A student with Boston University Students for Israel. Image by Sarah Mensch

By Aiden Pink August 15, 2018

It can be tough to be a Zionist on campus. Israel’s popularity is dropping among Millennials, and the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign appears to be growing in strength on campuses.

At the same time, there have never been more options to engage with Israel at universities — from going on Birthright, to taking classes in Israel Studies, to participating in Israel-related clubs that focus on every facet of the Jewish state and its people — from culture to politics to high-tech.

There are many, many universities that have an Israel-friendly atmosphere and provide lots of great opportunities. But according to the formula we used to create the Forward College Guide, these universities are the best:

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1) New York University — 19/20

2) University of California, Berkeley— 18.67/20

3) Emory University — 18/20

T-4) American University — 17.67/20

T-4) Brandeis University — 17.67/20

T-6) Columbia University — 17/20

T-6) Florida State University — 17/20

T-6) Indiana University Bloomington — 17/20

T-6)Rutgers University — 17/20

10) University of Washington — 16.67/20

T-11) Binghamton University — 16/20

T-11) Boston University — 16/20

T-11) Duke University — 16/20

T-11) Tulane University — 16/20

T-11) University of Florida — 16/20

T-11) University of Maryland, College Park — 16/20

T-11) University of Pennsylvania — 16/20

T-11) University of Southern California — 16/20

T-11) Washington University in St. Louis — 17/20

20) Brown University — 15.67/20

21) Yeshiva University — 15.33/20

NOTE: For our rankings of schools that have the most thriving Jewish life on campus, click here.

Image by Kurt Hoffman

This article is part of the award-winning Forward College Guide — to read more fascinating stories and see the definitive rankings, click here.

Contact Aiden Pink at pink@forward.com.

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