University of Delaware – traditional education with an emphasis on experiential learning

Standing in the grassy green mall, the hub of University of Delaware’s 970-acre campus, you will find yourself surrounded by a mix of colonial and modern buildings. University of Delaware is one of the oldest US universities, established in 1743 as Newark College, then renamed Delaware College, and finally, University of Delaware in 1921. 

 

Despite its longstanding heritage, UD continues to renovate and upgrade its campus and facilities. Mechanical Hall is a climate-controlled art gallery home to the Paul R. Jones collection of African-American art, and Innovation Suite recently opened for the electrical and computer engineering departments. Students studying hotel and restaurant management gain hands-on experience in the fine dining restaurant and a Courtyard by Marriott right on campus. 

 

Here are a few quick facts about UDelaware:

Acceptance: 68%

Freshman retention: 91%

Freshmen out of state: 66%

Most popular majors: finance, marketing, nursing, psychology

4-year Graduation rate: 71%; 6-year: 81%

Student Community Diversity: 5% Black, 8% Latino, 5% International

 

Housing: All freshmen not commuting live in the dorms, making up part of the 40 percent of overall students who reside on campus. Housing is guaranteed and awarded by lottery, but many juniors and seniors move to off-campus apartments. 

 

Honors students live in designated residence halls and certain majors require students to live in a living/learning community. There are also a variety of optional special-interest living communities. Students in traditional residence halls are required to purchase the meal plan. UD students state that the food courts are really good with a variety of options for different dietary needs and restrictions, but the dining halls could use some improvement. 

 

Academics: UD offers 135 majors in a range of disciplines. Some of their newer offerings include biomedical engineering and human resources administration. In order to graduate, students must pass freshman English (critical reading and writing), earn 3 credits of discovery-based or experiential learning (internship, research or study abroad), complete First-Year Seminar course in freshman year and a capstone project in senior year. Other graduation requirements vary by college. 

 

The average class size is 35 students, but 34% of classes have fewer than 20 students. Professors stress the importance of collaboration and working together. Career Services is very active in making sure students are well-supported in gaining real-world experiences. One-third of students travel to 40 countries and 400 students receive stipends each summer to do research with faculty members. Students at UD also have a conviction to get involved in community service; 62 percent of students get involved during their time at UD. Service Learning Scholars program is a 10-week program that immerses students in community service opportunities in the local community.  

 

Similar colleges to consider: Penn State, Rutgers, University of Connecticut, University of Maryland

 

Social: Despite having a smaller percentage of students living in the dorms, most social life at University of Delaware happens on or around campus. Students can find plenty of events hosted by UD student organizations to attend. Greek life attracts a moderate number of students (18% of men and 23% of women pledge), but they do not have a monopoly on the social gatherings. 

 

True to their positive and friendly nature, University of Delaware offers a variety of fun traditions and activities. Hen Fest welcomes students back to campus each fall and juniors mark their progress in the fall with the Halfway There Party. This event features half-legged races, half-lemonade/half-iced tea (Arnold Palmers) and a DJ bumping popular songs…but only halfway through. 

 

Main Street runs almost right through campus, making most places within a comfortable walking distance. Students will find coffee shops, pizza places, restaurants, a movie theater and shops nearby. For students who want to venture a little further, New York, DC, Baltimore and Philadelphia are all about a two-hour drive away. 

 

Division I Blue Hens are becoming more competitive, with football being the biggest deal. Tailgate parties are very popular both before and after the games. Women’s field hockey won a national championship title recently, and women’s golf and men’s soccer have brought home Colonial Athletic Association conference titles. Men’s and women’s basketball teams have a lively rivalry with Drexel. Recreational sports also draw a lot of students with 35 club sports and 30 intramural programs. 

 

Financial: University of Delaware offers both need-based and non-need based financial aid as well as a some athletic scholarships. The average percent of need met is 59%, with 21% being fully met. 

 

Although the cost of attendance for non-commuters is $29,200 and $52,200 for in-state and out-of-state, respectively, the average financial aid package is $20,000. Twenty percent of students receive some type of financial aid.

Wittenberg – a liberal arts gem in the Midwest

Wittenberg offers a solid honors program, an active Greek scene, and competitive Division III athletics. Founded in 1845 by German Lutherans and set on a beautiful 100-acre campus in the Midwest, you will find a college that emphasizes strong student-faculty relationships, a dedication to community service (students give 30+ hours of their time each year) and an academic environment that is “challenging, but friendly.” Students will be awe-struck by a mixture of 1800s and Gothic-inspired buildings, as well by the brand-new Health, Wellness and Athletics complex with full-size indoor turf field surrounded by a running track. 

 

Here are a few quick facts about Wittenberg:

Acceptance: 97%

Freshman retention: 76%

Freshmen out of state: 21%

Most popular majors: education, biology, marketing, psychology

4-year Graduation rate: 58%; 6-year: 63%

Student Community Diversity: 10% Black, 3.7% Latino, 0.8% International

 

Housing: Freshmen and sophomores are required to live on campus, where 85% of all undergraduates live. Many upperclassmen choose to live in houses and apartments nearby. The dorms are described as spacious and air-conditioned. The dining halls offer a variety of options, including vegetarian selections; most students say that food isn’t the best, but it is acceptable. 

 

Academics: General education requirements at Wittenberg emphasize a liberal arts background with learning goals including writing and research, exercising social and moral responsibility and participating in physical education. First-year students participate in a leadership development program, a service-learning course and First-Year Seminar, which helps with the transition from high school to college. 

