After taking an in-depth tour through Purdue, Columbia and USC, our next stop is an institution no less reputable: Ohio’s own Wittenberg University. This private liberal arts university has been ranked 11th in the nation for “Best Classroom Experience” and 15th in the nation for “Professors Get High Marks” by Princeton Review. Its affiliation with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) fosters the institution’s focus on both intellectual and spiritual growth.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the many dimensions of this prestigious school.
Academics
Academics at Wittenberg are a top priority, which is why the institution features some of the top faculty members in the country. In the last 10 years alone, faculty members at Wittenberg have won 16 Fulbright awards with several more professors doing research under Fulbright auspices. Wittenberg’s communication program was named the Nation’s Best program by the National Communication Association.
The “Fiske Guide to Colleges” also named Wittenberg University one of the “Small Colleges and Universities Strong in Drama,” alongside elite schools such as Juilliard, Vassar, Princeton and Oberlin. A significant number of students on campus (21%) also major in social sciences at Wittenberg. An 11:1 student-faculty ratio ensures individual attention for students, and a campus of fewer than 2,000 students total fosters a close-knit, supportive academic community.
Atmosphere
Located in quiet Springfield, Ohio, the campus offers a small, suburban setting with most students living on campus. This makes the institution highly focused on education, while encouraging the social aspect of college life. The school draws in students from 37 states across the country and approximately 30 foreign countries, offering a diverse student body that enriches the overall learning environment. This diversity-friendly atmosphere makes Wittenberg especially welcoming for international students.
Some of the most unique facilities available on campus include the observatory, East Asian art collection, Martin Luther library collection and the humanities and technology center.
Clubs and Events
There are tons of opportunities for students to get involved on campus. Greek life is one of the most popular social programs at Wittenberg, with 30 percent of men involved in fraternities and 33 percent of women in sororities. The school takes great pride in their football team (the Tigers), who are high-ranking members of the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Division III, and the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC). Aside from an outstanding selection of sports teams, Wittenberg features a diverse list of clubs, including (but not limited to):
- Anime Club
- Chinese Dragon Dance Team
- Gay-Straight Alliance
- Habitat for Humanity
- Student Global AIDS Campaign
- March of Dimes
- Student Government
- Pocket Lint Improvisational Comedy
- Comic Book Club
- Diversity Club
- Wittenberg Art League
Wittenberg may be a safe and inviting environment for students of all walks of life, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still be protected in case of an emergency. In the U.S., travel insurance is a smart way to keep yourself covered for all of your basic and emergency health needs while studying overseas. Wittenberg will be hard to top, but let’s see if New York University is up to the challenge in the final part of our series!
About the Author:
This guest article series is provided by Kristine Esser. She enjoys writing about study abroad opportunities and is utilizing this series to highlight various U.S. based institutions that would serve as great campuses for international students looking to study here in the states.
