. Accordingly, INFJs with similar interests may strongly want to consider the opportunities ESF offers, including 300 student organizations and clubs through which to engage in the community (a huge number for a school its size).
Composite Score: 89
UC Riverside in Southern California has a total enrollment of about 21,600. With its history of frontline political activism and civic engagement, Riverside should be a fine fit for any INFJ. There are 350 student organizations and clubs on campus, 31 of which are devoted to special interests and service. In fact, Washington Monthly ranked Riverside second in the United States for social mobility, research, and community service. INFJs will likely also appreciate that the school is routinely ranked as one of the most economically and ethnically diverse campuses in the nation, exposing students to a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, and opinions. While a larger university may not immediately appeal to an INFJ, Riverside’s campus operates as a small, relatively like-minded community and support system in which all voices are heard and respected.
Composite Score: 87.4
Claflin University in Orangeburg, South Carolina (about 40 miles southeast of Columbia), is an historically black college with a total enrollment of under 1,900 students. Washington Monthly has ranked it the best liberal arts school in the state, and U.S. News and World Report has ranked it in the top 10 HBCU schools in the country. While small, Claflin uses its size to its advantage, promoting a vibrant, lively socio-political discourse on campus, in which all students are encouraged to participate. There are also more than 60 student organizations and clubs on campus, several of which are devoted to special interests and service. With over 35 undergraduate degrees across a wide spectrum of fields, the most popular areas of study are Sociology, Media Studies, Business Administration and Management, Criminal Justice, and Biology.
Composite Score: 86.8
Franklin and Marshall College is small liberal arts school in Lancaster, Pennsylvania with a total enrollment of 2,200 students, average class size of 19, and a student-to-faculty ratio of 9:1 – numbers INFJs are sure to appreciate. In fact, the Princeton Review has ranked F&M first in the country for faculty accessibility. Many of its alumni have pursued careers that may attract INFPs, from the White House Chief of Staff (Kenneth Duberstein) to House Majority Whip (William H. Gray), to Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winners (James Lapine). The school provides students with numerous opportunities to explore new interests and has 125 student clubs and organizations. Among the most popular areas of study are Political Science, Business, Economics, Biology, and Sociology.
Composite Score: 86.4
The University of South Florida, located in Tampa, is the fourth-largest public university in the state, with a student body of around 42,000 (mostly undergraduate). Still, while large, USF makes every effort to create an intimate, community-oriented learning environment, in which students from a variety of backgrounds can engage one another on an intellectual and social level. One particularly effective method of maintaining this environment is through USF’s 600+ student organizations, which include groups for academic, professional, multicultural, and special interest associations. Further – and to the delight of INFJs – students are more than welcome to start their own organizations should they feel underepresented. The main vehicles for serious community engagement include the USF Center for Student Involvement and the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement. Among the most popular areas of study are Finance, Criminology, Nursing, Biomedical Sciences, and Psychology.
Composite Score: 85
SUNY Stony Brook has a student body of approximately 24,600 (about 2/3 undergraduate) with a 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio, very good for its size. INFJs will be happy to find nearly 400 student organizations and clubs, 28 of which are devoted to special interests and volunteerism. Stony Brook’s distinguished alumni include many INFJ-like figures, including 71 Guggenheim Fellows, 54 Fullbright Fellows, 41 Sloan Fellows, and 11 Rockefeller Fellows, among others. Its faculty have been awarded the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, Benjamin Franklin Medal, and the NASA Distinguished Service Medal. INFJs will also enjoy a widely diverse campus demographic, with many different ethnicities and countries represented. Among the most popular areas of study are in Health Services and Sciences, Psychology, Biology, Business Administration and Management, and Nursing.
Composite Score: 84.4
Pitzer College is located in Claremont, California, about 40 miles east of LA with a total enrollment of just 1,076 students and a student-to-faculty ratio of 10:1. While that may come across as prohitively small in scope, Pitzer is also a member of the prestigious Claremont Consortium, which allows its students to freely take classes at 4 other top nearby schools – Pomona, Scripps, Claremont McKenna, and Harvey Mudd. Thanks to this partnership, INFJs have the advantage of combining the comforts of a small intimate setting with being exposed to a wide variety of other backgrounds and perspectives. Pitzer is also well known for its extracurricular community engagement, with students, faculty, and staff contributing 100,000 of service each year (all the more impressive considering the school’s size). Much of this work is done thorugh the Community Engagement Center, whose central mission is to encourage students to consider service work as integral to their curriculum. Among the most popular areas of study are Psychology, Interdisciplinary Studies, Environmental Studies, Economics, and Sociology.
