Rhodes College is one of “50 Best Colleges in Big Cities,” as compiled by Stacker and featured by Newsweek. Stacker considered colleges in cities with populations of more than 300,000.
“Rhodes is one of the few liberal arts colleges in a major city, providing opportunities for students to explore passions and professional pathways through internships, fellowships, and community engagement before graduation,” says Vice President for Student Life Meghan Harte Weyant.
Over the years, Rhodes has established partnerships with world-famous organizations in Memphis such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, FedEx, AutoZone, the National Civil Rights Museum, and Stax Museum of American Soul Music to provide meaningful internships and fellowships.
The “50 Best Colleges in Big Cities” article points out that “Rhodes College emphasizes service, and most of its students become involved in the Memphis community, supporting its residents and helping improve its neighborhoods.”
As a result of working on projects identified by a community organization or self-designed to address issues such as education, health care, homelessness, or food inequity, students develop as perceptive thinkers, creative problem solvers, and lifelong learners.
The Lynne and Henry Turley Memphis Center at Rhodes works to support and learn from community partners and includes a range of institutes, programs, and initiatives concerning the history and culture of the city. Rhodes students also work in concert with faculty members on creative activity and innovative research related to Memphis and the Mid-South.
Rhodes’ Mike Curb Institute for Music engages the Memphis music community through partnerships including recording, live performances, and teaching-learning opportunities.
Located across from the Rhodes campus are the Memphis Zoo and Overton Park, where faculty and students study animal behavior and care, reproductive physiology, conservation, and ecology.
Memphis also has a wealth of restaurants, sporting events, and concert and cultural venues, which are amenities that most students in big cities enjoy.