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. As such, we are highlighting a new college each week in our School Spotlight series. Check out the college below, along with the other posts in our series, and you may just stumble upon your dream school!

School Spotlight: University of Lynchburg
Lynchburg, VA

Nearly 2,100 undergraduate students find a warm and welcoming community on the campus of the University of Lynchburg, one of the 45 Colleges that Change Lives. Whether you’re on track to be your high school’s valedictorian or you’re a solid B student, Lynchburg is the type of college that will help you realize your potential. The College’s most popular majors are nursing, health promotion (which can lead to careers as a physical therapist, public health official, or physician assistant), and criminology but they also offer strong programs in business administration, communication studies, and exercise physiology. The campus’s 491-acre Claytor Nature Center is the ideal place for environmental enthusiasts to gain hands-on experience with Virginia’s wildlife, woodlands, and wetlands. In fact, students studying biology, chemistry, or environmental science at Lynchburg can conduct research in the nature center’s state-of-the-art laboratory. At Lynchburg, students are encouraged to think about ways in which they can best serve the world. One possible first step might be to minor in leadership studies or develop leadership skills through the Bonner Leaders Program, both of which can help students make a lasting difference in their communities. Good to know: all admitted first year students are automatically considered for merit scholarships, ranging from $12,000 to $22,000 renewable awards.

Image Credit: Top, Courtesy of John McCormick / University of Lynchburg