Light Wave

U.S. News

The 26 Best Non-Ivy League Colleges In The U.S.

By LightWave Editors · May 29, 2024

The editors of Lightwave conducted an extensive analysis of America’s best colleges and universities with a focus on academic quality, selectivity, post-college earnings, and intellectual freedom — as well as the institutional backbone to stand up to extreme politics in any form. (A Generation Lab poll concluded most college students shrug at nationwide protests.)

We call our schools “The Un-Ivy League” — high-quality colleges and universities that are committed to the mission of education, not indoctrination. These institutions provide virtually all of the excellence with little of the bunk or nonsense that has come to define the culture of the Ivies — as well as other elite institutions such as Stanford, University of Chicago and Northwestern.

To compile our list of top schools, we reviewed data provided by the U.S. Department of Education, along with national surveys covering pedagogical quality, freedom of expression (conservative and liberal), student safety, and the maintenance of civil order on campus.

Data in hand, we set out to develop a new way to evaluate America’s institutions of higher learning that takes into account the two essential components of the college experience:
Educational Quality & Quality of Life

Our list is divided into three segments: Private Universities, Public Universities & Private Liberal Arts Colleges  Jennifer Altman, For USA TODAY

Johns Hopkins University (Private)

About
“Johns Hopkins University “takes its name from 19th-century Maryland philanthropist Johns Hopkins, an entrepreneur with Quaker roots who believed in improving public health and education in Baltimore and beyond … The university’s mission today [is] to educate its students and cultivate their capacity for lifelong learning, to foster independent and original research, and to bring the benefits of discovery to the world.”
- Johns Hopkins University website

News
JUH President Ron Daniels insisted that protest encampments end because they go "to its inconsistency with the core values of the university."
He added, ”We recognize that the encampment is useful in seizing our attention. It forces us to confront different frames or narratives on the conflict," Daniels said. "But that is as far as it goes. By physically demarcating a space and by gathering, studying, and chanting with only those people who subscribe to a similar worldview on an incredibly complex subject, you fail to honor the university's foundational imperative for conversation across difference, for conversation that aims to test, evaluate, and understand competing claims.”
- WJZ-CBS News — May 3, 20/24  Wikimedia/Daderot

Vanderbilt University (Private)

About
“Founded 150 years ago, Vanderbilt University is globally renowned for its transformative education and research. Vanderbilt offers internationally recognized programs and an immersive residential undergraduate experience. The university’s ten schools and colleges live within a parklike campus in the heart of Nashville, Tennessee, creating a collaborative culture that empowers leaders of tomorrow.”
- Vanderbilt University website

News
“While Vanderbilt University has had fewer arrests and little in the way of police presence compared to other colleges, repercussions for student protestors at the university have been among the most severe. Three students were expelled, putting their academic futures at risk and sparking an outcry among faculty.”
- WPLN-NPR Nashville — May 9, 2024  Wikimedia/Kirkland12

Rice University (Private)

About
“Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.”
Rice University website

News
Message from Rice University President Reginald DesRoches (April 29, 2024):
“While personal expression and academic freedom remain a valued and protected priority in our community, let us also be reminded that hate speech of any kind will not be tolerated. We were shocked and devastated by the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks on Israel and are concerned about the rise of antisemitism, islamophobia and anti-Palestinian hate across the country. Rice unequivocally considers calls for violence or genocide against any group to be evil, wrong and immoral. Such behavior violates Rice’s policies and could violate federal law. We strongly denounce islamophobia, antisemitism, and other forms of hatred and intolerance that are antithetical to our values and our mission. We will remain vigilant in monitoring such communication through the many ways in which to report wrongful conduct. Those who violate our policies will face consequences through our established processes. We’ve had occasion to activate these processes this semester, which reinforces how seriously we approach and investigate reported violations.”  Wikimedia/Daderot

Carnegie Mellon University (Private)

About
“A private, global research university, Carnegie Mellon stands among the world's most renowned educational institutions, and sets its own course.
Over the past 10 years, more than 400 startups linked to CMU have raised more than $7 billion in follow-on funding … With cutting-edge brain science, path-breaking performances, innovative startups, driverless cars, big data, big ambitions, Nobel and Turing prizes, hands-on learning, and a whole lot of robots, CMU doesn't imagine the future, we create it.
- Carnegie Mellon website

News
“A set of agreed-upon conditions and constant communication between Pittsburgh police and pro-Palestinian demonstrators were what made a nearly weeklong sit-in at Schenley Plaza come to a "successful resolution" on Monday, public safety officials said.

