College of St. Joseph
- Only 350 students, with plans to expand more resident students
- Dining Services will literally cook you recipes from home if you bring them in.
- New initiative with the Provider Scholarship which will essentially bring the cost of tuition down to $15,500 per year. The scholarship has a different kind of model where they are aiming to have it be an incentive not a reward. Students with As. Bs. and Cs in high school can all be given the award. It will also increase in award over time so by the time the student is a senior the cost will be down to $12,500.
- To be honest, it was hard for me to get a real good read on the College of St. Joseph. I think it sounds like they have a lot of plans to transition their identity, but there were a lot of mixed messages so it is hard for me to know what things are aspirations and what are actually going to happen. The scholarship above though is exciting and it can be awarded to both international and undocumented students.
- Campus has seen a huge transformation since 2001, complete with new buildings and renovations, and it shows.
- 1,900 students and over 50% are first in their family to go to college.
- As a small public school, the students here seemed earthy, athletic (in a skiing/skateboarding/boarding way not a popped collar jock way), and grounded.
- $300 student ski season pass includes nearby Killington. I don't ski and I've heard of Killington so that must be good ;)
- Amtrak Station right near campus means it is extremely accessible to New York City students.
- Strong support for students with learning disabilities. Frankly, seems like great support for all students. The staff, across all sectors, seemed nurturing - NOT something you find at most public colleges.
- First campus we've seen with on-campus skateboarding park and snowboarding rails mixed amongst the dorms.
- Has a "College Support Team" designed like an early intervention team to follow up with students at the first sign of struggling both personally and academically.
- Hidden gem award of the day? Yes!!
- About 700 students, with a focus on sustainability and environmental consciousness.
- Testing Optional
- Priority of the faculty is teaching and interacting with students
- Seemingly fair, if not generous, financial aid. Our tour guide had a 0 EFC and his cost of attendance was only about $10,000. That is RARE.
- Students are guaranteed to graduate in four years or they don't have to pay for the additional semesters. (Assuming there are some strings attached here with things like being full time)
- Definitely a hippie/environmental leaning student body. There was an 'adventure education symposium' going on in the student center.
- Farm on campus. Complete with livestock.
- Satellite campus in Killington for a 3 year Bachelor's degree in resort management.
- Still taking applications for the fall of 2014.