In every given state with lots of colleges, there are always colleges that are termed as being the worst for students to enrol in. That’s the case of the United States of America.
Regardless of all the best colleges and universities that the USA has, there are still a few colleges that are ranked as being the worst.
So in this article, we have compiled a list of the 20 worst colleges that students shouldn’t enroll in the United States of America with the reasons behind it.
Why Is A College Considered Worst To Attend?
An accredited college or university should be able to offer standard education and provide resources for its students.
The graduation rate of a college or university should be above 60% and nothing less.
Most of the worst colleges in America have a graduation rate below 60% and that is something you should be concerned about.
It is also expected that a college should meet some specific standard such as its graduation rate and employment rate and in a situation whereby a college fails to measure up to this standard.
It is termed as the worst college to attend.
What To Consider While Considering A College To Attend
The United States of America has some of the best colleges and universities in the world.
Every year, thousands of international students travel to North America to study at these colleges and universities as it is the home of the most prestigious colleges such as the Ivy League schools.
Even with this, there are still colleges and universities that are considered as the worst colleges for any student to attend.
So it is important that when it is time for you to consider a college to enroll in, you will need to consider several factors such as:
Firstly, you need to consider the standard of education of the supposed college or university that you are considering before applying.
Secondly, It’s also important you consider the graduation rate and graduate employment rate of the college or university before you apply.
Lastly, you should also check the average student debt and overall ranking of a college or university before applying.
Having said this, let’s take a quick look at the 20 worst colleges that you should attempt to attend irrespective of their acceptance rate or tuition fees.
20 Worst Colleges In America In 2023
Below are the 20 worst colleges in the United States of America that you shouldn’t consider attending in 2023.
They are as follows:
1. University Of Montevallo
University of Montevallo which was established in 1896 is a public university located in Montevallo, Alabama.
The university is the state’s only public liberal arts college and is also a member of the council of public liberal arts colleges.
Presently, the graduation at the University of Montevallo is 49% with an acceptance rate of 61% which means that the university accepts more than half of its applicants and less than 50% of students graduate.
So therefore, graduates of this university have average debts of over $25,000 with a median starting income of $38300.
The annual cost for students who are residents of the state is $22,000 and $35,000 for out-of-state students.
2. The University Of South Carolina At Aiken
The University of South Carolina at Aiken is a public institution with a student enrollment of 3,280.
It is located in Aiken South Carolina and it’s also part of the University of South Carolina System.
As of recently, the graduation rate at the University of South Carolina is 40%. The median starting income for graduates at USC Aiken is $41,000 with an annual cost of $18,500.
In this institution, there are tons of complaints from students about their future fear of not securing a job after graduation and also the lack of activities in the campus.
3. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has a graduation rate of 86% with a strict policy that subdues free speech.
Even with its tempting graduation rate, This school has been known to discipline students who talk to the media about their strict policies.
With this, it has been marked as one of those worst schools that you shouldn’t consider attending in 2023.
4. Florida Memorial University
Florida Memorial University was established in 1879 as the Florida Baptist Institute in Live Oak, Florida.
It is a private historically black university currently located in Miami, Florida.
The university currently has a student enrolment of 1,800 and a graduation rate of 32%.
Students attending this university pay an average of over $22,000 a year and accumulate an average student debt of more than $30,000 after graduation.
Even with all these, it is one of the worst colleges that you should avoid.
5. Grambling State University
Grambling State University, one of the public schools located in Grambling, Louisiana is among one of the worst colleges in America.
It has about 37% graduation rate and a student enrollment of over 5,000.
The cost of attendance at Grambling State University is $17,489.
Students who graduate from Grambling State University average debt of over $25,000.
The median starting income for students of the university who were employed after graduation is about $43,000.
6. Columbia College Hollywood
This institution is a Columbia private institution in Los Angeles, California known as a film school.
Students at Columbia College Hollywood accumulate a large debt upon graduation.
The loan default rate at Columbia College Hollywood is higher and students who graduate find it difficult to gain employment.
7. St Augustine’s University
St Augustine’s University is located in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The university’s graduation rate is approximately 28% which is low and students who graduate from this school accumulate a debt of over $22,000.
8. California State University Los Angeles
California State University Los Angeles is one of the worst colleges in the United States of America.