“‘We can highlight the successes of what these demonstrations should look like for the country, especially in such volatile times,’ Police Chief Larry Scirotto said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — April 30, 2024  Wikimedia/Dllu

California Institute of Technology (Private)

About
“Caltech is a world-renowned science and engineering Institute that marshals some of the world's brightest minds and most innovative tools to address fundamental scientific questions and pressing societal challenges. Caltech's extraordinary faculty and students are expanding our understanding of the universe and inventing the technologies of the future, with research interests from quantum science and engineering to bioinformatics and the nature of life itself, from human behavior and economics to energy and sustainability.”
- From Caltech website

News
In response to scattered campus protests this spring, Caltech President Thomas Rosenbaum said in a statement, “The protests were peaceful and did not disrupt campus operations. He went on to say that “these protests occurred in violation of Caltech’s Free Speech and Expression Policy because the Institute was not notified of the events in advance by an authorized campus organizer.” The campus free speech policy, which had been in place since 2003, was recently updated on April 26th. The letter warned that members of the Caltech community who proceed with these activities will be subject to campus disciplinary measures. In addition, members of the community external to Caltech engaging in these activities “may be subject to other actions including civil or criminal proceedings.”
April 30, 2024  Wikimedia/Canon.vs.nikon

Washington University in St. Louis

About
“The mission of Washington University in St. Louis is to act in service of truth through the formation of leaders, the discovery of knowledge and the treatment of patients for the betterment of our region, our nation and our world. At WashU, we generate, disseminate, and apply knowledge. We foster freedom of inquiry and expression of ideas in our research, teaching and learning. We aim to create an environment that encourages and supports wide-ranging exploration at the frontier of discovery by embracing diverse perspectives from individuals of all identities and backgrounds. We promote higher education and rigorous research as a fundamental component of an open, vibrant society.”
- Washington University website

News
Statement from Washington University regarding recent protests: “On Saturday, April 27, a large group of individuals entered the Washington University campus with the intention of causing a significant disruption to the university. The group, which included WashU students and employees as well as many individuals not affiliated with the university, marched to multiple campus locations, pitched tents, and indicated that they did not intend to leave. They also put out a call for more people to come to campus to join their demonstration… When the group began to set up a camp in violation of university policy, we made the decision to tell everyone present that they needed to leave. We arrested 100 individuals who refused to leave after being asked multiple times … We are firmly committed to free expression and allow ample opportunity for voices to be heard on our campus. However, we expect everyone to respect our policies and we will take swift action to enforce them to their fullest extent.”  Wikimedia/Baili Min

Emory University (Private)

About
“Emory College of Arts and Sciences, founded in 1836, is Emory University’s primary undergraduate division with more than 5,700 students. Our intensive liberal arts curriculum is backed by all of the resources of one of the world's top research universities.
Emory College plays a critical role in supporting and expanding the liberal arts throughout the University and its nine undergraduate and professional schools. We are driven by our passions for inquiry and discovery, which are led by the College’s renowned 550-member faculty who bring their path-breaking research – and commitment to excellent teaching – to the classroom everyday.”
- Emory Website

Facts
One of the best-performing universities in the nation, Emory graduates earn incomes comparable to graduates of University of Chicago, Amherst College and Williams College.  Wikimedia/Ottawa80

Notre Dame University (Private)

About
We “seek to be an enlightening force for a world deeply in need. Our departments of theology and philosophy are regarded as among the finest in the world while faculty in all departments participate in our mission to ensure that Notre Dame’s Catholic character informs all of our endeavors. From legal scholars who study civil rights and religious liberty, to scientists and engineers who investigate environmental protection, to sociologists who examine religious and ethical practices, Notre Dame continues to be a place where the Church does its thinking. One of America’s leading undergraduate teaching institutions, Notre Dame also has been at the forefront in research and scholarship. The aerodynamics of glider flight, the transmission of wireless messages, and the formulae for synthetic rubber were pioneered at the University. Today researchers are achieving breakthroughs in astrophysics, radiation chemistry, environmental sciences, tropical disease transmission, peace studies, cancer, robotics, and nano-electronics.”
- Notre Dame University website

