2 on most desirable rural schools, No. Priding itself on what it calls an "inclusive Christian character," the college offers free tuition to all of its roughly 1,500 students, each of whom, in exchange, work at least 10 hours per week on campus. Many rural students think high school is all the education they need to get a local job and start working right away. Its small-town location places it among the most desirable rural schools at No. 5 on Newsweek's list of most desirable small schools, can offer students a lot of individualized attention. Contributing editor Peter Bernstein and researcher Courtney Kennedy drew on dozens of sources to compile these rankings including information from the National Center for Education Statistics, The Washington Monthly, and College Prowler. Located in Point Lookout, Missouri, (near the city of Branson) the College of the Ozarks ranks as the nation's sixth most desirable rural school and the tenth most desirable small school by Newsweek. 1. Less than 50 percent of applicants are accepted, and the student-to-faculty ratio is 10:1. Whether you’re at a sports game, or meeting people at a party, you can’t help but like everyone you meet. The small private school in St. John's has little in common with a school the same size located in an isolated fishing community on the south coast of the island. With 3 Rhodes scholars in just the last decade or so, a sizable number of students going on to get Ph.D.s, an average incoming student scores of 34 on the ACT and 1550 on the SAT it's not a surprise that Dartmouth ranks 13th on Newsweek's brainiacs list. Being in a small town, your options for work are limited. The school accepts 43 percent of its applicants and, on average, students earned a 32 on the ACTs and 1450 on the SATs. The student population of less than 2,500 is composed of entirely undergraduates, who, on average, scored a 31 on the ACT and 1390 on the SAT. The school proudly claims a fifth of its students are first-generation college students. A number of universites have risen to the top in rural health education. Located in Walla Walla, a remote city of 30,000 people in southern Washington State, Whitman College is No. In fact, 90 percent of Amherst courses have fewer than 30 students. While this arrangement contributes to the school's desirability, it also makes for stiff competition—only 12 percent of applicants are accepted, adding up to a student body of just 1,500. 34 reviews. On average, its students score 33 on the ACTs and 1490 on the SATs. Gas can get pretty pricey, so be sure to ask how students can get around on campus. Founded in 1874, St. Olaf is a private liberal arts college in the Lutheran tradition, with a mission of developing "the whole person in mind, body and spirit." 17 on Newsweek's Most Desirable Rural Schools list. Most of the campus buildings, at least one of which is on the National Register of Historic Places, are made of stone; the first was built by students and faculty from Colgate's very own rock quarry. For more from College Prowler, visit their website. The subways can take you anywhere as well! Generally this is the case for all rural schools, as they may draw from a larger area, but the areas they draw from are sparsely populated. "'Life here is good, I do not mind being poor, indeed I like the values, and my kids are going to do the same thing -- this is a frequent direct and subtle message sent to children." Founded in 1846, the liberal arts college is no stranger to "best of" roundups, having gained praise from U.S. News & World Report and the Princeton Review in addition to being named the "Best All-Around" college by Newsweek magazine in 2004. Its nearly 25 percent participation in varsity sports positions the Big Green at No. If that sounds like a student body of polar opposites, consider this: Approximately 50 percent of all Williams College students participate in varsity sports, putting it eighth on Newsweek's list of colleges stocked with jocks. There are an additional 51 intramural sports on offer, making Bowdoin the fifth-ranked jock school. Established in 2003 by the founder of Domino's Pizza as "a Catholic liberal arts institution designed to prepare students for leadership in academics, professional occupations, and service to the greater community," Ave Maria University is counted as the 16th most desirable school in a rural setting by Newsweek. 20. 4. 25 for its service-minded culture according to the Washington Monthly. Newsweek ranks it 15 on its list of most desirable rural schools. 5. Less than a third of its applicants are accepted, and those who are average a 31 on the ACT and a 1430 on the SAT. 17 on Newsweek's Most Desirable Rural Schools list. Endless amount of things to do…You’ll never be bored. It is divided into two divisions catering to its roughly 1,800 undergraduates: the College; and the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics. Its country locale in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, helps place it among the most desirable rural schools in the country at No. SUNY Geneseo's student-to-faculty ratio is 19 to 1, with an average class size of 26. Limited choices for work experience (unless you leave campus for a semester and go to a city). Middlebury College rakes in several honors in Newsweek's rankings, including the 23rd most desirable school in the country, the fifth most desirable rural school and the ninth most desirable small school. The 30 Best Rural Colleges in America ... - Best Value Schools *For the complete