Composite Score: 84.4
The University of Houston lies on 667 acres in southeast Houston. At 41,000 students (34,000 undergrad), the University of Houston is the third-largest public university in the state. Its mission is to “discover and disseminate knowledge through the education of a diverse population of traditional and nontraditional students, and through research, artistic and scholarly endeavors, as it becomes the nation’s premier public university in an urban setting” – all of which anyone can support, but INFJs especially. Its size is in part checked by a wealth of student-interest groups, and the school offers more than 440 clubs and organizations in which to participate, including 40 devoted to special interest and service. The city of Houston itself is another boon, as the most diverse city in the state and behind only New York in Fortune 500 companies. Among the most school’s popular areas of study are Business, Psychology, the Social Sciences, Biology, and Communication/Journalism.
Composite Score: 82.8
New Mexico State University is located in Las Cruces and has a student enrollment of 15,800. Its demographics are an ideal spec for INFJ personalities: USC’s Center for Urban Education named NMSU as one of the top 25 universities in the country for building a Latino base in STEM, and the university has also received accolades for its LGBT friendliness. Students have numerous opportunities to engage with their classmates and local community, and NMSU has over 250 student organizations and clubs, including 29 devoted to special interests and service. Among the most popular fields of study are in Criminal Justice, Liberal Arts, Nursing, Psychology, and Biology. The city of Las Cruces is highly diverse and the second-largest city in the state behind Albequerque.
Composite Score: 82.4
Claremont McKenna College, in Claremont, California, sits on a 70-acre campus 35 miles inland from Los Angeles. With a total student enrollment of 1,300 and an impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8:1, INFJs should take a look at Claremont. In addition to being held in high regard across the country – U.S. News ranks Claremont 8th among liberal arts schools, and Forbes ranks it 18th overall – Claremont also benefits from its membership in the prestigious Claremont Consortium, alongside the earlier listed Pitzer College, Pomona, Scripps, and Harvey Mudd. For INFJs, this means the opportunity reach out and explore different campuses and communities. In particular, Claremont students with an interest in journalism can take advatange of several student-run newspapers, including two politically-affiliated papers. If journalism isn’t your forte, fortunately Claremont has more than 230 other student organizations and clubs, several of which are devoted to special interests and service. Among the most popular areas of study, many are in the range of most INFJ’s interests, including Economics, Political Science, Psychology, Accounting, and International Relations and Affairs.
Composite Score: 82
Yale University, located in New Haven, Connecticut, has a student enrollment of 12,300 (half undergraduate) and an excellent 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Since its founding in 1701, Yale has been churning out socially and politcally conscious leaders, activists, and intellectuals, including 5 U.S. Presidents, 19 U.S. Supreme Court Justices, Secretaries of State John Kerry and Hillary Clinton, Paul Krugman, Fareed Zakaria, Anderson Cooper, and William F. Buckley, Jr, among countless others. The academic environment itself is, of course, rigorous and challenging, but also open to new ideas, perspectives, and voices, with a storied reputation for progressive thought. There is no shortage of opportunities to get involved, either; Yale offers 500 student organizations and clubs, many of which are devoted to special interest and service groups. Among the school’s most popular areas of study are in Economics, Political Science and Government, Biology, History, and Psychology.
Composite Score: 81.4
UC Davis is located just west of Sacramento, with a total enrollment of 34,500 students (28,000 undergrad), making it the third largest university in the UC System behind UCLA and Berkeley. Still, the school maintains an 18:1 student-to-faculty ratio and students are able to find their niches through more than 600 organizations and clubs, 70 of which are for special interest or service groups. UC Davis’s alumni are accomplished, including two astronauts, US Treasurer Anna Escobedo Cabral, and Chevron CEO John S. Watson; likewise, the awards faculty and alumni have earned are worth feting: the Nobel Peace Prize, Presidential Medal of Freedom, Pulitzer Prize, MacArthur Fellowship, National Medal of Science, and Presidential Early Career Award in Science and Engineering. No doubt, INFJs – or anyone – will appreciate such credentials. And for those particularly conscious of environmental issues, UC Davis is worldwide leader, home of the Agricultural Sustainability Institute and having hosted the Governors’ Global Climate Summit.
