There will always be the Harvards, Princetons, and Yales–the colleges whose names pervade in the world of higher education. Still, with every year that goes by, new schools make names for themselves, and schools with long histories reinvent themselves, both striving to better higher education and the students that will matriculate.

Of course, U.S. News, has a list of the schools it deems as “Up and Comers” in the 2012 Best Colleges rankings. These are colleges and universities that, according to nominations from top college officials, are undertaking exciting and innovative changes in academics, faculty, and student life.

Here are 23 of those up-and-coming colleges:

University of Maryland–Baltimore County

George Mason University

Indiana University-Purdue University–Indianapolis

Clemson University

University of Central Florida

Drexel University

Tulane University

Arizona State University

Ball State University

Northeastern University

Ohio State University–Columbus

Purdue University

University of Maryland

University of Southern California

University of South Florida

Azusa Pacific University 

Biola University 

Hendrix College

Ursinus College

University of Richmond

Allegheny College

Beloit College 

Abilene Christian University