There are excellent rural universities in the US!

There are many factors that students should consider when applying to university and location is one of the most important. Students should determine whether they want to learn in a rural or urban environment: do they want to be surrounded by a city or by a small town? This is a major factor is finding a student’s “best fit”. There are many excellent colleges nestled away in small towns across the US.

Rural settings for universities can be very popular as the small-town environment often engenders a very tight-knit community. This can be seen at Dartmouth College, situated in rural New Hampshire, in the small town of Hanover. Dartmouth College is highly selective with an acceptance rate of 9% and is ranked 5th for Best Undergraduate Teaching. The smallest of the Ivy League schools, Dartmouth is known for its community-building with many college-wide events, such as homecoming and freshman trips. Situated on the Appalachian Trail, Dartmouth’s natural surroundings are a big draw for students who love the outdoors.

Ranked third for Best Undergraduate Teaching, Bowdoin College, situated in Brunswick, Maine, is another excellent rural option. Bowdoin is also highly selective with a 9% acceptance rate and a 9:1 student-faculty ratio. Bowdoin has a core curriculum that students need to complete in the first two years which is an attractive choice for students who want a more structured course of study. Middlebury College is another popular northeast liberal arts college in Addison County, Vermont. With an acceptance rate of 13%, Middlebury is a known for its commitment to sustainability and its extensive study abroad programmes. The campus is situated close to town and its surroundings mean that students can enjoy summer and winter mountain sports and the possibility for outdoor adventure is endless.

Only slightly further south, Williams College is in Williamstown, Massachusetts and is ranked first in National Liberal Arts Colleges. This excellent academic institution is known for its tight-knit community and unique opportunities when it comes to research programmes. Vela Education recommends that students also research Colby College, Colgate College, Amherst College, and Bates College if interested in rural liberal arts colleges.

There are also many excellent schools in rural communities outside of the northeast. In Lorain County, Ohio, Oberlin College is a liberal arts college and music conservatory with 3000 students. It is a campus known for its progressive activism and was the first college to admit women in the US in 1837, making it the oldest coeducation liberal arts college. Carleton College in Minnesota boasts a 1040 acre campus which includes a 880 acre arboretum for students to enjoy. With an admissions rate of 16.5%, Carleton College is renowned for its undergraduate teaching and emphasis on student participation in community-building.

For students wanting a bigger student population but a rural setting, there are many great options across the country. University of Colorado Boulder is set against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains and has a strong commitment to service and volunteering. Freshman are required to live on campus for their first year, emphasising community building and enrichment in a large student population of over 35,000 students. University of Michigan in Ann Arbor is another excellent choice with a large student population of 30,000 students. This university also ranks highly at number 16 in undergraduate teaching and number 25 in National Universities. Students can join more than 1,500 student organisations and many find a lot of joy in supporting the successful sports teams every weekend. As well as excellent undergraduate facilities, this institution has many highly ranked graduate schools including medicine, sustainability, engineering, and law.

There are many options across the US for excellent learning in a rural setting and it is vital that students choose an environment that is going to enable them to do their best work. At Vela Education, we are so excited to help students find a list of schools that will lead them to the most fulfilling of undergraduate experiences. Do not hesitate to get in touch to start your application or to ask any questions.