 

Wittenberg students can expect to find their professors to be accessible and also plenty of opportunities to participate in undergraduate research. In fact, 92% of students participate in said research and 20% of students take advantage of the opportunity to spend a semester or a year of study off campus. For those looking for smaller class sizes, 52% of Wittenberg’s undergraduate courses have fewer than 20 students. 

 

What else can Wittenberg students expect? The engineering department offers a 3-2 bachelor’s/master’s program in conjunction with Columbia and Case Western Reserve University. Also, for students who declare their major on time and complete all courses with a C or better, Wittenberg guarantees a degree in 4 years, and will pay for any additional necessary courses.

 

Similar colleges to consider: Denison, The College of Wooster, Miami University (OH), The Ohio State University

 

Social: Wittenberg students have more than 120 student organizations, performing arts groups and intramurals to choose from to get involved. Greek life has a larger presence than many other college campuses, with 29% of men and 32% of women choosing to “go Greek.” Weekend social life largely centers on parties held in houses, dorms, and apartments near campus. The various Greek groups, the Union Board and Residence Hall Association all work to bring events to campus including guest speakers, movies, comedians and concerts. Favorite annual events include Greek Week, W Day, Homecoming and Wittfest (a festival and concert with games, food and socializing held before finals).

 

The surrounding city of Springfield offers access to movie theaters, restaurants and a performing arts center. Nearby state parks offer swimming, camping, biking trails and spots for picnicking. Popular road trips include going to nearby Dayton, Columbus and Cincinnati. 

 

The Wittenberg Tigers are competitive in Division III sports, with their biggest rivalries being against Wabash, Allegheny and The College of Wooster. The most recent North Coast Athletic Conference championship titles have been in men’s basketball, football and golf, as well as women’s volleyball, softball and golf. Intramural sports are also very popular, especially crew, ice hockey and rugby. 

 

Financial: Wittenberg offers both need-based aid as well as non-need based merit aid. WU does not offer any athletic scholarships. The average percent of need met is 84%, with 29% being fully met. Although the tuition and fees are $55,600, the average financial aid package is $28,200. 98% of students some type of financial aid.

University of Tampa offers students plenty of hands-on experience

University of Tampa is a private, residential college with a rich history. The central building, Plant Hall, once housed the Tampa Bay Hotel, a resort built by Henry B. Plant in 1891. The hotel closed in 1931 due to the Great Depression, and two years later became the main building for the relocated University of Tampa (formerly known as Tampa Junior College). UT now has 60 buildings on 110 landscaped acres where you can find cannons from the original harbor fort and the spot of the former Florida State Fair grounds where Babe Ruth hit his longest home run – 630 feet. 

 

Here are a few quick facts about University of Tampa:

4-year Graduation rate: 50%, 6-year: 61%

Acceptance: 56%

Freshman retention: 78%

Freshmen out of state: 80% 

Most popular majors: international business, biology, marketing, marine science

Student Community Diversity: 5% Black, 14% Latino, 9% International

 

Housing: Accommodations vary from private rooms with a shared bathroom, kitchen and common area to studio-style private suites. Nine of the twelve residence halls have been built since 1998 through a massive renovation project. The nearby Barrymore Hotel also houses students with shuttle services to and from campus. 93% of freshmen and about 49% of all undergrads live on campus. 

 

Academics: University of Tampa’s motto is “To be, rather than to seem to be” and offers the hands-on experiences to meet it. Undergraduates can choose from over 200 academic programs in four colleges: College of Arts and Letters; College of Social Sciences, Mathematics and Education; College of Natural and Health Sciences; and Skyes College of Business. Sykes College of Business has a stock market lab with terminals and plasma screen TVs so students can get the experience of being on a stock market exchange floor. The College of Natural and Health Sciences owns a remote marine science research lab on Tampa Bay, as well as extensive equipment to study the ecosystems of the Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. University of Tampa is also home to an ROTC unit. 

 

UT has liberal arts curriculum requirements including a first year seminar, courses in writing and inquiry, math, natural sciences, humanities and fine arts, social sciences, and global awareness. Another opportunity for UT undergrads is the study abroad program which places students in one of 70 countries; about a quarter of students participate. The Honors Program allows students to study 1:1 with faculty through enrichment and tutorials, internships, research, and classroom to community outreach. 

 

Similar colleges to consider: Remington College, University of South Florida, University of Phoenix – West Florida Campus 

 

Social: The University of Tampa Spartans compete in Division II athletics and hold national titles in baseball, men’s and women’s soccer, golf, volleyball, and beach volleyball. The college’s football program folded in 1974 in order to keep the college afloat during a period of financial troubles. The Fitness and Recreation Center has two floors with 60,000 square feet of space and an on-campus aquatic center with a deep swimming section for scuba diving classes. 

 

The percentage of students who go Greek at UT is fairly small, about 6% of men and 11% of women. The most popular campus events include Global Village Simulation, Model UN debates, The MLK Day Service and Student Productions Comedy Shows. And, of course, there are plenty of things to do in surrounding Tampa, no matter what your interests are.

 

Financial: University of Tampa offers both grants and scholarships, however, they offer much more in non-need based than need-based aid.  Although the tuition and fees are $46,000 (tuition is the same for both in-state and out-of-state students), the average financial aid package is $13,400. 90% of students receive financial aid and/or scholarships.

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