Why Kenyon?

In addition to all the obvious reasons—superb faculty, talented students, beautiful campus, terrific opportunities—here are a few that may not have occurred to you.

Because you relish the quest

Kenyon's curriculum plunges you into the big questions: truth, beauty, the human condition, justice. "Quest for Justice," in fact, is the name of Kenyon's famous first-year political science course, where you grapple with key thinkers through close reading and lively discussion.

Because you've never met a qubit

The term, for a unit of quantum information, was coined by Benjamin Schumacher of Kenyon's physics faculty. Schumacher is a pioneer in the world of quantum information theory, but he also teaches courses for non-science majors, such as "Galileo to Einstein," in the Integrated Program in Humane Studies.

Because you're a renegade

So you might want to audition for the Renegade Theater, a theater group exclusively for first-year students. It's one of several student-run theater groups, and one of dozens of clubs that keep campus life humming.

Because you believe that wetlands matter

Siobhan Fennessy of Kenyon's biology department can tell you why and how. A leading authority on wetlands and wetland restoration, Fennessy also teaches in the College's Environmental Studies Program and collaborates with students on research projects that make use of the Brown Family Environmental Center, a 380-acre preserve with forest, prairie, wetland, and river habitats.

Because 15 is a great number

That's the average class size at Kenyon: great, because small classes ensure that you can get to know your professors and fellow students. The total student population, by the way, is around 1,600—large enough for a multitude of talents, small enough for tight-knit community.

Because stir-fried vegetables taste better with a side order of Midsummer Night's Dream

You can find both in the Great Hall, where students dine beneath stained glass windows depicting scenes from literary classics. Kenyon students know a good deal about their food, because much of it comes from local farms. (They chew on literature in English, modern languages, classics, and many other departments.)

Because you excel in the classroom and beyond

Kenyon leads all NCAA Division III institutions with a total of 57 national championship trophies and ranks among the country's top-three with 58 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship award-winners. In addition to this unparalleled success at the varsity level, our club sports regularly meet with national success, including Ultimate Frisbee, Rugby, Ballroom Dance and Equestrian.

Because you've sung in Latin and German, but never in Xhosa

The Chamber Singers, Kenyon's premier choral group, perform in the African language (and many others) as part of an ever-widening repertoire. The music department sponsors an array of ensembles, embracing all types of instruments and covering genres from classical to jazz.

Because you have to wonder about a man named Philander

Not very common, is it? But then again, Philander Chase, a frontier bishop and the founder of Kenyon, was an uncommon figure: visionary, persistent, devout, and tireless. The sense of history is strong at Kenyon, the oldest private college in Ohio, with a campus that's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Students have even named an annual party after the founder: Philander's Phling.