20 Worst Colleges in America

20 Worst Colleges in America:We have compiled a list of the twenty Worst Colleges in America and the reasons why you should avoid attending them.

The United States of America is home to some of the world’s best colleges and universities. Each year, thousands of international students study at these colleges and universities in North America.

Some international students attend colleges in Canada, while the vast majority study in the United States. The United States is home to Ivy League schools, but it also contains colleges and universities regarded as the worst in the world.

When it’s time to attend college after completing high school, there are several things you should consider. Firstly, you need to consider the standard of education at a college or university, before applying. It’s also important you consider the graduation rate and graduate employment rate of a college or university before you apply.

In my opinion, there are colleges you should avoid irrespective of their acceptance rate, location, and affordability. Attending a college or university because of these reasons and after graduation, you can’t get a job is meaningless.

You should also check the average student debt and overall ranking of a college or university before applying. Well, to help you identify the Worst Colleges in America, check out our list.

In this guide, you will discover the twenty Worst Colleges in America and why you should not attend these colleges.

Why Is a College Considered Worst to Attend?

An accredited college or university should be able to offer standard education and provide resources for its students. The graduation rate of a college or university should be above 60% and nothing less. Well, the Worst Colleges in America have a graduation rate below 60% and that is something you should concern about.

A college should meet the expectation of specific standards. Colleges that fail to measure up were included in the Washington Monthly. Whether private or public, a college with a low graduation rate and graduate employment rate is considered the worst for students to attend.

How Can I Avoid Attending These Colleges?

In my opinion, before you apply to any college or university whether private or public, do your research. Find out about the college or university you want to attend before submitting your application.

Every college and university in the United States has an official website, so try to visit your preferred institution’s website to get valuable information.

However, we will be showing you the twenty worst colleges in America so you can identify some of these colleges.

List of the Worst Colleges in America

The following is a list of the Worst Colleges in America:

1. University of Montevallo

The University of Montevallo is an Alabama public university founded in 1896 and located in Montevallo.

The enrollment of the University of Montevallo is now 2,600 students. It is the sole public liberal arts college in the state and a member of the council of public liberal arts schools.

Currently, the University of Montevallo has a graduation rate of 49% and an acceptance rate of 61%. This signifies that the university accepts more than fifty percent of its applicants, but less than fifty percent of its students graduate.

This university’s graduates had average indebtedness of over $25,000 and a median starting salary of $38,300. The annual cost for in-state students is $22,000, while the cost for out-of-state students is $35,000.

2. South Carolina State University at Aiken

Another public institution with an entrance rate exceeding 50 percent and a graduation rate of 40 percent.

The University of South Carolina at Aiken has 3,280 enrolled students and is a public college. This university is part of the University of South Carolina System and is located in Aiken, South Carolina.

The current graduation rate at the University of South Carolina is forty percent. The median beginning salary for USC Aiken graduates is $41,000, while the annual cost is $18,500.

Students at the University of South Carolina at Aiken lament the community’s lack of activity. In addition, many grumble about their chances of finding a job after graduating, as the neighborhood is quite secluded and populated by retirees.It is among the Worst Colleges in America.

3. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

86% of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students graduate. The institution’s policy restricts free expression.

It is forbidden for students at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to distribute flyers on campus. Before distributing buttons or flyers on campus sidewalks, they must seek the approval of the school.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is notorious for punishing students who discuss its harsh standards with the media. Do not be fooled by this school’s graduation rate; it is one of the Worst Colleges in America to attend.

4. Florida Memorial College

Florida Memorial University was founded in Live Oak, Florida in 1879 as the Florida Baptist Institute. The historically black private university’s current location is in Miami, Florida.

The university has an enrollment of 1,800 students and a graduation rate of 32%. Students at this university pay an average of over $22,000 per year and graduate with an average of over $30,000 in student debt.

5. Grambling State College

Grambling State University is one of the Worst Colleges in America. The university was founded in 1901 as a public institution in Grambling, Louisiana.

The Louisiana-based university boasts a 37% graduation rate and approximately 5,000 enrolled students. The tuition at Grambling State University is $17,489 per year.

Graduates of Grambling State University graduate with an average debt of nearly $25,000 The median beginning salary for university graduates who are employed is approximately $43,000.

6. Columbia University in Hollywood

Following on our list of the Worst Colleges in America is Columbia College Hollywood. The private Columbia College Hollywood was founded in 1952 in Los Angeles, California.

Columbia College Hollywood is a film school, unlike Grambling State University. Students at Columbia College Hollywood graduate with substantial debt. The default rate on student loans at Columbia College Hollywood is greater, and graduates have difficulty finding jobs.

