Ripon College | Alexa Flash Briefing

There are over 4,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. And while the media tends to focus on just a handful of schools, we at College Coach encourage students to think outside the box during their college selection process and explore a wide range of colleges, including this week’s School Spotlight, Ripon College. Ninety minutes north of Madison and Milwaukee you’ll find Ripon College, a private liberal arts school that offers each of its nearly 800 undergraduate students a personalized learning experience. Through innovative academic programs, a multitude of volunteering opportunities, and creative alternative break trips, civically-minded students can engage with their communities and develop as leaders. The College offers over 30 majors in the liberal arts and sciences, but they also feature 40 unique minors in fields such as coaching, entrepreneurship, and law & society. Mature students looking to create their own individualized course of study can even take advantage of Ripon’s self-designed major option and study fields as varied as ethnobiology or sports psychology. Between the College’s 21 DIII conference teams (including men’s and women’s varsity cycling) and 14 intramural sports (inner tube water polo, anyone?) athletics are a popular diversion on campus. Over one-third of students are varsity athletes while 70 percent remain active in intramurals. Fun fact: Ripon guarantees that students who maintain good academic standing (and do not change majors late in the process) will graduate within four years; and if you need an extra semester’s worth of classes, the College will waive that semester’s tuition fees for you!