News
“17 protesters at the University of Notre Dame were arrested during a peaceful demonstration Thursday night. Notre Dame Police arrested the students for trespassing … In a written statement, the university [said] that senior administrators warned the group to not disturb students studying for finals and that Notre Dame Police arrested the 17 people after a final warning … The St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office says all 17 arrested have been released.
- ABC/57 — May 3, 2024  Wikimedia/Eccekevin

Boston College (Private)

About
“Boston College was founded in 1863 by the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) to educate Boston’s predominantly Irish, Catholic immigrant community. Through the decades, Boston College has become an internationally respected research university and a center of academic excellence.
“Boston College builds upon its traditions. It seeks to be the national leader in the liberal arts; to fulfill its Jesuit, Catholic mission of faith and service; to continue to develop model programs to support students in their formation; and to seek solutions—as researchers, educators, leaders, and caregivers—that directly address the world’s most urgent problems.”
- Boston College website

News
“Students have set up encampments on at least five campuses, including Northeastern University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University. But calm has prevailed elsewhere in Boston.
“‘It’s just not the vibe at this school,’ said Emmett Carrier, a junior studying biology at Boston College, a Jesuit institution with an enrollment of 15,000. ‘I don’t think they’re as committed to it here as they are at other schools.’
“Boston College faculty and students had addressed the Israel-Hamas war in class discussions, through a faculty vigil and at a rally last week, “all of which were civil and respectful,” Boston College spokesperson Jack Dunn wrote in an email.”
- boston.com — May 1, 2024  Wikimedia/Widosu

University of Richmond (Private)

About
“For more than 180 years, Spiders have come to the University of Richmond with the expectation to exceed expectations. We invite curiosity and questions, integrating hands-on experience to find answers … or more questions. As a top-20 liberal arts university, we celebrate the idea of a changing and evolving world, and we make it our mission to prepare Spiders to lead it.
“An ardent ambition that propels us past where others have stopped. An unmistakable curiosity that pushes us to dig deeper. An unyielding determination to pursue our goals with everything we have. We know that what we do here will have an incredible impact everywhere. The things we bring on day one — our talents, our passions, our viewpoints — are what equip us to make that impact.”
- University of Richmond website  Wikimedia/Talbot0893

University of Virginia (Public)

About
“In 1819, Thomas Jefferson founded the University of Virginia and inaugurated a bold experiment – a public university designed to advance human knowledge, educate leaders and cultivate an informed citizenry. More than two centuries later, this vision is thriving. Across Grounds - and throughout the world - UVA students, faculty, staff and alumni challenge convention, break barriers and pursue the greater good. The University is an iconic public institution of higher education, boasting nationally ranked schools and programs, diverse and distinguished faculty, a major academic medical center and proud history as a renowned research university.”
University of Virginia website

News
Statement from UVS President Jim Ryan regarding campus protests:
“UVA permits – and strongly encourages – speech in a wide variety of venues, facilities, times, and formats. In fact, making space for speech and expression is an essential part of what it means to live and learn at a university like ours … Our commitment to expressive activity clear; freedom of speech is not only protected by the Constitution, it is a bedrock University value. This entire year in particular, we have given wide berth to free expression, including protests, because this is at the heart of what universities do. That said, public universities like ours rely on time, place, and manner policies, which are a way of ensuring that speech is free but does not interfere with the rights of others. These policies must be applied consistently without regard to the content of expression, whether the protest is peaceful, or whether we agree or disagree with the cause. The neutral and even-handed enforcement of these rules is the only way to ensure that all members of this community have an equal opportunity to participate in the life of the University. We also have a duty to ensure the physical safety of our community.”
- May 4, 2024  Wikimedia/Aaron Josephson

University of Texas at Austin (Public)

