Safest College Campuses in America in 2020

Choosing a college isn’t a straightforward decision. In addition to the courses you are hoping to study, there are a host of other issues to think about. Students are often persuaded by peer pressure and marketing messages from well-known institutions to apply to the likes of Harvard, Yale and Stanford, but there are plenty of great reasons to choose a smaller college, one of which is campus safety.

Students rarely think about campus safety when they fill out their college application, but they should. There are all sorts of crimes committed on college campuses in the US, from sexual assault and hate crimes to petty theft and disciplinary offenses.

Being involved in a crime on campus could ruin your college years. No student wants that to happen. Fortunately, thanks to Nuwber research, we have a list of the safest college campuses in the US. In all fairness, the research findings show that smaller colleges are generally safer. However, there are several universities with larger campuses that have made it to the list, too. Read on to discover which college you should apply to in 2020 if both campus size and safety are a priority for you. Consider the colleges below if you opt for a smaller university.

The University of Saint Joseph (CT)

The University of Saint Joseph in Connecticut is a small, private college with only 2,400 students. Until 2018, it was a female-only school, but males are now welcome. Crime rates on campus are extremely low and the college has a team of security officers regularly patrolling the campus, as well as safety SMS alerts and other useful resources.

The Atlanta Metropolitan State College (GA)

There were no hate crimes or sex crimes reported here, so it’s a safe choice for students in 2020. The college is relatively small with a population of 2,500 students. The college has its own police department and systems in place to protect, educate, and support students on campus.

Morningside College (IA)

Morningside College in Sioux City is a great choice for liberal arts students with concerns about campus safety. This small college has an excellent safety record, with only 34 disciplinary actions reported per 1,000 students. The college campus is in a quiet residential area and there are 24-hour student safety programs in place.

The University of Maine at Farmington (ME)

The University of Maine at Farmington is a small, publicly-funded liberal arts college. There were no reported hate crimes, violence against women, or sex crimes reported here. Disciplinary offenses were also low. The campus has comprehensive safety protocols in force, including emergency phones and locked halls of residence.

On the other hand, if a small college doesn’t appeal, consider these mid-sized and larger colleges from the list.

Liberty University (VA)

Liberty University in Virginia has a student population of more than 75k and it is one of the largest non-profit colleges in the US. Liberty has a solid safety record with more than 60 safety officers keeping students safe on campus.

Utah Valley University (UT)

Utah Valley University in Orem has around 37,000 students on campus. Serious crimes such as violence against women and hate crimes are very low, with less than one recorded case per 1,000 students.

Brigham Young University-Idaho (ID)

Brigham Young University has a student population of 51,000. There were no hate crimes here and low numbers of sexual offenses. Safety measures on campus include safety escorts and assistance for students who are locked out.

University of Massachusetts-Boston (MA)

UMass Boston has around 16,000 students on campus and an arrest rate of less than one per student. There is a crime prevention program on campus to keep students safe.

Other colleges worth considering include Wilmington University (DL), Touro College (NY), Polk State College (FL), University of Alaska Anchorage (AK), National University (CA), and University of Wyoming (WY).

Review the Nuwber research if you want to check out the full list of the safest colleges in the US. Always consider a college’s safety record before you fill in your application. College safety should be a priority, even if your primary reason for heading to college is to have a good time.