The 6 Most Dangerous College Campuses
Going off to college is considered the first taste of independence and freedom for most young people. This is especially true for kids moving out of their parents’ homes to live on their own. While most young people are excited about freedom, many underestimate the substantial risk involved. Moving out of your parent’s house means taking financial responsibility for yourself and leaving the physical security of your childhood home behind you.
In today’s world, safety is also a major deciding factor for many Americans when considering colleges for their children. Campus safety is evaluated based on both property and violent crime rates. The property crime rate is calculated based on instances of theft, burglary, arson, and vandalism.
On the other hand, the violent crime rate gets measured by crimes such as robbery, sexual assault, kidnapping, and harassment on campus. Below are the most dangerous college campuses across the country:
The University of California, Santa Barbara Campus
With a violent crime rate of 20.4 per 10,000 students and a property crime rate of 122.6 per 10,000 students, the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) is one of the most dangerous campuses in the United States.
However, with a student enrollment rate of 23,497, the number of bad apples is quite small. There are far more students who are passionate about community engagements that support a safer environment for students. Since 2013, the student-founded organization called I Heart UCSB has been progressively growing.
University of California Los Angeles
UCLA’s student population is over 31,000, with 49 violent crime incidents and 921 property crime incidents reported annually. The property crime rate is estimated to be 183.3 per 10,000 students, and the violent crime rate comes in at 20 per 10,000 students. Among all universities on the list, UCLA has the highest number of burglaries per year.
University of Maine
The University of Maine, located in Orono, Maine, has a student population of 10,922. With a violent crime rate of 18.8 per 10,000 students and a property crime rate of 126.4 per 10,000 students, this is one of the most dangerous universities in the country. UMaine also has the most multi-faceted university police force with a Campus Eyes program that allows students to report any crime they witness anonymously.
Marshall University
Located in Huntington, West Virginia, Marshall University has a student enrollment of 13,621. While this university ranks high on violent crimes with 18.4 per 10,000 students, its property crime rate is much lower than other schools on the list.
University of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire has three campuses located in Manchester, Concord, and Durham, New Hampshire. It also has a student population of 15,351. The university’s property crime rate is 68.4 per 10,000 students, while the violent crime rate sits at 16.9 per 10,000 students. However, UNH has one of the best campus police departments across the country. The department also has social services and communication divisions and is nationally accredited.
Marquette University
Marquette University, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has a student population of 11,491. The university’s violent crime rate is 16.5 per 10,000 students, while the property crime rate is 232.4 per 10,000 students. Marquette University has the highest property crime rate of any school on this list.
Crime Is Not the Only Factor
We generally think about crime when thinking about campus safety. However, there are other factors to consider as well. A poorly maintained campus can have many defects on the property that can be hazardous. More people are injured in campus accidents every year than in violent attacks.
Safety Is Everyone’s Responsibility
Most students don’t think they can be victims of campus violence. However, there are very few universities free of any violence across the country. While it’s the university administration’s responsibility to ensure their campuses are safe for all students, safety starts with you. Do not put yourself in a position where you are vulnerable to attacks and other violent crimes.