AVERAGE: 66.8
Adrian College was founded in 1859, but it had its roots in two earlier Methodist seminaries that went under, leaving their assets to the city of Adrian, MI to establish a school. Shaped by first president Asa Mahan, a noted abolitionist and religious leader, Adrian was designed for tolerance and acceptance, rooted in Methodist values of human dignity and service. In the past Adrian College has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a college on the rise, ranking as the top up-and-coming institution for the Midwest and as one of the best values among regional colleges.
Academic Programs
The Adrian College curriculum is based primarily on the traditional liberal arts, with all students working through core courses in critical thinking, application of ideas, and humanist research in their first year. Forty traditional majors are available in areas like business, communications, and education, while six pre-professional programs prepare students for graduate work in law, seminary, engineering, art therapy, and more. With the mix of classical liberal arts values, and contemporary professional preparation, Adrian is dedicated to creating the next generation of leaders in a variety of fields.One intriguing aspect of Adrian’s educational landscape is the number of interdisciplinary research centers open to student and faculty projects. These institutes – including institutes for entrepreneurial studies, creativity, ethics, and the George Romney Institute for Law and Public Policy – gives students the opportunity to work alongside faculty to answer pressing questions and develop top-tier research. This experience gives students a significant advantage when applying to graduate school, and shows valuable experience in solving complex problems when entering the job market.
Student Life
Adrian College is a small campus of just over 1600 students, As in the liberal arts college tradition, students at Adrian are accomplished at finding and creating activities to fill their time. More than 75 student-led organizations – a high number for a school of Adrian’s size – gives students options for community service, friendship-building, recreation, physical activity, and entertainment ranging from reading banned books to swing dancing. Around 20% of Adrian’s student body are immersed in Greek Life, which further serves to build community and offer service opportunities.The Adrian College Bulldogs are part of the NCAA Division III, fielding two dozen varsity teams. In keeping with Adrian’s history – Asa Mahan was a famed early advocate of women’s equality – many of Adrian’s sports are available for body men and women, including a rare women’s hockey team. Ice sports are particularly popular at Adrian, including synchronized skating and hockey. In recent years Adrian has put a renewed interest in building its athletic program, introducing a number of new varsity sports in the last decade.
