There are many things that you should consider when thinking about attending college, like graduation rate, starting salary after graduation, and student loan. Here we collect the 18 worst colleges in America that you'd better avoid in 2020s.
1. Alabama: Alabama State University
If you're a huge fan of sports, there's a high chance that you have been drawn to the big stadium of Alabama State University. However, it's actually not a good choice as it has one of the lowest graduation rates in the state - only 26%. Even worse, over 20% of students will default on their loans after just three years.
2. Arkansas: Philander Smith College
As one of the most influential HBCUs in the country for a long time, Philander Smith College welcomes those students from minority backgrounds with affordable tuition fees. But the graduation rate is only 39%, and the average student earns almost $10,000 below the national average six years after graduation.
3. California: California State University At Long Beach
Although California is often considered to be one of the most liberal states in America, and is often the choice of many prospective students who want to embrace the liberal arts, California State University at Long Beach is not a good place for students at all. Faculty members here don't allow students to engage in free speech, and minority groups have been discriminated against throughout their college journey.
4. Colorado: Nazarene Bible College
Nazarene Bible College in Colorado is probably the place for you, if you've been dreaming about attending a private religious college to study philosophy. The problem is that there isn't much call for graduates from Nazarene in the business world. So most of them have to be offered part-time teaching posts, which means that they don’t get to experience full-time privileges.
5. Illinois: DeVry University
DeVry University has been sued and penalized by the Federal Trade Commission after giving its students misleading information about their chances of obtaining a job after graduation. What's more, the college only has a 20% graduation rate, leaving students with over $30,000 in loan debt. Why should students head to such an expensive school with such a low graduation rate?
6. Kentucky: Lindsey Wilson College
Lindsey Wilson College was founded in Columbia, Kentucky in 1903 as a private institution, and is a member of the low-graduation-squad with only a 31% graduation rate. However, the good news is that 85% of students are employed two years after graduation, which is a little higher than the national average of 83%.
7. Louisiana: Grambling State University
Grambling State University may be the one for you if you'd like to make heaps of friends in a college with a thriving community. But these friendships come at a price, literally. 65% of students don't get to graduate with a degree after enjoying their time at the school, and those who do graduate have to deal with an average debt of about $26,000 when they step foot into the real world.
8. Maryland: St. John's College
There's no doubt that this college in Annapolis, Maryland is pretty stunning with its picturesque surroundings. Nevertheless, the impressive architecture and the luscious greenery just can't hide the fact that the return on investment isn't as high as many students would like and lots of students decide to leave their studies here.
9. Mississippi: Mississippi Valley State University
Historically, Mississippi Valley State University has welcomed black students and has made a name for itself as an HBCU. Over 2,300 students make their way into the lecture halls every year, while only 20% graduate at the end of their college career. The worse thing is that those who manage to graduate still end up with average loans of $32,252.
10. New York: College of New Rochelle
The history of the College of New Rochelle can be traced back to the 1900s, when the institution was set up to give women chances to expand their minds and learn more about the world. Now it has become a co-educational college whose graduates have an average starting salary of $40,000. However, it pales in comparison with the cost of living in New York.
11. North Carolina: Shaw University
Shaw University is ranked at a horribly low number of 1,774 out of 1,779 colleges in America, which might have something to do with the fact that this private institution has only a few students, and a huge number of them just don’t get the chance to graduate. If you are currently weighing up your college options, give this North Carolina college a miss.
12. Pennsylvania: Mercyhurst University
If you fancy packing your baggage and heading to Pennsylvania, you might be glad to know that Mercyhurst University is always looking for new applicants. Students here have to shell out around $176,000 for four years at college, while the median salary for graduates just out of college is $41,300.
13. South Carolina: The University of South Carolina at Aiken
The U.S. is full of old and historical colleges to which students are eager to head. Still, it's entirely fair to say that the University of South Carolina at Aiken is definitely not one of them. This public institution, founded in 1961, is a relatively new addition to the higher education sector and has a graduation rate of only 41%.
14. South Dakota: Black Hills State University
People who love to be around nature and be away from the big city will definitely enjoy the Black Hills State University, which boasts a whopping 123 acres of land and buildings spread across the whole campus. However, those with high-income aspirations might need to rethink this college's offer. The graduation rate is 41%, and the median starting salary for graduates is only $41,000 with an annual fee of at least $18,500.
15. Tennessee: Johnson University
Christian schools are increasingly popular in America, and Johnson University, located in Tennessee, is a good place for those who want a quieter college life. With only 700 undergraduates accepted every year, this college certainly allows students to enjoy a calm and collected education. The problem is that the graduates often struggle to make their way into the career world and earn less than the national median salary for years after graduation.
16. Texas: Texas College
Texas is home not only to some of the best colleges in the U.S., but also to some of the worst. Texas College has a terribly low graduation rate of 12.4%, with only 4% of those graduating on time. Despite that, students have an average of $21,624 in loan debt. Considering the six-year median salary after graduation is a paltry $23,400, it makes sense that 23.3% of graduates default on their loans.
17. Virginia: Stratford University
Most U.S. colleges feature students who study full-time while working on the side to help pay the bills, whereas it's a totally different story at Stratford University. Most students here work full-time and study on the side across online classes, short classroom programs, and other methods that suit someone who doesn't have much time to study. Perhaps the lack of concentration is the reason that the graduation rate is just 30%.
18. Washington, D.C.: University of the District of Columbia
If you have always wanted to live out your college life in an urban environment, this public institution in Washington D.C. might be the place for you. This college has a relatively small student body, but only 32% of them leave here with a college degree under their belts. Kind of disconcerting, huh?
Source: buzzaura.com