About
“Like the state it calls home, The University of Texas at Austin is a bold, ambitious leader supporting some 52,000 diverse students, 3,000 teaching faculty, and top national programs across 19 colleges and schools. As Texas’ leading research university, UT attracts more than $650 million annually for discovery. Amid the backdrop of Austin, Texas, a city recognized for its creative and entrepreneurial spirit, the university provides a place to explore countless opportunities for tomorrow’s artists, scientists, athletes, doctors, entrepreneurs and engineers.”
- University of Texas at Austin website

News
University President “Jay Hartzell told a state senator he called for backup because he was unwilling to let the University of Texas at Austin become the next Columbia University, which was making headlines as protesters erected encampments across campus.
‘[Protesters] indicated their desire to mimic what happened at Columbia and elsewhere, which we are doing our best to avoid for obvious reasons. Our police force couldn’t handle it alone,’ he said in an April 25 text … Hartzell’s strategy, which so far has netted more than 130 arrests, has prevented encampments or building occupations that have forced presidents of other elite universities into protracted negotiations with students. This refusal to cede any ground earned him rare praise.”
- The Texas Tribune — May 2, 2024  Wikimedia/Daderot

Georgia Tech (Public)

About
“Since its founding in 1885 by an act of the state government, the Georgia Institute of Technology has become a leading global research university, a strategic economic development asset for Georgia, and an essential element of the national system of science and technology. Driven by a commitment to Progress and Service, Georgia Tech has produced extraordinary engineers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and leaders in business, government, academia and nonprofits, who have had a transformative impact locally and around the world. Georgia Tech brings together scholars and innovators from a wide variety of fields driven by the idea that technology has the power to improve the human condition. We don’t just develop technology for technology’s sake. We advance technology and the science that supports it, and we find novel ways to leverage and deploy it, to change our world for the better.”
- Georgia Tech website

News
“Georgia Tech’s Colleges of Engineering and Sciences have been chosen by the National Science Foundations to hire a new faculty member focused on solar-terrestrial science and space weather research. The NSF is prioritizing a national need in geospace physics and selected Georgia Tech from a pool of national universities.”
Georgia Institute of Technology — May 22, 2024  Wikimedia/

William & Mary University (Public)

About
“Building on more than 300 years of innovation and excellence, William & Mary — America’s second-oldest university — transcends the boundaries between research and teaching, teaching and learning, learning and living. As a "Public Ivy" — one of only eight in the nation — we offer a world-class education at an exceptional value. W&M’s students are not only some of the smartest in the world, but passionate about serving others and serious about having fun. Our professors are teachers, scholars and research mentors, the cornerstone of a thriving intellectual community that produces experienced, engaged, successful graduates."
- William & Mary website

News
“On Friday, Nov. 17, 2023, members of the College of William and Mary’s branch of Students for Justice in Palestine protested outside of Blow Memorial Hall on the second day of the College’s board of visitors meeting in the Grimsley Board Room. The SJP students organized the protest to urge the BOV to listen to student voices and increase visibility for Palestinian organizations … After the meeting was dismissed and several board members began to leave the Dawson Circle lot behind the building in their vehicles, a few SJP general body members walked back and forth at the crosswalk to obstruct the traffic. This latter action led to the College’s Community Values and Restorative Practices department to place SJP on probation through the end of the Spring 2024 semester … According to these guidelines, protests must be stopped if they disrupt normal university operations, obstruct access to offices or buildings, threaten physical harm or damage to property, take place within a university building without authorization or involve unauthorized entry into certain areas of campus.”
- The Flat Hat — Jan. 23, 2024  Wikimedia/Smash the Iron Cage

University of Florida (Public)