There have been reports about this school and their policies on free speech.
The report talks about the administration imposing a tax on controversial speech.
Read More: List of the Best Boarding Schools in the US in 2023
9. Black Hills State University
Black Hills State University was listed as the 12th worst university in the United States because of its negative return on investment of -$24,000.
The cost of attendance at Black Hills State University is pretty expensive.
The cost to obtain a bachelor’s degree at Black Hills State University is $72,400.
Students who graduate from Black Hills State University accumulate a loan debt of over $25,000 on average.
10. Nazarene Bible College
Nazarene Bible College is a private Nazarene bible college in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
As a Nazarene bible college, the institution has a student enrollment of over 1,300.
The graduation rate at Nazarene Bible College is 14% and as of the time of writing this article, the acceptance rate of this college is unknown.
Nazarene Bible College is the perfect college for you if you are interested in obtaining a degree in Philosophy.
However, graduates of Nazarene Bible College struggle to get teaching jobs as college instructors in the field of Philosophy.
11. Mt. Sierra College
Mt. Sierra College is next on our list of worst colleges in America. It was located in Monrovia, California but has closed.
The college existed for twenty-nine years and as of 2019, about 200 to 500 students were enrolled in the school.
12. California State University
California State University is another college termed as the worst college.
California State University, Long Beach is the second largest campus among the 23 schools in the California State University System.
The university has been identified as one of the worst schools because of its refusal to allow free expression about race.
At California State University, Long Beach, students are not allowed to make statements against racial discrimination.
13. Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private research institution established in 1789.
The university is one of the finest and the most selective in the United States and it’s included in our list of worst colleges.
Currently, Georgetown University has a graduation rate of 94% and they offer the best courses in law and health sciences.
Just like California State University Long Beach, Georgetown University also denied students the right to free speech.
14. Stratford University
Stratford University was a private university established in 1976 and closed on September 26th 2022.
The university had a graduation rate of 29% and an average tuition of $25,000.
Before closing down, Stratford University offered a part-time program to students.
15. University Of the District of Columbia
Founded in 1851, the University of the District of Columbia is a public historically black university in Washington D.C.
As of the fall of 2018, the University of the District of Columbia has a student enrollment of over 3,700.
The acceptance rate at the University of the District of Columbia is unknown, but the graduation rate at the school is 10%.
The cost to attend this university is $23,000 for in-state students and $29,000 for out-of-state students.
Students who graduate from the University of the District of Columbia average debt of over $22,000.
16. Shaw University
Shaw University is among the worst colleges in America.
It is a private Baptist historically black university located in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The graduation rate at Shaw University is just 15%.
The median starting income for graduates of Shaw University is $36,900 a year.
Students graduate with an average debt of $28,000 and the cost to attend Shaw University is over $24,000.
17. Fayetteville State University
Here is another public historically black university located in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
This university was established in 1867 and as of the fall of 2017 had a student enrolment of 6,000.
The graduation rate at Fayetteville State University is currently 51% and the median starting income for graduates is $38,000.
18. Lindsey Wilson College
Lindsey Wilson College is a private college in Columbia, Kentucky.
The college has a graduation rate of 37% and the average cost of attendance is over $34,000.
Those who graduate from this college have a median starting income of $38,000 and a student debt average of $21,000.
19. Morris College
This college is located in Sumter, South Carolina and has a graduation rate of 30%.
The annual cost of attendance at Morris College is below $20,000 and students who graduate from the college with an average debt of $26,000.
20. DeVry University
This university is a private for-profit institution with headquarters in Naperville, Illinois.
The university’s campuses are also located throughout the United States.
Students who graduate from this university have an average debt of $43,000.
It also has a low graduation rate and they have also been sued by the Federal Trade Commission.
With this, you know the worst schools to avoid attending in the United States in 2023.
FAQs
1. How Can I Avoid Attending These Colleges?
Before you apply to any college or university whether private or public, do your research.
Find out about the college or university you want to attend before submitting your application.
Every college and university in the United States has an official website, so try to visit your preferred institution’s website to get valuable information.
Conclusion
Now you know the worst colleges in the United States of America and why you should avoid these colleges.
Hope this article was helpful?
For more enquiries, drop your questions and comments in the comment section provided below.