Ever wonder which U.S. colleges have the most influence and engagement on Twitter? By analyzing several Twitter data points from the nation’s largest schools, we’ve created the Most Influential Colleges on Twitter rankings. This list compares Twitter reach and engagement as well as the implementation of Twitter best practices.
Over the last five years, Twitter has emerged as the place to find and keep up-to-date on the most captivating newsworthy topics. The unique social media tool allows users 140 characters to tweet their news into cyberspace. Hashtags… organize the conversation around the hottest topics, and once an idea is trending, it can reach millions in a matter of hours.
While communication on Twitter is stereotypically known for being focused on hot topics like celebrity and world news, the data shows that it is also a strong hub for sharing educational content. All of the top 5 schools on this list are known as elite research institutions and each use their Twitter accounts to highlight academic achievements. They also use their accounts to engage their large following in the online discussion about various research topics. But even these top universities are not above the normal fray of social media conversation, as Princeton posted a squirrel-selfie on a recent Friday to encourage students to have a great weekend.
Early adopters to Twitter also garnered points in the rankings, as the amount of time each school has had an active Twitter account was considered. With almost all social media, and especially with Twitter, the sooner you join into the conversation, the more time you have to hone your strategy and messaging to find what is attractive to your followers. Schools like the University of Texas and Texas Tech University lead the pack in this regard.
On Twitter, followers can also “favorite” tweets and share them. This increases the power of individual messages as they proliferate throughout the Twittersphere. Universities like Texas A&M and Louisiana State University stood out in this measure, where devoted alumni and students regularly display their university pride through tweets.
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA#1A+
At 350 years old, Harvard University is not only one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the United States, it is also one of the most renowned and respected. It’s graduates are … read more
Yale University
New Haven, CT#2A+
Yale University offers some of the most respected academic programs worldwide. Professors and other faculty members at Yale often receive international-recognition for their research and … read more
Stanford University
Stanford, CA#3A+
Stanford University, or Stanford, is is a private research university located in Stanford, California. Stanford is internationally-recognized for its prestigious undergraduate and graduate … read more
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA#4A+
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is a private research university in located in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The university was founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1900 as Carnegie … read more
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ#5A+
Princeton University is one of the most well know and prestigious private universities and one of only eight Ivy League schools in the United States. It is consistently recognized as one of the … read more
University of Phoenix
Arizona#6A
University of Phoenix offers classes that are designed for working professionals like you. Classes are held in the evening or sometimes on the weekends, so you don’t have to give up your job or … read more
American University
Washington, DC#7A
Established in 1893 by an Act of Congress, the American University (AU), located in Washington, D.C., is a private, Methodist liberal arts and research university. AU has a total enrollment of … read more
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX#8A
The Texas A&M University System (A&M standing for "Agriculture and Mechanical") is one of the largest networks of higher education institutions in the United States. Through a complex … read more
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX#9A
The University of Texas at Austin, or UT Austin, is the flagship university in the University of Texas System. This state research university was founded in 1883. The 1,400 acre campus is about … read more
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL#10A
The University of Florida, locally referred to as U of F, UF or just Florida, is a public, four-year university whose main campus is in Gainesville, Florida. U of F is a land-grant university … read more
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ#11A
The University of Arizona (locally referred to as UA or U of A) is located in Tucson, Arizona. U of A was founded in 1885 and it the oldest four-year university in the state. University of … read more
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX#12A
Texas Tech University (TTU) was established February 10, 1923, as Texas Technological College. Today it is a leading public research university in the Texas Tech University System and is located … read more
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA#13A
Most commonly referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, its official name is Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College. LSU is a public university that is … read more
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI#14A
The University of Wisconsin-Madison (commonly referred to as UW-Madison and locally as Wisconsin or simply Madison) is a four-year research university in Madison, Wisconsin that offers an … read more
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN#15A
Purdue University is a world-class research university located in West Lafayette, Indiana. Established as a land-grant university in 1869, the West Lafayette campus is the flagship university of … read more
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA#16A
Boston College (locally referred to as BC) is a private college owned and operated by the Jesuit sect of the Roman Catholic Church. It is located in the city of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. The … read more
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC#17A
The University of South Carolina, sometimes referred to as USC, is a public, co-educational, 4-year research university whose flagship campus is located in Columia South Carolina. (The University … read more
Ohio State University
Columbus, OH#18A-
Ohio State University, Columbus, also known as Ohio or OSU, is a public, four-year university and research institution located in Columbus, Ohio. OSU was founded as the Ohio Agricultural and … read more
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI#19A-
The University of Michigan (also known as U of M, U-M, UMich, or Michigan) is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA but it also has satellite campuses in Flint and Dearborn. It is the oldest … read more
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ#20A-
With an established reputation created and cultivated since its founding in 1885, Arizona State University (ASU) boasts an expansive student body of undergraduate (the largest in the nation) and … read more
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