7. St. Augustine’s College

The location of St. Augustine’s University is in Raleigh, North Carolina. The university’s graduation rate is roughly 28%, and students who graduate from this institution incur over $22,000 in debt.

St. Augustine’s University has a low graduate employment rate, and graduates are unable to repay their loans.

8. California State University at Los Angeles

California State University, Los Angeles is one of the worst institutions of higher education in the United States of America.

There have been recent reports about this school’s policy regarding free expression. The study discusses the administration’s imposition of a tax on contentious speech.

9. Black Hills State College

Due to a negative return on investment of -$24,000, Black Hills State University was ranked as the twelfth worst university in the United States.

The price of attending Black Hills State University is quite high. A bachelor’s degree at Black Hills State University will cost you $72,400. Graduates of Black Hills State University graduate with an average student debt of over $25,000.This is also considered as one of the Worst Colleges in America to attend

10. Nazarene Bible College

Nazarene Bible College is a private Nazarene bible institution founded in 1964 and established in 1967 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Being a Nazarene bible college, the institution enrolls more than 1,300 students. The graduation rate of Nazarene Bible College is 14%, and the acceptance rate was unknown at the time this article was written.

If you are interested in acquiring a degree in Philosophy, Nazarene Bible College is the ideal place for you. Unfortunately, it is difficult for Nazarene Bible College graduates to obtain college teaching positions in the discipline of Philosophy.

11. Mt. Sierra College

The next on our list of the Worst Colleges in America is Mt. Sierra College. The location of the facility was Monrovia, California. The Mt. Sierra College ceased operations on June 24, 2019.

The college has existed for twenty-nine years and enrolled between 200 and 500 students as of 2019.

12. California State University at Long Beach

Here is another California State University on our list of the Worst Colleges in America.

California State University, Long Beach is the second largest campus within the California State University System’s 23 institutions. We have included the university on our list due to its refusal to permit free speech about race.

At California State University, Long Beach, students are prohibited from making anti-discrimination remarks. So, California State University, Long Beach is listed on our list of institutions that do not permit free expression.

13. Georgetown College

Georgetown University is a private research institution founded in 1789 and located in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C.

The university is included on our list of the worst colleges since it is one of the most selective in the United States.

Georgetown University is one of the nation’s premier private institutions. Georgetown University currently has a 94% graduation rate and offers the greatest courses in law and health sciences.

Georgetown University, like California State University, Long Beach, denied students the freedom to free expression. The institution prevented students from campaigning for the U.S. senator Bernie Sanders.

Georgetown University asserted that they were required to halt the students due to their tax-exempt status.

14. Stratford College

The private Stratford University was founded in 1976 and closed on September 26, 2022.

The university had an average tuition of $25,000 and a graduation rate of 29%. Prior to its closure, Stratford University offered students a part-time program.

15. University of the District of Columbia

The University of the District of Columbia, founded in 1851, is a historically black public university in Washington, D.C.

In the autumn of 2018, the University of the District of Columbia enrolled more than 3,700 students. Unknown is the admittance rate at the University of the District of Columbia, whereas the graduation rate is 10%.

This university costs $23,000 for in-state students and $29,000 for out-of-state students to attend. The average debt of graduates of the University of the District of Columbia is above $22,000.

16. University of Shaw

Shaw University is one of the Worst Colleges in America. The university is a historically black, private Baptist institution in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The Shaw University graduation rate is only 15%. The median beginning salary for Shaw University graduates is $36,900 per year. Students leave Shaw University with an average debt of $28,000, while tuition is over $24,000.

17. Fayetteville State College

Another historically black public university based in Fayetteville, North Carolina is displayed here. This university was founded in 1867 and had 6,000 students enrolled in the autumn of 2017.

The current Fayetteville State University graduation rate is 51%, and the median starting salary for graduates is $38,000.

18. Lindsey Wilson University

Lindsey Wilson College was founded in 1903 and is located in Columbia, Kentucky. The college has a graduation rate of 37% and an average cost of approximately $34,000 per year.

This college’s graduates had a median beginning salary of $38,000 and average student loan debt of $21,000.

19. Morris College

Morris College is another historically black Baptist college included on our list. The college is located in Sumter, South Carolina, and boasts a thirty percent graduation rate.

The annual cost of attendance at Morris College is less than $20,000, yet students graduate with an average of $26,000 in debt.

20. DeVry University 

DeVry University rounds off our ranking of the worst colleges in the United States. The university’s headquarters are in Naperville, Illinois, and it is a private for-profit college. Campuses of the institution are also dispersed throughout the United States.

Students who graduate from this institution incur an average of $43,000 in debt. In addition to having a low graduation rate, DeVry University has been sued by the Federal Trade Commission.

This is one of the Worst Colleges in America, and you should avoid attending.

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