college rankings from the Washington Monthly, visit their website at www.washingtonmonthly.com. No wonder that its acceptance rate is a very selective 21 percent, with entrants averaging a 33 ACT score and 1490 SAT score. Many rural communities now face a decline in their quality of life due to the 1980s economic downturn and the 1990s globalization of the marketplace. In contrast, only around 40% of rural residents believe their children have obtained good or very good school performance, while about 55% believe their children have obtained common school performance. #4 Best School Districts … 2. We scored our desirability ranking based on yield (the percentage of accepted students who enroll), admissions, test scores, endowment, student-to-faculty ratio, retention, as well as climate and the quality of facilities, housing, and dining. 22. Since all students are living on campus (or in apartments right outside campus), there is a greater sense of school pride when it comes to sports and events on campus. Clemson University gains several distinctions from Newsweek. And what’s more? "Close interaction with students is the rule here: professors become mentors and friends.". With smaller schools and smaller classrooms, each student gets more interaction time with the teachers. Indeed, Amherst comes in as the 17th most desirable school overall. You may live next door to a kid on the bastketball team, and you and your friends after eating at the dining hall walk right over to watch the game. With a student body that is 55 percent white, 14 percent Asian, 8 percent black and 7 percent Hispanic and an ongoing commitment to Native American education (in the past 40 years, more than 700 Native Americans have attended Dartmouth) this Ivy is the 24th most diverse school on Newsweek's list. With its 300-acre campus along the banks of the Cannon River in Northfield, Minnesota, St. Olaf College lands on Newsweek's list of most desirable rural colleges at No. Tons of people…everywhere, all the time. A portion of the data they used is represented in the following school profiles, but for the full methodologies, see our FAQ here. Meanwhile, with four percent of its students participating in one of 15 varsity NCAA Division I sports, an additional 61 intramural sports offered, and about a third of the school's expenditures allocated to athletics, Clemson is considered one of the top colleges for jocks at No. Additionally, social services, including schools, have been regionalized or consolidated as cost-cutting measures (Beaulieu & Mulkey, 1995; Miller, 1993). University of Washington. During the 2009–2010 school year, students paid $49,880 for tuition, fees, and room and board. However, 7 percent of students attending schools in remote rural areas were American Indian/Alaska Native, compared with 1 percent in fringe rural areas and 2 percent in distant rural areas. 4.Cities (and everything in them) tend to be more expensive. When you’re attending college in a city, typically the students are more diverse. A more tight-knit experience. As the study shows, while both also confound urban reform efforts, in rural areas, the distance between school and home gives both issues different contours. Founded in 1846, Bucknell University's campus occupies 450 acres in a rural, countryside setting along the Susquehanna River in Central Pennsylvania. 16 on most desirable schools overall, No. 10 for brainiacs. New Trier Township High School District No. You’re tucked away in a campus and while you don’t have as many places to go, you’ve got your friends, the dining halls and your comfy and cozy dorm. Professors that teach at more rural schools typically live around the area where campus is, so they are more flexible and open to meeting with students after classes. The private school attracts the brightest of the bright, and accepts less than a quarter of its applicants. 5. Tuition for the 2009–2010 academic year averaged around $40,000, and about 45 percent of students received financial aid. When we adjusted our overall school desirability ranking to include only schools in rural areas, there were lots of schools that offered a quintessential New England college experience like Dartmouth, Williams, Amherst, and Bowdoin, all well-regarded bastions of the liberal arts. (photo credit: Lotus Carroll via photopin cc). At 57 percent, the university consists of mostly women. Another unusual aspect of Williams College is an academic year that operates on two four-course semesters, plus a one-course January term. When you’re in a city that never sleeps, you have no excuse to feel bored ever. Amherst, No. And this questions is extremely important to consider. Jumping from living at home with your family to going to school in a big city could be overwhelming and unenjoyable for some. Women comprise 53 percent of the student population. College of the Ozarks, Berea College, and New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, all of which rank among the top 10 most desirable rural schools. Situated on a scenic 1,000-acre campus near the center of the town of Amherst, Massachusetts, the college also made the top 3 in Newsweek's list of most desirable rural schools. Schools of Distance Education deliver programs to students who can’t attend a state school. 