Deep Springs College is a small, rurally located, liberal arts institution located in the High Desert of California in a region known as Deep Springs Valley.
The school was founded in 1917 by an electrical pioneer, L.L. Nunn, who was originally from Ohio. His Midwestern roots likely played a big role in the development of Deep Springs’ nontraditional approach to the post secondary educational experience. Today, it is one of the most unique higher education facilities in the country.
The all male college mixes labor and academics on a cattle ranch and alfalfa farm. This allows its 26 students to intimately experience the three principals upon which the school was founded: academics, labor, and self governance. Also, because of their isolation by design, the students form a tight living and learning community. It should be noted that Deep Springs is known as a very selective college, accepting only several students from several hundred annual applicatns.
The 26 students at Deep Springs College attend for 2 years. Most students go on from Deep Springs to complete traditional post secondary degrees at prestigious colleges and universities all over the country.
Academics at Deep Springs are as intense as they are unconventional. Only two required courses exist at Deep Springs College: composition and public speaking. The staff of Deep Springs College believe that clear communication, both written and oral, are crucial to success in service to humanity. Beyond that, students are encouraged to follow their interests.
The average class at the school is 8 students in size. Additionally, students take only two to three courses per term, allowing for depth and rigor in their education. Students are expected to take part in academic discussions and even push them to depths not often seen in the classroom at other institutions.
Deep Springs College does not have intercollegiate sports teams. However, students and staff work together to ensure that there are many opportunities for friendly competition and fun all year.
In addition to their classes, students are also expected to take part in committees and work on the farms. The committees are part of the self-governance of the college. In almost every aspect of the school, the students are in charge of decision making and enforcement of rules. This includes everything from pet policies to discipline to faculty hiring in some cases.
Students at Deep Springs also labor as much as 20 hours per week. There are a variety of jobs within the farms or the college itself. Students wash dishes in the boarding house, deliver calves in the cattle heard, work the alfalfa farm and even work in the kitchen. Jobs are assigned by a student committee based on preferences and need.
The faculty and staff members at the college are as much a part of the community as the students are. They work with the students on the farm. Additionally, classes are often held in professors’ homes. Professors and students at Deep Springs develop close personal and academic bonds that often last well beyond the students’ two years at the school.
All students enrolled at the school are on “scholarship.” What is provided to the students academically and socially is valued at approximately $50,000 per year. Because of this, the application process is rigorous. Applicants must submit ACT or SAT scores as well as a number of essays in stage one. In stage two, their initial application is reviewed and voted on by a number of readers. If applicants pass the first stage, they are invited for a three to four day stay on campus to observe the life, write further essays, and interview. Final decisions are then made in the spring.
As you can see, Deep Springs College is not traditional. However, with high expectations for student and a rounded life experience, graduates of the college are prepared for whatever the following years of their life may include.