Composite Score: 80.4
The New Jersey Institute of Technology is located in Newark’s University Heights neighborhood. At 10,650 enrolled students, NJIT has a student-to-faculty ratio of 17:1 and 50 majors to choose from, the most popular of which include Engineering, Computer and Information Sciences , Architecture, and Business. Distinguished alumni have gone on to prestigious careers in business, politics, the military (including a Congressional Gold Medal winner), science, and engineering, among other fields. INFJs will be interested to hear that the school has hosted major conferences in the past, including a cybersecurity forum coordinated with the US-Israel Binational Industrial R&D Foundation and srael Economic Mission. With 70 student organizations and clubs – 13 for special interest and service groups – INTJs have numerous opportunities to engage with their classmates and community.
Composite Score: 79.8
UC San Diego, in the La Jolla neighborhood, has a total enrollment of about 30,000 and a student-to-faculty ratio of 19:1, a fair number for a school of its size. Held in high regard as a research institution, it has been ranked among the top 25 in the world by numerous publications, including U.S. News, Academic Ranking of World Universities, and Center for World University Rankings. Alumni and faculty of the university have won 20 Nobel Prizes, 8 MacArthur Fellowships, 2 Pulitzer Prizes, and many other honors, all of which would doubtless appeal to INFJs. With 420 student organizations and clubs (87 for special interest and service groups, students have plenty of opportunities to get involved on campus and in the community. In fact, the Daily Beast has ranked UC San Diego as one of the happiest schools in the country, in part based on he number of student organizations available.
Composite Score: 79
George Mason University, in Fairfax, Virginia, is the largest university in the commonwealth, with approximately 33,700 enrolled (2/3 undergradute). Still, the school holds a solid 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and the campus is held together by a strong sense of community and school pride. The school’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being was founded in 2013 to promote “a life of vitality, purpose, and resilience” among students, faculty, staff, and across the globe. Their goal is to impact the well-being of 10 million people by 2019. Students can also engage with peers through George Mason’s nearly 600 student organizations, 75 of which are for special interest and service groups. Both George Mason’s alumni and faculty are highly accomplished, and include several Nobel Prize winners (2 in the last few years), Guggenheim Fellows, Fulbright Scholars, Pulitzer Prize winners, U.S. congressmen, and foregin heads of state.
Composite Score: 79
Oglethorpe, in North Atlanta near the affluent Brookhaven neighborhood, has a student body of just over 1,000 and a student-to-faculty ratio of 15:1. The small setting allows for a tightly-knit, community-oriented campus environment that promotes intellectual discourse. Still, while small, Oglethorpe doesn’t want for big opportunities. There are 67 student organization on campus – a large number for a school of its size – and Atlanta is one of the most economically, ethnically, and politcally diverse cities in America and the de facto capital of the Southeast. As the hub of the Civil Rights Movement, Atlanta’s distinguished citizens have included Martin Luther King, Jr., Ralph David Abernathy, Maynard Jackson, Andrew Young, John Lewis, and many more activists and politicans with INFJ-like traits. Among Oglethorpe’s most popular areas of study include English Lit, Business, the Social Sciences, and the Visual and Performing Arts.
Composite Score: 77.2
Case Western Reserve University, about five miles east of downtown Cleveland in University Circle, has an enrollment of about 10,800 and a student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1. Case Western and those affialiated with it have long been difference-makers: 16 Nobel laureates, and the creator of Gmail, the founder of Craiglist, and many others. INFJs should note the school’s Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence, which awards a student annually for having demonstrated significant leadership in the area. There are a number of opportunities to get involoved, including over 200 student organizations and clubs, 22 of which are for special interest and service groups. Among the most popular areas of study are in Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Psychology, and Nursing.
