10 Safest College Campuses + How to Feel Safe Wherever You Go
What makes one college campus safer than another? Does personal safety matter when it comes to picking a college or university? What can I realistically do to make sure my student is safe on campus? How can I get this information to my loved ones? You have serious questions, we have practical answers.
At Mace® Brand, we're also parents, students, and grandparents. It is our mission to guide you through what works when it comes to personal safety, both on and off campus. As one popular insurance company always says, 'We know a thing or two, because we've seen a thing or two.' Let MACE® educate and inform you when it comes to safety on campus.
WHAT MAKES A COLLEGE CAMPUS SAFE?
Time spent at college fosters friendships and connections that last a lifetime. Deciding which college is best depends on many factors, and personal safety should always rank high. It takes more than emergency call boxes to ensure personal safety on college campuses. Yes, call boxes are important, and every student should be up to speed on where they are and how to use them, but call boxes should only be part of the safety plan.
Consider these sobering statistics from the Department of Justice: 90% of campus sexual assaults committed against college women are committed by someone the victim knows. Among 18-24 year old college students, women in college are three times more likely than women in general to experience sexual violence.
So what's the right answer? Preparation and education. Ask your university how it keeps students safe. Ask your student if they're prepared for an unexpected encounter. Learn as much as you can about the best ways to stay safe. An educated and empowered student helps ensure a safe college experience.
TIPS FOR STAYING SAFE ON CAMPUS
1. IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING
Many incidents can be avoided if a bystander steps up at the first sign of distress. It's ok to ask someone if they are ok, and get involved if someone looks like they are in trouble. Trust your instincts.
2. DON'T ACCEPT SUBSTANCES FROM ANYONE
Powders, pills, and liquids can be absolutely anything, in any concentration. This is one of the most common ways people overdose or end up incapacitated.
3. DON'T HITCH ANY RIDES
A free ride home might seem like a nice offer, but it may put you in a compromising position.
4. STAY IN GROUPS
Going out with a group is a smart way to help make sure everyone has fun and gets home safely. Safety in numbers rings true.
SAFEST COLLEGE TOWNS RANKED
Here are the safest college towns in America, followed by the college or university located there. This list was compiled by SafeWise. To rank each city, 50% of the score was determined by the number of violent crimes per 1,000 students, and 50% of the score was determined by the number of property crimes per 1,000 students. Each measurement was also normalized and adjusted. (full methodology)
1. Milton, MA Curry College
2. Rexburg, ID BYU-Idaho
3. Madison, NJ Drew University
4. Wellesley, MA Wellesley College / Babson College
5. Bristol, RI Roger Williams University
6. Durham, NH University of New Hampshire, Durham
7. Lisle, IL Benedictine University
8. Moraga, CA St. Mary's College of California
9. Princeton, NJ Princeton University
10. Berea, OH Baldwin Wallace University
BENEFICIAL PERSONAL SAFETY DEVICES
Regardless of location or a university's safety ranking, personal safety needs to be a top priority for every student. Pepper gel, a personal alarm, and a compact stun gun are excellent choices.
At Mace® Brand, we've put together a dorm room safety kit that includes all three. We believe in the power of preparation. A prepared student is a safe student.
SAFEST COLLEGES BY STATE
So which college or university is safest in your state? Let's take a look.
Alabama - Jacksonville State University
Alaska - University of Alaska Fairbanks
Arizona - Eastern Arizona College
Arkansas - University of Arkansas - Fort Smith
California - California State University - San Marcos
Colorado - Colorado State University - Pueblo
Connecticut - Fairfield University
Delaware - University of Delaware
Florida - Hillsborough Community College
Georgia - Kennesaw State University
Hawaii - *
Idaho - Brigham Young University - Idaho
Illinois - Eastern Illinois University
Indiana - Purdue University, Main Campus
Iowa - *
Kansas - Emporia State University
Kentucky - University of the Cumberlands
Louisiana - Louisiana Tech University
Maine - University of Maine
Maryland - Bowie State University
Massachusetts - Bridgewater State University
Michigan - Oakland University
Minnesota - Southwest Minnesota State University
Mississippi - *
Missouri - Northwest Missouri State University
Montana - Montana State University
Nebraska - Northeast Community College
Nevada - University of Nevada - Reno
New Hampshire - University of New Hampshire - Main Campus
New Jersey - Princeton University
New Mexico - Eastern New Mexico University
New York - Fashion Institute of Technology
North Carolina - Appalachian State University
North Dakota - University of North Dakota
Ohio - Bowling Green State University - Main Campus
Oklahoma - Oklahoma State University
Oregon - Oregon State University
Pennsylvania - Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Rhode Island - Rhode Island College
South Carolina - College of Charleston
South Dakota - South Dakota State University
Tennessee - Bethel University
Texas - West Texas A&M University
Utah - Snow College
Vermont - University of Vermont
Virginia - Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Washington - Washington State University
West Virginia - West Virginia University
Wisconsin - Concordia University - Wisconsin
Wyoming - University of Wyoming
*Some colleges did not submit information to the FBI, which is why Hawaii, Iowa, and Mississippi do not have a listing.
(Source: The Safest Colleges Campuses in America in 2020 - Home Security Blog (yourlocalsecurity.com)
Mace® Brand is committed to guiding you and your loved ones along the non-lethal path of personal protection. We pride ourselves on providing community and family safety through individual empowerment. Armed with education and MACE® personal safety devices, students can feel safe in any location.
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