I’m starting a list of public colleges that are “hidden gems”, in other words colleges that are special not because of their reputation or high ranking, but because of what they offer. Examples might be highly regarded specialty colleges or colleges with low teacher:student ratio (listed in parentheses). The service academies would be other obvious examples, but I’m leaving them off precisely because they are so obvious and because they require a commitment beyond college. Other input is welcome. Here goes:
Fashion Institute of Technology
Cal Maritime
SUNY Maritime
Cornell University Statutory Colleges (Agriculture, ILR, Human Ecology)
New College of Florida (7:1)
St. Mary’s of Maryland (9:1)
Maine-Machias (10:1)
Hunter College (11:1)
Mass College of Liberal Arts (11:1)
SUNY Potsdam (11:1)
Valley City State (11:1)
VMI (11:1)
UVA-Wise (11:1)
Michigan (12:1)
Michigan Tech (12:1)
Minnesota-Morris (12:1)
New Mexico Mining & Technology (12:1)
Minot State (12:1)
William & Mary (12:1)
Purdue (12:1)
That’s a nice list of colleges but why would Michigan and Purdue be considered “hidden gems”?
I would add University of North Carolina School of the Arts. It’s a NC public conservatory…and I can’t think of another like it. Has programs from HS through grad school.
I would also take out teacher:student ratio. It’s misleading. TAs are counted in the teaching capacity. I’m picking on Purdue, but according to IPEDS, they are close to 50:50 faculty to TAs with 2431 faculty instructors and 1804 TAs.
The contract colleges at Cornell are not “public” in any conventional or traditional sense of the word. They are divisions of a privately administered land grant university that offer a 33% tuition discount and (maybe) a slight admissions preference for New York State residents.
For students with a unique background (or skill/ability to learn quickly) in authentic Eastern European dance or music, Duquesne University in Pittsburg gives full scholarships to an amazing touring student group, The Tamburitzans. Whether you want to join them or not, look them up on you-tube…their performances are electrifying…I have seen a performance live (on tour in my area). One dancer I spoke to during intermission had a ballet background and said several otherS in the in the group did as well. Others had extensive musical training and learned the new folk instruments after being accepted into the program. Wikipedia says it’s the longest-running multicultural song and dance group in the US. They perform around the country and sometimes internationally on the weekends and learn the routines in summer.
Oh, sorry, not public, nvm. But I’ll leave this up in case someone is interested! It’s certainly a unique hidden gem.
Oops… misread that you want public. Sorry. Ignore the two below if solely looking for public.
Eckerd (FL) is definitely a hidden gem for anyone looking for Marine and/or Environmental Science. It’s actually good in the sciences in general, but really excels for those two, often noted as best in the nation when I was asking people working “in the field” about options. You can roll out of your bunk and be at the water in minutes - no transportation to it necessary.
Washington & Jefferson southwest of Pittsburgh is a hidden gem for a nice LAC where students have gone on and done well. It’s an easier admit and sometimes offers good aid (not a guarantee on aid though).
U Wi-LaCrosse. Has nuclear med and radiation tech majors to merge healthcare and science. Strong programs in most other disciplines. College town with 3 schools. Near the river and bluffs. Gives that overall great college experience with Midwest nice.
U Wi-Whitewater. Rural but college town. A safety for many. Great business, education, and digital media/gaming degrees. Football team does pretty well so solid school spirit.
Add Ohio University to the public list. Especially for allied health professions, journalism and communications, this is a great and often overlooked college.
Students will generally see larger class sizes than the student:instructor ratio because more of the students will be in the larger classes. Consider a college with 10 faculty members, each teaching one class, and 100 students. If one class has 55 students, and nine classes have 5 students each, then the average class size that students see is 32.5, even though the student:instructor ratio is 10:1.
@ucbalumnus and others. When I think of a “hidden gem” I think it’s a place that folks just don’t commonly have on their radar screen.
Certainly, NJ students would know about Rutgers. I don’t view that as “hidden” at all. Students from all over the northeast are familiar with the school.
