Nichols College (NC)

Nichols College provides a businessand leadership-oriented education rooted in a liberal arts foundation. Here, whether students opt for a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration or a Bachelor of Arts, all 1,200 attendees are required to complete an internship or experiential learning opportunity before they graduate. This, combined with “the rigorous coursework Nichols develops” and plenty of “career help services and professional development seminars,” ensures that students have “the mindset of getting ready to work.” From TA positions for credit to internships, “Nichols College does everything in its power to assure [you] get the connections you need in order to succeed after graduation.”

Meanwhile, faculty at Nichols strive to help you succeed before graduation, offering “an open environment that encourages discussion and questions of material.” They are “well trained in what they teach and know how to help students succeed,” often incorporating speakers within various professions to supplement classroom learnings and “applications of concepts that facilitate learning and lead the way to intellectual discussions.” They are also “very good at breaking [out of] your comfort zone due to all the group projects and presentations.” Additionally, the classes themselves are small, which means “it is easier to ask questions and participate.” Overall, “learning is really valued at Nichols,” and if students are unable to make office hours, professors are “most likely to make time for you when your own schedule allows.”

Everyone at Nichols “is very friendly and wants to expand their horizons,” which creates “a tight knit community that has each other’s backs.” While “they are an independent people who take every opportunity that they get,” students say that “peers at Nichols … are the epitome of a family.” Members of that family are quick to admit that the school could benefit from more diversity, though, mentioning that the biggest differences come in “between those that play sports and those that are involved with clubs and organizations on campus and those that are strictly academic.” But outside of that, they sing praises of their fellow Nichols Bison, calling them “patient,” “unique,” “intelligent,” “generous,” and “empowering.”

Nichols is located in a town so small that some say “you will need a car to get anywhere interesting.” This isn’t a bad thing for students, however, as they say it leads to a culture that’s “like a huge family” because “everyone knows everyone.” It “doesn’t matter who you are … we are always hanging out or doing homework.” In fact, “when the weather is nice, everyone is on the quad.” Those looking for physical activity can rest easy, as Nichols “offers intramural and club sports that are competitive,” but there are also “a variety of clubs for almost every major.” So, while most students “have classes the majority of the morning and afterwards … do homework or study,” they do use their downtime to “go to a lot of athletic events or club sponsored events.” Additionally, there are “video game tournaments in the dorms at all times,” and students often just “hang out with friends, watch TV, cook, or drive off campus to get food” to pass the time.