Sweet Briar wins Forbes’ #MyTopCollege 2019 title among small schools

If there is an online contest to be won, the Sweet Briar community — thanks in large part to an alumnae network like no other — will (most likely) win it. And so it did again this year, when Forbes called on the nation to vote for #MyTopCollege 2019.

The magic started with Forbes’ 2015 #MyTopCollege contest, followed by two unforgettable campus appearances from Seth Meyers and Rachel Platten — both the result of online competitions. In 2017, the College took home the #MyTopCollege win again and it did so yet again last year. And, yes: In 2019, Sweet Briar is the #MyTopCollege winner among small schools once more.



Of course, Forbes categorizes any college with fewer than 2,000 students as “small.” Sweet Briar has about 330 students, and has never had more than around 700. To win this contest for the fourth time in six years is impressive, but it’s not surprising given the boundless passion and perseverance of its alumnae, students, staff, faculty and friends.

In the large-schools category, California State University, Fullerton came out on top once again. Among medium-sized schools, Widener University took the title from last year’s winner, Otterbein University. Overall, Sweet Briar ranked third in the country — up one from last year — with more than 100 posts submitted. According to Forbes, more than 1,000 submissions came in on Instagram and Twitter between June 17 and Aug. 9. This year’s theme was time travel, with different sub-categories each week: from favorite college memories and traditions to future imaginations of what one’s top school might look like in five or 50 years.

Forbes will release its annual America’s Top Colleges listing — the official companion to its fun social media contest — later this week.