Northwest named safest college campus in Missouri

Your Local Security has ranked the safest colleges and universities in each state and ranks Northwest as the safest in Missouri.

Northwest Missouri State University is the safest college campus in the state of Missouri, according to a report released by Your Local Security, a provider of home security and safety tools.

The report ranked Northwest at No. 42 on the list of 385 total institutions surveyed.

“We are proud of the impacts of our work at supporting survivors of crime and the deployment of enforcement strategies that are fair and impartial, through community-based policing and partnerships with the Maryville Police Department,” Dr. Clarence Green, the University’s police chief and vice president of culture, said. “Safety is a priority for Northwest, not just as we think about our current students but for our incoming students, parents and all who visit our campus.”

To determine its fourth annual list of safest college campuses, researchers considered public, private and non-profit institutions with a minimum of 5,000 students offering two-or four-year degrees. They calculated several factors to determine campus safety, including rates of hate crime, property crime, violent crime and violence against women. They also reviewed U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety and Security data and the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report. 

The University Police Department, staffed by its officers and dispatchers, provides a 24/7 police presence to the Northwest campus and surrounding neighborhoods. University Police also offer numerous awareness programs to educate students about relationship violence, sexual assault, crime prevention and emergency preparedness.

While Northwest counts safety as one of its core competencies, its Safe Ride Home program, launched in 2004 as a student initiative, has reduced violations for driving while intoxicated by more than 63 percent while providing an average of more than 20,000 rides to students annually. Additionally, the University Police Department reports that more than 90 percent of students with whom officers interact in a judicial manner rate their experience as a quality one, further illustrating successful efforts by the city and Northwest to focus community policing practices on crime prevention. 

To help ensure the safety of its students and campus community, Northwest collaborates closely with the city of Maryville on prevention and preparation efforts. Additionally, Maryville and Northwest have worked together in recent years to improve the quality of housing in neighborhoods surrounding the campus, create a safe and enjoyable tailgating environment for fans attending Bearcat athletics contests, and enhance Greek life at the University. The city of Maryville also has made regular appearances on listings of “Safest College Towns in America.”

“As we plan on welcoming our students back to campus for in-person classes in the fall, we look forward to continuing the preventive measures we have in place to help ensure the safety of our campus community,” Northwest President Dr. John Jasinski said.

About Northwest

With an enrollment of about 7,100 students, Northwest is a coeducational, primarily residential four-year university that was founded in 1905 and offers a broad range of undergraduate and selected graduate programs on its Maryville campus as well as its Northwest-Kansas City location at the Northland Innovation Center and through Northwest Online.

Northwest’s graduation rate is in the 90th percentile among its peers with 71 percent of students graduating with a college degree. In addition, 97 percent of Northwest bachelor’s degree earners and 99 percent of master’s degree earners secure employment or continue their education within six months of graduation, according to the most recent data. Zippia, a career website, names Northwest the best college in Missouri for getting a job.

Northwest places a high emphasis on profession-based learning to help graduates get a jumpstart on their careers. Students have opportunities to build their résumés with experiences on campus in nearly every area of study, including the Horace Mann Laboratory School, National Public Radio affiliate KXCV, the R.T. Wright Farm, Mozingo Outdoor Education Recreation Area or Knacktive, a student-driven integrated digital marketing communications agency.

Furthermore, its vibrant and diverse learning community offers more than 150 student organizations, and textbooks and a laptop are included in tuition, which is among the lowest in the nation, saving students an estimated $7,400 over four years. Northwest also offers 1,200 student employment positions, allowing students to build professional skills through its internationally benchmarked student employment program. 

For more information about Northwest and its performance, visit www.nwmissouri.edu/aboutus/facts/.