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- By Native News Online Staff
Top safest college campuses in America as Nuwber data shows
Published November 14, 2019
A college education opens doors to a brighter future. At least in theory. Yet not all kids go to college. Some aspire to little more than a job down at the local 7/11 store. Others would rather raise a family than study for four years. Nevertheless, around 69% of all high school students will dutifully head off to college at the end of their senior year. In contrast, only 17 percent of Native American kids go to college.
The sad truth is that Native American kids have many more hurdles to navigate if they want a college education. A lot of kids live on isolated reservations, far from cultural centers and schools. There are fewer resources available for Native American kids. And even if they do go to college, only 13% of them will graduate, compared with 28% of American kids.
Native American teens need all the encouragement they can get. Going to college is a huge step, both culturally and logistically. Because of this, it’s essential that students pick the right college campus. Not all campuses are equal, so in this article, we are going to look at the safest colleges in the US, as detailed by Nuwber research.
California – National University
California has the largest population of Native Americans. If any of your kids want to go to college, National University is an excellent choice. It is a relatively small private college, with a student population of around 17,000, but evidence suggests smaller colleges tend to be safer. The data published by Nuwber reports that no serious crimes have been reported at National University. In addition, students have access to plenty of resources and information related to safety concerns.Oklahoma – Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma had a Native American population of 321,687 in 2017. Oklahoma State University in Oklahoma City also has an excellent safety record. Data released by the US Department of Education reveals that there were no hate crimes, sex crimes, or other serious crimes reported at Oklahoma State University. This college also has a campus security team patrolling 24/7, so students are very safe when on-campus.Arizona – Arizona State University-West
There are approximately 296k Native Americans living in Arizona. Those who want to gain a college degree should look closely at Arizona State University–West, which is the safest in this state. There were no hate crimes or sexual offenses reported here, and only a very small number of cases of violence against women. Students have access to plenty of resources, so they know what to do in the event of a problem. If Arizona State University–West doesn’t appeal, check out Arizona State University–Downtown instead, as that also has a good safety record.New Mexico
Texas has a Native American population of 193k. The safest university in this state is New Mexico Highlands University, a public school. There were no serious crimes reported here, and very low numbers of crimes against women and non-sexual offenses. The campus has a police and security department, which operates 24/7 to maintain its low crime rate and educate students.Texas
Around 170k Native Americans call the Lone Star State their home. For them, South Texas College is a top choice. This public college in the Rio Grande Valley has a very low crime rate, with only 0.03 cases per 1,000 students reported here. The student population has access to emergency alerts, briefings, and other safety information. Texas A&M University-Central Texas is another good choice.Long story short, weigh up your options carefully before choosing a college. Consider safety as well as academic performance, as you need to know your college years will be as safe as they possibly can be. And finally, all kids, whether they are Native American or not, must give it a thought before choosing a college. Remember, the decisions you make now will have a far-reaching impact on your adult life and define many of your choices and circumstances for the years to come.
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