About
“On fertile ground where solutions grow, in sight of two coastlines, Florida offers an unparalleled setting for discovery. We’re an economic and ecological crossroads, addressing the distinct needs of our state while responding to currents from abroad. We feel and see global challenges firsthand but confront them with optimism.
It’s this spirit that pulls people to Florida. We welcome anyone who finds joy in discovery and reward the best and brightest with unmatched resources. Over the past five years, Florida has made transformational investments in faculty and inspired record public and private support. Our ambitious goals and commitment to follow-through have catapulted us to stand among the nation’s top public universities. One key to our success: Understanding that breakthroughs happen when perspectives meet. We unite artists and engineers, physicians and philosophers, entrepreneurs and educators. We distill practical solutions from pure science and apply the lessons of history to contemporary problems. We embrace a diversity of experiences and ideas as the core of our strength. These collisions, this embrace of experimentation, can yield a sense of play. Florida is more than just a laboratory or studio—it’s a full-scale intellectual theme park driven by imagination, dreams and ambition.”
University of Florida website

News
“The University of Florida issued a statement Monday night saying its campus "is not a daycare" after protestors were arrested there earlier in the day, asking for the university to reckon with their financial ties to Israel, as well as their support for free speech.”
- First Coast News — April 30, 2024  Wikimedia

Ohio State University (Public)

About
“Ohio State University is a public land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio. It was founded in 1870. It is one of the largest universities in the United States, with nearly 50,000 undergraduate students and nearly 15,000 graduate students. The university consists of sixteen colleges and offers over 400 degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity". As of 2023, the university has an endowment of $7.4 billion. Its athletic teams compete in NCAA Division I as the Ohio State Buckeyes as a member of the Big Ten Conference for the majority of fielded sports.”
Wikipedia

News
“Hundreds of protesters dispersed voluntarily Wednesday from a demonstration on the Ohio State University campus against the Israel-Hamas war and university investment in Israel, following last week's mass arrests on campus during a similar demonstration.”
- Columbus Dispatch — May 2, 2024  Wikimedia/Nheyob

Purdue University (Public)

About
“Purdue University is a public land-grant research university in West Lafayette, Indiana. The university was founded in 1869 after businessman John Purdue donated land and money to establish a college of science, technology, and agriculture; the first classes were held on September 16, 1874. Purdue University is a member of the Association of American and is classified among ‘R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity’. Purdue enrolls the largest student body of any individual university campus in Indiana, as well as the ninth-largest foreign student population of any university in the United States. The university is home to the oldest computer science program in the United States.”
- Wikipedia

News
“After 12 days of protesting on Purdue University’s campus, pro-Palestine student protestors have decided to end their encampment, citing Monday’s protest of the West Lafayette City Council as a crescendo moment to the students’ protest —- Last, week, Purdue University’s administration threatened to suspend or expel four student protest organizers due to their involvement with the protest on campus as well as several alleged violations of the university’s student code of conduct that were noted in the letters the four students received.”
Gannett - May 6, 2024  Wikimedia/Abhijitsathe

Pomona College (Liberal Arts)

About
“Pomona College is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading liberal arts colleges, offering an ideal environment for intellectually curious students to pursue their academic and life goals. Pomona holds a unique role in creating opportunity in American higher education and is committed to enrolling the best students regardless of financial circumstances. To that end, Pomona College is one of a small group of colleges committed to meeting the full demonstrated financial need of all students who enroll.”
Pomona College website

News
“A California college president is vowing to get tough with anti-Israel student protesters terrorizing her campus. Roughly 150 students at Pomona College in Claremont demonstrated at an administrative building on campus housing school president Gabrielle Starr’s office Friday, then stormed the building and refused to leave … At least 18 students were reportedly arrested. ‘These actions are actively destructive of the values that underpin our community,’ she wrote of the Alexander Hall occupation. ‘Any participants in today’s events … who turn out to be Pomona students, are subject to immediate suspension.’”
- New York Post — April 6, 2024  Wikimedia/Adam Jones

Claremont McKenna College (Liberal Arts)

About
Claremont McKenna College, one of the nation’s top liberal arts colleges, prepares students to make a difference. Since 1946, Claremont McKenna College’s mission has been to prepare students for thoughtful and productive lives and responsible leadership in business, government, and the professions. The College attracts a student body that is broadly diverse and accomplished beyond the classroom. Renowned for expertise in economics and government, Claremont McKenna features accomplished scholars who are committed teachers in the humanities, sciences, and social sciences. The school is distinguished by eleven world-class research institutes. Exceptionally high numbers of undergraduate students conduct research with professors and get to know them as colleagues.”
- Claremont McKenna website

