The following list highlights 20 colleges across the United States that excel in community engagement. These institutions offer strong academic programs combined with a deep commitment to serving their local, national, and global communities. From urban settings to rural environments, these colleges provide a variety of opportunities for students to connect their academic studies with real-world challenges, preparing them to become active, engaged citizens. Whether you’re interested in sustainability, social justice, public health, or education, these schools offer a diverse array of programs and initiatives that allow students to make a meaningful difference.



 1. Berea College (Berea, Kentucky)

   - Admission Rate: ~33%

   - Popular Majors: Business, Biology, Psychology

   - Unique Majors for Community Engagement: Sustainability and Environmental Studies

   - Community Engagement Example: Berea requires students to work at least 10 hours a week in campus or community jobs, many involving community service like local school support or environmental projects.

 2. Guilford College (Greensboro, North Carolina)

   - Admission Rate: ~81%

   - Popular Majors: Business Administration, Psychology, Biology

   - Unique Majors for Community Engagement: Peace and Conflict Studies

   - Community Engagement Example: The Bonner Scholars program engages students in 140 hours of community service per semester, partnering with local nonprofits and community organizations.

 3. Warren Wilson College (Swannanoa, North Carolina)

   - Admission Rate: ~85%

   - Popular Majors: Environmental Studies, Psychology, Creative Writing

   - Unique Majors for Community Engagement: Outdoor Leadership

   - Community Engagement Example: Warren Wilson's Service Learning program integrates service projects with academic coursework, including environmental conservation and local education initiatives.

 4. Macalester College (St. Paul, Minnesota)

   - Admission Rate: ~31%

   - Popular Majors: Economics, Political Science, Biology

   - Unique Majors for Community Engagement: Urban Studies

   - Community Engagement Example: The Institute for Global Citizenship at Macalester facilitates internships and research projects in local and global communities focused on social justice, public health, and environmental sustainability.

 5. Allegheny College (Meadville, Pennsylvania)

   - Admission Rate: ~72%

   - Popular Majors: Psychology, Environmental Science, Biology

   - Unique Majors for Community Engagement: Community and Justice Studies

   - Community Engagement Example: Allegheny students participate in the Community-Based Learning program, partnering with local organizations on projects addressing social, economic, and environmental challenges.

 6. The College of Wooster (Wooster, Ohio)

   - Admission Rate: ~53%

   - Popular Majors: Psychology, Biology, Business Economics

   - Unique Majors for Community Engagement: Global and International Studies

   - Community Engagement Example: Wooster's APEX program helps students engage in community-based research projects, internships, and service-learning experiences, particularly in education and public health.

 7. St. Mary’s College of Maryland (St. Mary’s City, Maryland)

   - Admission Rate: ~77%

   - Popular Majors: Psychology, Biology, Economics

   - Unique Majors for Community Engagement: Public Policy Studies

   - Community Engagement Example: The St. Mary’s River Project allows students to work on environmental sustainability and conservation efforts in the local community, including water quality monitoring and habitat restoration.

 8. Luther College (Decorah, Iowa)

   - Admission Rate: ~60%

   - Popular Majors: Biology, Music, Business

   - Unique Majors for Community Engagement: Social Work

   - Community Engagement Example: Luther’s Center for Sustainable Communities partners with local organizations on projects related to environmental stewardship, local food systems, and sustainability education.

 9. Eckerd College (St. Petersburg, Florida)

   - Admission Rate: ~67%

   - Popular Majors: Environmental Studies, Marine Science, Psychology

   - Unique Majors for Community Engagement: Human Development

   - Community Engagement Example: Eckerd students engage with the local community through the Service-Learning program, including projects like the Pinellas County Homeless Leadership Board and environmental restoration efforts.

 10. Rhodes College (Memphis, Tennessee)

   - Admission Rate: ~42%

   - Popular Majors: Business, Biology, Psychology

   - Unique Majors for Community Engagement: Urban Studies

   - Community Engagement Example: The Rhodes Learning Corridor connects students with local schools and community organizations, providing tutoring, mentoring, and support for educational programs in underserved communities.

 11. Spelman College (Atlanta, Georgia)

   - Admission Rate: ~53%

   - Popular Majors: Psychology, Biology, Political Science

   - Unique Majors for Community Engagement: Health Sciences

   - Community Engagement Example: Spelman’s Social Justice Program integrates academic study with service opportunities, focusing on issues like voter education, healthcare access, and economic justice in Atlanta’s underserved communities.

 12. Tuskegee University (Tuskegee, Alabama)

   - Admission Rate: ~50%

   - Popular Majors: Animal Sciences, Engineering, Nursing

   - Unique Majors for Community Engagement: Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

   - Community Engagement Example: Tuskegee’s Cooperative Extension Program works with rural communities to promote sustainable agricultural practices, health education, and economic development.

 13. University of Puget Sound (Tacoma, Washington)

   - Admission Rate: ~83%

   - Popular Majors: Business, Psychology, Biology

   - Unique Majors for Community Engagement: Civic Engagement

   - Community Engagement Example: The Race & Pedagogy Institute at Puget Sound engages students with local communities through projects addressing racial equity, education reform, and social justice.

 14. California Lutheran University (Thousand Oaks, California)

   - Admission Rate: ~83%

   - Popular Majors: Business, Psychology, Communication

   - Unique Majors for Community Engagement: Public Health

   - Community Engagement Example: The Community Service Center at Cal Lutheran connects students with volunteer opportunities in the Los Angeles area, focusing on homelessness, education, and public health issues.

 15. New England College (Henniker, New Hampshire)

   - Admission Rate: ~98%

   - Popular Majors: Business, Criminal Justice, Psychology

   - Unique Majors for Community Engagement: Political Science

   - Community Engagement Example: NEC’s Center for Civic Engagement offers students opportunities to participate in political campaigns, local government internships, and community service projects addressing rural issues in New Hampshire.

 16. Trinity University (San Antonio, Texas)

   - Admission Rate: ~34%

   - Popular Majors: Business, Biology, Psychology

   - Unique Majors for Community Engagement: Urban Studies

   - Community Engagement Example: Trinity’s Center for Experiential Learning and Career Success offers students opportunities for community internships, service projects, and research in San Antonio’s urban communities.

 17. Southwestern University (Georgetown, Texas)

   - Admission Rate: ~49%

   - Popular Majors: Business, Biology, Communication Studies

   - Unique Majors for Community Engagement: Environmental Studies

   - Community Engagement Example: Southwestern’s Community-Engaged Learning program allows students to work with local nonprofits, government agencies, and schools on projects addressing social, environmental, and educational challenges.

 18. Occidental College (Los Angeles, California)

   - Admission Rate: ~38%

   - Popular Majors: Politics, Biology, Economics

   - Unique Majors for Community Engagement: Urban and Environmental Policy

   - Community Engagement Example: Occidental’s Center for Community-Based Learning connects students with Los Angeles community organizations to work on issues such as housing, education, and environmental justice.

 19. Mills College at Northeastern University (Oakland, California)

   - Admission Rate: ~76% (prior to merger with Northeastern)

   - Popular Majors: Psychology, Sociology, English

   - Unique Majors for Community Engagement: Public Policy

   - Community Engagement Example: Mills offers extensive community partnerships in the Bay Area, with opportunities to work on social justice initiatives, including women’s rights, educational equity, and public health.

 20. Austin College (Sherman, Texas)

   - Admission Rate: ~52%

   - Popular Majors: Business, Biology, Psychology

   - Unique Majors for Community Engagement: Nonprofit and Civic Engagement

   - Community Engagement Example: Austin College