Top 10 Most Politically Conservative Colleges
Article provided by The Princeton Review
Where do college students speak wistfully of the Reagan presidency, subscribe to the National Review, and recount jokes from the latest Rush Limbaugh show? The Princeton Review surveyed tens of thousands of students across the country; the students' responses make clear that political conservatives thrive at these ten schools.
1. Washington and Lee University
The "very Republican, very rich, very well-dressed" undergrads of Washington and Lee are "very proud of [their] conservative political stance." Most here "just seem to love Bush and their 'Don't mess with Texas' bumper stickers," usually affixed to "a late-model SUV." One of the few lefties here admitted, "Being a Democrat at W&L is like being a part of a secret underground society. However, political differences don't usually come to a head because W&L's students are generally apathetic."
2. Hampden-Sydney College
"Most of the student body is interested in politics" at this "rural Southern school that is by a majority Christian in its students' beliefs." The "white, conservative, preppy" students at this "southern gentleman's school" tell us that "liberal attitudes are shunned" and "conservatism rules the roost."
3. Brigham Young University
Brigham Young students are "intelligent, religious, and conservative; there aren't a lot of unintelligent, nonreligious, or liberal students here," pointed out one undergrad, adding icily that "There are other places for those people to congregate." A "very conservative atmosphere prevails, not surprising given the religiosity of the students and faculty." (BYU is affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon church.) Also, there's "not really much political action here, since most people are complacent Republicans," one student observes.
4. United States Naval Academy
"The typical student is an overachieving, Republican, Caucasian, athletic male" at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, while "atypical students are usually either fat, female, or liberal, and none of them really fit in too well." It's not exactly an activist campus, either. As one student put it, "The liberals aren't politically active, but then again neither is the much larger group of conservatives."
5. Samford University
Samford undergrads are comfortable with their school's conservative Baptist atmosphere, so much so that "If there is anything about you that is remotely 'different' (race, religion, politics, sexual orientation), you [are likely to] be ostracized." One undergrad warned, "Much of the attitude here is against anything that is too extreme or liberal."
6. United States Air Force Academy
Cadets at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, "tend to be middle-class conservative Christians, though we still have cadets from minority racial and religious backgrounds." The smattering of diversity notwithstanding, "If you are part of the conservative, Protestant, cowboy-wannabe crowd, you are in the vast majority" here.
7. University of Mississippi
"Your typical Ole Miss student is from an upper-class Southern family with three generations of family attending UM." Like much of the South, he or she is also "friendly and agreeable, although somewhat conservative." The presence of lots of "old money" also tweaks the student body rightward politically.
8. Texas A&M
"Texas A&M is a great place," students say, but not necessarily for liberals. "It is conservative and tradition-laden," one student notes. "People generally come here knowing that, and the ones [who] disagree with traditions or conservative points of view generally do not stay." Why would they, since "Democrats are often ridiculed, as is anyone who expresses an opinion somewhat to the left of the religious right"?
9. University of Dallas
The University of Dallas, a private Catholic university, "is not very open to students that aren't either Catholic or conservative," students tell us. Among the many conservatives is "a small minority of students [who] are very conservative [and who] have a loud voice." There's also the occasional lonely liberal. One Democrat reported, "My political beliefs do seem to bother some people. I support issues like abortion and gay rights, and most people here are appalled by that. Generally, though, I'm allowed to express my feelings."
10. Wheaton College
Like many of the schools on this list, Wheaton is a hard-core Christian school, and one so socially conservative that students are prohibited from dating (some rascals do it anyway). Reported one undergrad, "It's politically very conservative in general, although the representation of more liberal perspectives is increasing with time. The most commonly debated issues on campus are racism, gender-related expectations, dating, and Biblical interpretation issues."
Article provided by The Princeton Review
Where do college students speak wistfully of the Reagan presidency, subscribe to the National Review, and recount jokes from the latest Rush Limbaugh show? The Princeton Review surveyed tens of thousands of students across the country; the students' responses make clear that political conservatives thrive at these ten schools.
1. Washington and Lee University
The "very Republican, very rich, very well-dressed" undergrads of Washington and Lee are "very proud of [their] conservative political stance." Most here "just seem to love Bush and their 'Don't mess with Texas' bumper stickers," usually affixed to "a late-model SUV." One of the few lefties here admitted, "Being a Democrat at W&L is like being a part of a secret underground society. However, political differences don't usually come to a head because W&L's students are generally apathetic."
2. Hampden-Sydney College
"Most of the student body is interested in politics" at this "rural Southern school that is by a majority Christian in its students' beliefs." The "white, conservative, preppy" students at this "southern gentleman's school" tell us that "liberal attitudes are shunned" and "conservatism rules the roost."
3. Brigham Young University
Brigham Young students are "intelligent, religious, and conservative; there aren't a lot of unintelligent, nonreligious, or liberal students here," pointed out one undergrad, adding icily that "There are other places for those people to congregate." A "very conservative atmosphere prevails, not surprising given the religiosity of the students and faculty." (BYU is affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon church.) Also, there's "not really much political action here, since most people are complacent Republicans," one student observes.
4. United States Naval Academy
"The typical student is an overachieving, Republican, Caucasian, athletic male" at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, while "atypical students are usually either fat, female, or liberal, and none of them really fit in too well." It's not exactly an activist campus, either. As one student put it, "The liberals aren't politically active, but then again neither is the much larger group of conservatives."
5. Samford University
Samford undergrads are comfortable with their school's conservative Baptist atmosphere, so much so that "If there is anything about you that is remotely 'different' (race, religion, politics, sexual orientation), you [are likely to] be ostracized." One undergrad warned, "Much of the attitude here is against anything that is too extreme or liberal."
6. United States Air Force Academy
Cadets at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, "tend to be middle-class conservative Christians, though we still have cadets from minority racial and religious backgrounds." The smattering of diversity notwithstanding, "If you are part of the conservative, Protestant, cowboy-wannabe crowd, you are in the vast majority" here.
7. University of Mississippi
"Your typical Ole Miss student is from an upper-class Southern family with three generations of family attending UM." Like much of the South, he or she is also "friendly and agreeable, although somewhat conservative." The presence of lots of "old money" also tweaks the student body rightward politically.
8. Texas A&M
"Texas A&M is a great place," students say, but not necessarily for liberals. "It is conservative and tradition-laden," one student notes. "People generally come here knowing that, and the ones [who] disagree with traditions or conservative points of view generally do not stay." Why would they, since "Democrats are often ridiculed, as is anyone who expresses an opinion somewhat to the left of the religious right"?
9. University of Dallas
The University of Dallas, a private Catholic university, "is not very open to students that aren't either Catholic or conservative," students tell us. Among the many conservatives is "a small minority of students [who] are very conservative [and who] have a loud voice." There's also the occasional lonely liberal. One Democrat reported, "My political beliefs do seem to bother some people. I support issues like abortion and gay rights, and most people here are appalled by that. Generally, though, I'm allowed to express my feelings."
10. Wheaton College
Like many of the schools on this list, Wheaton is a hard-core Christian school, and one so socially conservative that students are prohibited from dating (some rascals do it anyway). Reported one undergrad, "It's politically very conservative in general, although the representation of more liberal perspectives is increasing with time. The most commonly debated issues on campus are racism, gender-related expectations, dating, and Biblical interpretation issues."