News
“U.S. Secretary of State, the Honorable Anthony J. Blinken, designated Claremont McKenna College a "Top Producing Institution" of Fulbright U.S. Students for 2023-2024. Fulbright seeks students of the world who have a strong interest in cross-cultural exchange, research, or teaching opportunities overseas. The distinction is a testament to the College's deep commitment to international affairs, and to building lasting connections between the people of the United States and people from nations around the world.”
PR Newswire — Feb. 15, 2024  Wikimedia/Sdkb

Colgate University (Liberal Arts)

About
“Colgate is a distinctive, leading American university known for its intellectual rigor, world-class professors, campus of stunning beauty, and alumni famously loyal to their alma mater. Through its curriculum, the engagement of the faculty, and life on the campus, Colgate challenges students to be enlightened thinkers and prepares them to be global citizens who will thrive in life and in work. Learning here, living here, and climbing the hill of our campus, you feel it: We are always ascending. Colgate is a university that is marked by a proud two-century history and shaped by its bold ambition.”
Colgate University website  Wikimedia/Colgate University

Washington and Lee University (Liberal Arts)

About
“Washington and Lee is a top-ranked, private institution in Lexington, Virginia, where we integrate the rigorous inquiry and critical thinking of a liberal arts curriculum with nationally accredited undergraduate programs in business and journalism, and a graduate School of Law. Our graduates, mentored by a faculty of teacher-scholars, are ready to make a meaningful impact wherever they go in the world. W&L is the ninth-oldest institution of higher education in America and our historic campus, situated in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, is home to a vibrant, welcoming community distinguished by an entirely student-run Honor System that pushes students to take responsibility and realize their potential as citizens, peers and leaders.”
- Washington & Lee website

News
“Washington and Lee University has been awarded the 2024 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, an elective designation that indicates an institutional commitment to community engagement. W&L was one of 40 U.S. colleges and universities to receive this classification from the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching during its 2024 certification cycle. W&L is one of 368 institutions that currently hold the classification endorsement.”
- W&L Office of Communications — Jan. 8, 2024  Wikimedia/Bobak Ha'Eri

Kenyon College (Liberal Arts)

About
“Kenyon College is a private liberal arts college in Gambier, Ohio. It was founded in 1824 by Episcopal Bishop Philander Chase. It is the oldest private institution of higher education in the state of Ohio and enrolls approximately 1,800 undergraduate students. Students choose from over 50 majors, minors, and concentrations, including self-designed majors. The college is located on a hill overlooking the Kokosing River and neighbors Mount Vernon, Ohio Its 1,000-acre campus is set in rural surroundings that host seven ecosystems. There are more than 120 student clubs and organizations. Kenyon athletes are called Owls and compete in the NCAA Division III North Coast Athletic Conference.”
- Wikipedia  Wikimedia/.curt.

Colorado College (Liberal Arts)

About
“Want to study limestone and shale formations in the Rocky Mountain region? Grab your tent, your professor is taking your class on a week-long camping trip in the mountains. Want to learn about political strategy in international relations? Pack your bags, your class is off to Washington, D.C. Have you ever tried to learn a language but it took forever because, at the same time, you were also having to write that history paper and work on those calculus equations? At CC, you can pick from any of the ten languages we teach and do nothing but immerse yourself in that world for nearly a month. How? The Block Plan. And who are you studying with? Award-winning professors who are focused on one thing. Your class. They’re not teaching any other courses, so you and that subject have their full attention. The professor. Not a TA, not a research assistant, only your professor. Could some of the best minds in the world take a whole semester off to teach a college course? Probably not. But three and a half weeks? Absolutely! The Block Plan allows for world-renowned industry leaders to come to campus and teach.”
- Colorado College website

News
“Protesters on Colorado College’s campus in Colorado Springs set up a small encampment on Thursday. Those present at the camp, about 20 people as of Thursday afternoon … provided a list of their demands of the institution … which include the college being transparent when it comes to their investments, as well as ending investments into and relationships with arms companies. In a statement to 11 News, Colorado College’s Leadership Team said … “We will not forcibly remove the encampment unless it poses a health or safety issue, causes damage to property, or prevents access to campus buildings. [However] discrimination, harassment, and physical threats will not be tolerated, and individuals who violate these policies will be held accountable through our conduct procedures.”
- CBS/11 News — May 2, 2024  Wikimedia/Jeffrey Beall

