Enrollment: 1785
Average SAT: 608
Average ACT: 26
Most Popular Majors: Economics, General,International Business/Trade/Commerce,Psychology, General,
Regular Application Deadline: 02/15
Student Faculty Ratio: 10:1

Undergraduate Receiving Need-Based Financial Aid: 39
Average Freshman Total Need-Based Gift Aid: $27,367.00

2009 Best Value Colleges – Private
Little Race/Class Interaction
Most Beautiful Campus

Students Say - Academics
Rollins College offers "an amazing campus with great academics surrounded by the richest students around," leading some to describe the school as "a country club for college kids." Rollins' high-end cache means some regard it as academically low impact-even some students believe the school "is above average in regards to academics, but not top echelon since many students do not work hard"-but a strong majority here contends success here requires "a lot of work, much more than some people think. While Rollins is stereotyped for being a 'party school' we also have highly rated academic programs," and professors here "are tough. Some require a lot of reading and work, but if you have problems they are always available outside of class to help." Small classes mean students "are really forced into keeping up-to-date with the reading and with the assigned writings." Classroom work often takes the form of smaller discussion groups. One student explains, "Rollins is also a cool place to learn because many of our classes are taught around tables or in circles to stimulate discussion." The school also offers "many opportunities for studying abroad, and financial aid helps to pay for most of them." Areas of academic strength include "an impressive physics department, a great theater program with professors who are working professionals, a strong pre-law program, [and] a good education department."

Students Say - Campus Life
Rollins provides "an excellent quality of life for its students. Whether it is relaxing by our lakefront pool, jet skiing on the lake, visiting the beach, shopping, going to the theme parks, or just eating lunch on the patio, we know how to have a good time." While "life at this school can be balanced if you take full advantage of everything that is offered," many here are less interested in balance than in good times, which is why "the party scene is vibrant and dominating on many evenings." Many here concede Rollins "is a pretty big party school." Greek life "is huge," and "fraternity and sorority parties are big." Students point out that "all parties are welcoming to students" and students "may choose to attend any party regardless of their Greek affiliation." Intercollegiate athletics "are not as popular here for some reason. No one knows when games are, or who's playing." When students need to escape campus life, they find themselves fortunate enough to be "in a perfect location in Winter Park. We're close to movies, shopping, parks, museums, and nightlife in downtown Orlando. The beach is only 45 minutes away, Disney World and Universal Studios are only 25 minutes away, and there are golf courses all over the place." "Close" is a relative term, of course. The campus is close to all these destinations for students who have cars, but "If you don't have a car, don't plan on going anywhere. Nothing's in walking distance except a couple of great bars that are loaded with Rollins students 24/7."

Students Say - Student Body
The typical student [at Rollins] is rich, white, and preppy, and while "there are obviously different kinds of people who attend Rollins, the above description seems to apply to the majority." As one undergrad observes, "Most students drive a BMW, Mercedes, Land Rover, etc., and only wear or carry Coach, Prada, Ralph Lauren, A&F, etc." Those outside the ranks of the economic elite "don't necessarily have trouble fitting in at school, for most everyone finds their niche." Undergrads warn, however, that while "students generally are friendly…cliques do develop," in part because "Rollins is such a small school." They also concede "there is not much diversity, and diversity is rarely encouraged, particularly by social groups like sororities and fraternities. The few who do stand out find their own crowd and begin their own clubs, such as Pinehurst (for alternative lifestyles) and the Anime Club, and are often stereotyped as 'geeks.'"

University of Florida
University of Miami

More at PrincetonReview.com