16 on Newsweek's list of most desirable large schools. With ethnic minorities representing nearly a third of its students and a remarkable 83% of students receiving Pell Grants (federal grants for students from low-income families), Berea College is No. Located in scenic Brunswick, Maine, the school also finds itself fourth on the list for most desirable rural schools and the sixth most desirable small school. Those who attend average a 30 on the ACT and 1320 on the SAT. 3. Whitman has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8:1 and tuition for the 2009–2010 academic year averaged around $37,000, a 5 percent increase from the previous year. They also provide extension programs for students in secondary schools. And Williams shares the limelight with its Big and Little counterparts on several of Newsweek's lists: It's No. You have 4 free articles remaining this month, Sign-up to our daily newsletter for more articles like this + access to 5 extra articles. Undergraduate enrollment at Williams College is roughly 2,000, with the majority of students pursuing a degree in economics, followed by English. #3 Suburbs with the Best Public Schools in Tampa Area. Enrollment in the fall of 2009 was 3,099 and consisted of 55 percent women. 203. There may be more of a sense of community in rural areas than in urban areas. The competitive school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10:1 and admits less than a third of its applicants. This allows for children to receive the same – or at least a similar level – of education that their urban peers are receiving, closing the attainment gap between rural and urban. 4 on most desirable small schools and No. 23, while its nearly 20,000-strong student body makes it No. It's unique to each situation, so that neither one has to be better than the other. Set in Northfield, a historic Minnesota river town, Carleton College has been providing what it calls "a true liberal arts education" since its founding in 1866. Here are 5 reasons why you should consider teaching at a rural school: The need is great. The student population, totaling almost 6,000 students, more than 4,000 of which are undergraduates, is offered a low student-to-faculty ratio of 8:1, contributing to Dartmouth College's No. Ultimately, the best thing for you to do is explore your options. So why teach at a rural school, you ask? The private college calls itself "highly selective" and admits less than a third of students who apply, generally fewer than 500 freshmen per year. A 319-acre waterfront campus 75 miles from Washington, D.C., St. Mary's College of Maryland is among Newsweek's 25 most desirable rural schools. And those who enjoy a rural campus, the environment is more centralized around the campus and the students. See why nearly a quarter of a million subscribers begin their day with the Starting 5. Rural campuses are much more communal, you start to view your fellow students as family when you’re on a college campus. Of course, students do more than hike and sip wine. The news makes it look a lot worse, people are not getting shot on every corner, but typically there is more crime in cities as they are more populated than rural areas. Since rural campuses are typically in small college towns, the crime rate is very low. And if you're not a rankings fan, take a look at this piece by Colin Diver, the president of Reed College, about why schools dislike rankings and how families can use them wisely as part of their college decision-making process. Internship and job opportunities are right outside your door. "If you want to go to Wal-Mart or any other off-campus location, the bus is a simple way to get there.". The university is a focal point of the historic town it occupies, considering it has a student body of about 3,600 undergraduates, set against the fewer than 6,000 Lewisburg residents counted in the 2000 census. I remember my elementary school having about 200 kids, which translated to about 20 person class sizes. I mean think about it. There are actually quite a few benefits to rural schools. Rural Unincorporated Areas within 3 hr commute of Dallas, Dallas, 46 replies Buh-bye North Dallas office, hello alpaca ranch and homestead! Middlebury College is also renowned for its commitment to environmental stewardship through its curricular offerings and eco-friendly practices on campus. Selective, athletic, intellectually rigorous and historic Bowdoin College is the 18th most desirable school in the country, according to Newsweek's rankings. Tuition, room and board, and fees for the 2009–2010 school year totaled $15,845. Those who do are academically accomplished, averaging a 32 on the ACTs and 1430 on the SATs. The buildings are often historical sites, and improvements are very difficult to get approved. A number of factors, but all three are small and specialized and have remarkably competitive admissions. 1 on Newsweek's list of most desirable rural schools and the eighth most desirable school in the country, it's no wonder that only about 15 percent of the applicants are invited to matriculate at this sought-after Hanover, New Hampshire, gem. And if you’re having a difficult time deciding which lifestyle better fits you, heres a list of the pros and cons of living in both an urban and rural campus. The student body is 66 percent white, 12 percent Asian, 10 percent Hispanic, 6 percent African-American and 51 percent female. The school offers more than 40 majors, with the most popular majors in the social sciences, including economics and political science, which may account for Bowdoin's 24th place on Newsweek's list for future power brokers. There’s no reason to close a small school and put kids on a bus for an hour. 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