Hampton University (HU)

Hampton University is a historically Black research university located in Virginia along the Chesapeake Bay. The school offers 97 programs and 75 majors on its picturesque 314-acre campus that's right on the water. It is a "school of tradition, family values, and excellent education" that "exudes and strives for a standard of excellence in any and every aspect." There is "an immense amount of clout and history behind Hampton University's walls," and students say this "historically rich" institution supports "their professional and academic endeavors through all available resources." Hampton professors "are at the top of their field" and students appreciate the "one-to-one assistance" and support given to them during office hours. Undergraduates say professors go above and beyond to establish connections with students and help prepare them for life after graduation. One student shares, "My professors have not only been teachers in the classroom but in my personal life as well. I have been taught how to use the communication and research skills that I have obtained outside of the classroom." Beyond the classroom, Hampton provides students with a "plethora of outside resources," including paid internships, undergraduate research, and job shadowing opportunities. As a research university with a strong focus on STEM, Hampton offers numerous opportunities for students to gain hands-on learning experience. For example, biology is among the most popular majors at Hampton, and a longstanding project with NOAA provides stipends, travel, assistantships, and more for biology students to study coastal ecology along the Chesapeake Bay. In addition, the strong alumni network and "excellent career planning tools" expand the opportunities available to students both "during and after their tenure at Hampton."

Students describe their peers as driven, hardworking, and ambitious. As one student explains, "Everyone on campus has the same mindset, a unanimous goal, and that's to graduate and strive for a successful life." Students are committed to personal and professional growth and "trying to make something of themselves." Peers say their classmates are "poised, considerate, and self-sufficient." As one student elaborates, "Hampton students have a certain attitude about themselves; you can always tell a Hamptonian. Once you have been Hamptonized, there is no going back." On this social and supportive campus, most students are "outgoing and involved in many organizations within the school and the community."

On this beautiful campus with over 55 student organizations, there are an “unlimited [number] of activities for students to participate in.” Students love that Hampton blends “past traditions with modern times” and two of its most popular events are Homecoming and Spring Fest. During the week, life on campus is “mostly academic and extracurricular,” with students focusing on their coursework and attending meetings or events for various clubs. To unwind, students often catch a movie at the student center or hang out with friends in the glass-walled dining hall that overlooks the water. On the weekends, there are parties both on and off campus, along with “kickbacks,” which are “a more low-key version of a party.” Some students describe the town of Hampton as small and “not a college town,” so they recommend having access to a car to get around, noting that students “often interact with the students from [nearby] NSU, ODU, and William & Mary.”