Colleges With Unique Features

Choosing a college is more than just picking a place to earn a degree—it’s about finding a community, environment, and educational approach that aligns with your passions and goals. While most colleges offer traditional classrooms and standard academic programs, some stand out for their truly unique features.

Imagine attending a school where you design your own curriculum, study under the stars in Alaska, or take one immersive class at a time. From hands-on ranch work to global rotations in multiple countries, these colleges break the mold to create one-of-a-kind learning experiences. Whether you're an adventurer, innovator, or deep thinker, there’s a college that caters to your interests in a way you might never have imagined.Here’s a list of extraordinary colleges with distinctive features that go beyond the ordinary, offering students transformative and unconventional paths to success. Ready to explore? Let’s dive in!

Here’s a list of colleges with unusual or standout features, and a brief explanation of what makes them unique:

1. Deep Springs College (CA)Unusual Feature: Self-governance and Ranch Work

• Deep Springs is a two-year liberal arts college where students take on roles in self-governance and participate in physical labor, such as ranching and farming. The college is tuition-free and admits fewer than 30 students per year.

2. Olin College of Engineering (MA)Unusual Feature: Project-Based Learning and Full Scholarships

• Olin focuses on engineering education through hands-on, project-based learning. Every admitted student initially received a full-tuition scholarship (although this policy has since evolved).

3. St. John’s College (MD/NM)Unusual Feature: Great Books Curriculum

• St. John’s uses a unique curriculum based entirely on reading and discussing classic texts in philosophy, literature, science, and mathematics. Students participate in Socratic seminars instead of traditional lectures.

4. Hampshire College (MA)Unusual Feature: No Grades or Majors

• Hampshire doesn’t use traditional grades or majors. Instead, students design their own interdisciplinary academic programs and receive narrative evaluations.

5. Warren Wilson College (NC)Unusual Feature: Work-Study-Service Triad

• All students must participate in a "triad" of academics, work (through on-campus jobs like farming or carpentry), and community service.

6. College of the Atlantic (ME)Unusual Feature: Single Degree Program

• College of the Atlantic offers only one major: Human Ecology. Students explore the relationship between humans and their environments through a highly personalized curriculum.

7. New College of Florida (FL)Unusual Feature: Contract System Instead of Grades

• Students work with faculty to create academic contracts outlining their goals. Instead of grades, they receive detailed evaluations based on whether the contract’s goals are met.

8. Colorado College (CO)Unusual Feature: Block Plan

• Colorado College operates on a block plan, where students take one course at a time for three-and-a-half weeks. This intense focus allows for immersive learning experiences.

9. Reed College (OR)Unusual Feature: Senior Thesis Requirement

• Reed requires all students to complete a senior thesis as part of their graduation requirement. It also emphasizes academics, with no varsity sports teams and a culture of intellectual rigor.

10. Berea College (KY)Unusual Feature: No Tuition and Mandatory Work

• Berea covers 100% of tuition costs for all students and requires them to work at least 10 hours a week in campus jobs. Its mission focuses on serving low-income students.

11. Evergreen State College (WA)Unusual Feature: No Grades or Majors

• Evergreen uses narrative evaluations and allows students to design their own interdisciplinary academic paths. Professors often collaborate to teach thematic programs rather than individual courses.

12. Antioch College (OH)Unusual Feature: Co-Op Education

• Students alternate between traditional academic terms and full-time work placements as part of their education. Antioch emphasizes experiential learning and activism.

13. Minerva University (Global)Unusual Feature: Global Rotation

• Minerva students study in up to seven different cities worldwide during their four years. Courses are conducted online in small, interactive seminars.

14. Maharishi International University (IA)Unusual Feature: Transcendental Meditation

• MIU incorporates Transcendental Meditation into its curriculum. Students practice meditation twice daily as part of their education.

15. Bard College at Simon’s Rock (MA)Unusual Feature: Early College

• Simon’s Rock is designed for students who want to start college early, typically after 10th or 11th grade. It offers a liberal arts education tailored to younger students.

16. Soka University of America (CA)Unusual Feature: Focus on Global Citizenship

• Soka emphasizes global citizenship, requiring all students to study abroad for a semester and to study a second language. Its curriculum is rooted in peace and sustainability.

17. University of Alaska Southeast (AK)Unusual Feature: Glacier Access

• UAS offers direct access to glaciers and wilderness for environmental and marine biology studies. Students can participate in hands-on research in one of the most pristine environments in the world.

18. Paul Smith’s College (NY)Unusual Feature: Focus on the Environment and Hospitality

• Known as “The College of the Adirondacks,” Paul Smith’s specializes in environmental science, forestry, and hospitality, with access to 14,000 acres of forest for learning.

19. Savannah College of Art and Design (GA)Unusual Feature: Unique Majors

• SCAD offers niche programs like themed entertainment design, equestrian studies, and luxury brand management, tailored to specific industries.

20. Alaska Pacific University (AK)Unusual Feature: Outdoor-Oriented Block Plan

• APU integrates outdoor experiences into its curriculum and operates on a block plan similar to Colorado College. Students frequently engage in experiential learning in Alaska’s natural landscapes.