Prescott College Description:
Located in Prescott, Arizona, and surrounded by over 1.4 million acres of National Forest, Prescott College does not deliver a typical undergraduate experience. Incoming students begin their Prescott experience with a three-week "Wilderness Orientation." During this course, small groups of students might backpack through the country, learn about health and wellness at a remote ranch, or go on a horseback expedition. The entire Prescott College curriculum has an experiential, "learning-by-doing" emphasis. Students' programs of study are highly individualized and developed in collaboration with the faculty. The environment and ecological literacy are at the heart of a Prescott education. The curriculum is supported by a 10 to 1 student / faculty ratio, and many field-based studies have a 5 to 1 ratio. Students looking for a passive classroom experience need not apply. Prescott College is a member of the Eco League with four other small colleges that focus on sustainability: Alaska Pacific University, Northland College, Green Mountain College, and College of the Atlantic. Students can easily spend a semester or two studying at these other colleges.
Admissions Data (2011):
- Percent of Applicants Admitted: 83%
- What Are Your Chances? (from Cappex.com)
- Test Scores -- 25th / 75th Percentile
- SAT Critical Reading: 510 / 650
- SAT Math: 470 / 630
- SAT Writing: 500 / 610
- ACT Composite: 21 / 26
- ACT English: 21 / 27
- ACT Math: 20 / 25
Enrollment (2010):
- Total Enrollment: 1,132 (779 undergraduates)
- Gender Breakdown: 41% Male / 59% Female
- 84% Full-time
Costs (2011 - 12):
- Tuition and Fees: $27,829
- Books: $720 (why so much?)
- Room and Board: $5,900
- Other Expenses: $3,800
- Total Cost: $38,249
Prescott College Financial Aid (2009 - 10):
- Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 93%
- Prescott College Scholarships (Cappex.com)
- Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
- Grants: 90%
- Loans: 70%
- Average Amount of Aid
- Grants: $10,366
- Loans: $6,681
Most Popular Majors:
(note that students at Prescott work with faculty members to create individualized and interdisciplinary degree programs; education and the environment are defining features of most plans of study) Art, Community Organization and Advocacy, Conservation Biology, Elementary Education, Environmental Studies, Outdoor Education, Psychology, Secondary Education
Transfer, Graduation and Retention Rates:
- First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 70%
- 4-Year Graduation Rate: 34%
- 6-Year Graduation Rate: 52%
Data Source:
National Center for Educational Statistics
Prescott College Mission Statement:
mission statement from http://www.prescott.edu/explore/vision-and-history/mission.html
"It is the mission of Prescott College to educate students of diverse ages and backgrounds to understand, thrive in, and enhance our world community and environment. We regard learning as a continuing process and strive to provide an education that will enable students to live productive lives while achieving a balance between self-fulfillment and service to others. Students are encouraged to think critically and act ethically with sensitivity to both the human community and the biosphere. Our philosophy stresses experiential learning and self-direction within an interdisciplinary curriculum."
