Alternative universities or colleges in the United States offer an education, and in some cases a lifestyle, that is intentionally not mainstream compared to other institutions. Through the use of experimental and unconventional curricula and offering choice to students as to what and how they will study, such institutions distinguish themselves from traditional faculties. They often attract faculty and students who are interested in such values and are often politically liberal. Additionally, some of them expand on the concept of democratic education to integrate students in various facets of school administration. Methods of evaluation frequently favor detailed written evaluations instead of grades. Some institutions do not require an SAT/ACT, but rather ask for a series of essays. Many of these institutions are private, though most offer scholarships, grants, and other aid.
Alternative universities, colleges and institutions in the USA
- Ananda College of Living Wisdom, located in Laurelwood, Oregon.
- Antioch College, located in Yellow Springs, Ohio.
- Bard College, located in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York.
- Berea College, located in Berea, Kentucky
- Bennington College, located in Bennington, Vermont.
- California Institute of Integral Studies, located in San Francisco, CA.
- College of the Atlantic, located on Mount Desert Island in Bar Harbor, Maine.
- Deep Springs College, located in California's Deep Springs Valley.
- Dharma Realm Buddhist University, located in Ukiah, California.
- Evergreen State College, located in Olympia, Washington.
- Eugene Lang College, which is part of The New School system and is located in New York City, New York.
- Hampshire College, located in Amherst, Massachusetts.
- Goddard College, located in Plainfield, Vermont.
- LEAPNOW: Transforming Education, located in Calistoga, California .
- Marlboro College, located in Marlboro, Vermont
- Maharishi University of Management, located in Fairfield, Iowa.
- Minerva Schools at KGI, located in San Francisco, California
- New College of Florida, located in Sarasota, Florida.
- Naropa University, located in Boulder, Colorado.
- Oberlin College, located in Oberlin, Ohio.
- Pitzer College, located in Claremont, California, a member of the Claremont Colleges.
- Prescott College, located in Prescott, Arizona
- Reed College, located in Portland, Oregon.
- Sarah Lawrence College, located in Yonkers, New York.
- Shimer College, located in Chicago, Illinois.
- Union Institute & University BA Program, located in Montpelier and Brattleboro, Vermont.
- Warren Wilson College, located in Asheville, North Carolina.
- Watson University, located in Boulder, Colorado.
- Wayfinding Academy located in Portland, Oregon
- Western Institute for Social Research, located in Berkeley, California.
Alternative universities, colleges, and institutions outside the USA
- Jacobs University; 1200 students from over 90 countries (with 75% international students). Located in Bremen, Germany.
- Quest University, located in Squamish, British Columbia, Canada
- The Necessary Teacher Training College "DNS", located in Ulfborg, Denmark
See also
- Alternative education
- Alternative school
- Education
- Special education
- The Sphere College Project
- Unschooling
- UnCollege
References
