Rhodes College (RC)

Founded in 1848, Rhodes College is a nationally ranked liberal arts and sciences college located in Memphis, Tenn., and is one of the few liberal arts colleges in the nation located in an urban setting. Its students have myriad ways to immerse themselves in a major metropolitan area through service and internship opportunities, in addition to exploring the world through study abroad. The rigorous classroom experience integrates faculty-mentored student research and fellowships.

Rhodes College's current student body of approximately 2000 undergraduate and students hails from 48 states and 63 countries. We enrolled a first-year class of 488 students for the Fall 2022 semester. Multicultural and international students made up 36.5% of the incoming class of 2026.

Rhodes provides endless opportunities for students to contribute and lead on campus. Whether serving in the Rhodes Student Government, displaying Lynx pride as a Diplomat, joining in out deeply involved Greek culture, participating on one of our 23 Division III varsity teams, or contributing as a member of one of our 100-plus student organizations, students play a critical role in defining and enhancing the vibrant on-campus experience we provide at Rhodes.

The "great community feel" at Rhodes comes down to the unifying desire to learn. "Students WANT to come to class and complete assignments, because they truly care about the work they are doing." Unsurprisingly, peers describe one another as "very motivated," "intelligent," and "extremely hardworking." Admittedly, students also state that "the campus still feels very white," but qualify this by calling out the fact that they've "met people with diverse perspectives, cultures, and interests that have allowed me to learn more about the world beyond the classroom." Regardless of background, students appraise one another as "genuine, kind, and respectful of others," and one adds that "I'm amazed by how inclusive the student body is and the opportunities they create to ensure the acceptance and safety of everyone." All in all, "finding 'your group' of people is very easy, and not difficult at all because everyone just bonds easily."

Undergrads at Rhodes tend to be serious about their academics and students certainly "study very hard throughout the week." Nevertheless, there's plenty to enjoy and experience beyond classwork. For starters, undergrads can join groups as disparate as the board game club and bee-keeping club, get involved with mock trials and student government, or try out for the "really great intramural frisbee team." A number of people also like to participate in the "Rhodes Outdoor Organization, which provides totally free trips to go camping, hiking, and climbing out of Memphis, as well as trips to more local sites to rock climb indoors." Additionally, "Greek life is very big" and we're told that "frat parties are common on Saturday and Friday night." Students also make the most of the city of Memphis, whether that's heading to "Beale Street for night life" going on a taste-test of new restaurants because "the food is amazing" or "attending music and arts fests in Cooper-Young neighborhood."

Students describe Rhodes College as “the epitome of opportunity: from service to sports to academics to internships and jobs to career services and professors. Rhodes has it all.” Experiential learning is not just a cornerstone here but a draw for prospective students. Rhodes undergraduates have access to a multitude of fellowships, scholarships, and intensive research internships that integrate classroom learning with practical applications. One notable program is St. Jude Summer Plus, in which aspiring physicians participate in developing disease treatments from behind the microscope to beside the patient. A Biochemistry major notes, “I get to do cutting-edge biomedical cancer research at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. This is an invaluable internship I got through Rhodes.” Career Services keeps students on track with a Four Year Plan that institutes a timeline to discover and explore their career options. Students are encouraged to take advantage of interest assessments on the PathwayU platform, attend career expos, and pursue recruitment and networking opportunities via QuadJobs, Handshake, and the Rhodes Alumni Career Network Group. The typical Rhodes College graduate has a starting salary of around $60,100, and 52 percent report that their job has a great deal of meaning.