Composite Score: 77.2
San Diego State University has an enrollment of 33,500 students, making it the largest in San Diego county. It is also among the most diverse universities in the country, ranking in the top ten in student body ethinic and racial diversity, in addition to graduating the most minority students. Further, SDSU has been called one of the most LGBT friendly campuses in the U.S., with a number of organizations and events dedicated to supporting the community. In all, SDSU has 300 student organizations and clubs, more than 50 of which are for special interest and service groups – in short, plenty of opportunities for INFJs to engage in on-campus and community concerns. (Obviously, San Diego alone offers INFJs a lot.) Among the most popular areas of study are in Business, the Social Sciences, Psychology, English Lit, and Health Professions.
Composite Score: 77
The United States Air Force Academy has an enrollment of 3,952 cadets, student-to-faculty ratio of 8:1, and is an obvious top option for the INFJ. The school’s motto “Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence in All We Do” essentially hits on all the core traits of INFJs. The academy’s honor code is considered a cornerstone of cadet life, and each cadet is considered a “guardian and steward” of that code, with elected honor representatives supervising over it and adjudicating honor violations. (Other cadets are expected to on Honor Boards to act as jurists.) There are 92 student organizations and clubs on campus, several of which are for special interest and service groups. Among the most popular areas of study are in Engineering, Business, the Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary Studies, and Biology. As with all the service academies, INFJ personalities will find much to admire at Air Force.
Composite Score: 76.8
Willamette University, situated on 69 acres in Salem, Oregon, has a student enrollment of just over 3,000 and a student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1. Its distinguished alumni include Nobel Prize winners, the CEO of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, and numerous state representatives and senators. INFJs have plenty of opportunities to get involved on campus in the community, with more than 100 student organizations and clubs, severa of which are for special interest and service groups. The city of Salem itself, less than an hour away from Portand, offers INTJs a number of civic engagement opportunities; and, because of its relatively modest size (about 150,000), INFJs shouldn’t feel too overwhelmed by the bright lights. Among Willamette’s most popular areas of study are in the Social Sciences, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, the Visual and Performing Arts, Ethnic/Cultural/Gender Studies, and the Physical Sciences.
Composite Score: 76.8
Johns Hopkins, in Baltimore, MD, has an enrollment of nearly 21,500 and maintains a student-to-faculty ratio of 10:1. Founded in 1876 by its namesake, a noted entrepreneur, abolitionist, and philanthropist, Johns Hopkins has kept his spirit of social justice at the heart of its mission. There are nearly 400 student organizations and clubs on campus, including over 50 for special interest and service groups, so INFJs won’t want for opportunities. Of course, the city of Baltimore has a long history of civic strife, which INFJs may be eager to engage with, particularly those interested in urban policy and affairs. Either way, for INFJs who want to be in a central cultural and political hub, there are few mroe appropriate places to be – and few more areas to make a larger impact in – than Baltimore. Among JHU’s most popular areas of study are in Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering, International Relations and Affairs, Neuroscience, Public Health, Cellular and Molecular Biology.
Composite Score: 76
The Univeristy of Maryland in College Park has a total enrollment of 37,600 and maintains a solid 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Its unique “living-learning” program allows students in the same field of study to live in the same residential community together, creating a highly collaborative and intimate environment. Among its nuermous notable alumni include House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, Google co-founder Sergey Brin, Jim Henson, TV writer/showrunner David Simon, Seinfeld co-creator Larry David, the President and CEO of CNN, Caly Fiorina, and many others – a diverse group, but one in which INFJs can certainly find some relatable figures. And for them, there’s no excuse to not get involved: Maryland offers more than 830 (!) student organizations and clubs, including 80+ for special interest and service groups. Other groups are in politics, media, journalism, culture, arts, and more Among the most popular areas of study are in Biology/Biomedical Sciences, Criminology, Economics, Psychology, and Accounting.
Composite Score: 76
The Florida Institute of Technology, located in Melbourne about an hour from Orlando, has a total student enrollment of about 6,400 and an excellent student-to-faculty ratio of 9:1. The school has graduated numerous distiguinshed military personnel (including 3- and 4-star generals), politicians, NASA astronauts, and foreign heads of state – all of which should likely appeal to the INFJ personality type. What’s more, there are 137 student organizations and clubs on campus, including 17 for special interest and service groups. Student governing bodies include the Student Government Association, Campus Activities Board, the Homecoming Committee, a television and radio station, and a student-run newspaper. Among the most popular areas of study are in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace/Aeronautical Engineering, Aviation/Airway Management and Operations, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Marine Biology, and Biological Oceanography.
Composite Score: 76