Holy Cross (Liberal Arts)

About
“The College of the Holy Cross was founded in 1843 by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in Worcester, Massachusetts. Holy Cross is a highly selective, four-year, undergraduate, liberal arts institution and is ranked among the nation's leading four-year liberal arts colleges.”
- Holy Cross website

News
“Sixteen Holy Cross students joined thousands of students from Jesuit institutions across the country in Washington D.C. for the annual Ignatian Family Teach-in (IFT) on the weekend of Nov. 13- 15, to protest the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, formerly known as School of the Americas (SOA). Sponsored by the Ignatian Solidarity Network, this was the first year the protest was held in Washington, D.C. Previously, since 1995, Jesuits, former Jesuits, lay pastoral leaders, and the broader Ignatian family had gathered at the gates of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation in Fort Benning to call for the closure of the institute and to commemorate the deaths of the Salvadoran Jesuit martyrs, their housekeeper and her daughter, the four churchwomen, and the many other men, women, and children who have been innocent victims of civil war and bloodshed.”
- Holy Cross Magazine — Jan. 17, 2024  Wikimedia/Kenneth C. Zirkel

Davidson College (Liberal Arts)

About
“Immersed in the vibrant metro Charlotte region, Davidson College is a campus where century-old trees and brick buildings blend with a culture of innovation and an array of state-of-the-art facilities.
Davidson alumni describe how the college more than provided an exemplary education—it transformed their lives. The Davidson community empowers, inspires and educates people on how to understand their talents in light of what the world needs. We are one of America's most selective liberal arts colleges, and academic potential, character, and accomplishments are the only factors considered in admission decisions—not your ability to pay.”
Davidson College website

News
“In the wake of the recent violence in Israel-Gaza, students Elias Henderson and Stella Mackler from Davidson College in North Carolina, felt the need to address the profound pain and loss their campus community was experiencing. ‘Someone needed to do something because there’s, on all college campuses, a lot of conversation going on around what is happening … people were posting on social media, students were talking about it,’ says Mackler, a sophomore Environmental Studies major and Arab Studies minor. ‘But no one was doing anything.’ The students sought guidance from their Arab Studies professor, Dr. Rebecca Joubin, and Davidson’s dean of faculty, Dr. Shelley Rigger. Henderson, a Palestinian Christian, and Mackler, who is Jewish, organized an on-campus educational event, ‘Understanding the Crisis in Israel and Gaza.’”
- Interfaith America — Dec. 8, 2023  Wikimedia/Dacoslett

Franklin & Marshall (Liberal Arts)

About
“The cornerstone of the educational experience we offer is students working side-by-side with faculty who want to help them test ideas — not just talk or read about them. These are not experiences you have to wait until graduate school to pursue. It's a core part of what we do … Our focus on global education recognizes that, no matter where life takes you after F&M, you will work and live with people with vastly different ways of perceiving our world. A global education helps you begin to understand how to negotiate these differences, strengthening your abilities to successfully live and work in our increasingly global society. We’re a partner in your success on Day 1. Explore how we engage with students across all four class years — and discover how that commitment helps you land jobs in leading industries and gain admission to high-demand graduate and professional programs around the world.”
- Franklin & Marshall website

News
“A Tuesday event at Franklin & Marshall College will feature academic experts and industry representatives seeking to raise awareness about bird-safe glass as the Lancaster County Bird Club advocates for a Lancaster city construction ordinance. Daniel Klem, a professor of ornithology and conservation biology at Muhlenberg University in Allentown, who will be one of the featured speakers, has estimated that 1.28 billion to 5.19 billion birds die each year in the United States due to collisions with windows. Taking action to install bird-safe glass in new buildings and retrofit older structures is possible with sufficient willpower, Klem said in a March interview. ‘It’s something we can do tomorrow.’”
- Lancaster Online — May 17, 2024  Wikimedia/Smallbones