WPI, Olin
WPI because it has a truly pioneering approach which is easily missed by the general public, but much appreciated by the National Academy of Engineering (see https://www.nae.edu/Activities/Projects/Awards/GordonPrize/GordonWinners.aspx#tabs). Projects and interdisciplinary thinking in a teamwork environment are central here when one looks at the full four years program of studies.
Olin College of Engineering is underrated. The general public does not know who they are and what they are doing. They are hard at work revolutionizing the educational process.
Many smaller schools have a dedicated and creative faculty. Two schools in my home state of Maine that fit this description are College of the Atlantic and Unity college.
Innovation is a very challenging process in any system when it influences commonly accepted practices. Education is no different. Studies of “WPI alumni confirmed the findings of a 2014 Gallup-Purdue index poll that showed students who undertook long-term college projects report more career satisfaction and stronger connections to professional satisfaction, advancement, and personal enrichment.”
Neither of these schools have a “big ten” football team advertising for them. We do thank Purdue for their research!
I am sure you have heard of them, but outside of academia you may not know that they also do a lot of academic research.
. :bz