At Rhodes, we value the engaging dialogue that comes when students and professors work together to explore questions they care about. Our 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio and average class size of 14 allow our professors to be scholars by example. We believe learning should be an intellectual journey for everyone. Our faculty work closely with students, both in and out of the classroom, to challenge them to find their passion for knowledge, express creativity, and discover who they want to become.
Through 21 academic departments and 13 interdisciplinary programs, Rhodes offers more than 70 majors, interdisciplinary majors, minors, and academic programs. Rhodes students sometimes design their own majors to suit their specific goals, and the college provides pre-professional advising for students who plan to work in the health professions, law, engineering, ministry, and education. Through partnerships with other universities, Rhodes also offers dual-degree programs in engineering, education, and nursing.
At Rhodes, campus life is as lively and varied as the wide array of interests and passions of our students. With more than 100 clubs and organizations—from the arts to advocacy to athletics and more—everyone finds a place they belong. Our performing arts programs encourage creativity and inspiration, and our national award-winning Mock Trial team sharpens minds. Here, students don't just learn; they learn to live fully.
Memphis is more than what you know it to be. Yes, we’re the home of the blues and barbeque, Graceland, and the Grizzlies, but we’re much more than that. The city’s independent spirit makes it a fertile ground for arts and culture, nonprofits, community service, and leaders of all kinds.
The REAL Edge Experience at Rhodes College offers students high-impact, hands-on learning opportunities through independent research, internships, fellowships, study abroad, and community-based learning. Students can engage in cutting-edge research as early as their first year, including collaborations with institutions like St. Jude Children's Hospital. Nearly 75% of students gain real-world experience through internships or fellowships, while around 70% study or work abroad. Rhodes also emphasizes service, with students contributing thousands of hours to the Memphis community. With diverse experiential learning options and a supportive environment, Rhodes provides an education that extends beyond the classroom.
Rhodes College’s commitment to overseas study is most powerfully expressed in the programs that it has created and developed. More than 65 percent of Rhodes students take advantage of learning opportunities off-campus and in other countries, and while language and culture are common subjects of study, specialized programs in anthropology, politics, and archaeology, to name a few, help students develop real-world skills in their discipline.
Rhodes graduates are perceptive thinkers and creative problem solvers, equipped for top graduate schools and fulfilling careers. The skills and mentorships they gain at Rhodes pave the way for success. For example, our placement rates into medical and veterinary schools far exceed the national average, and every student working with our pre-law advisors gains law school admission. In addition, our students are regularly awarded highly competitive and prestigious postgraduate scholarships to help further their studies or research endeavors. In 2022, DegreeChoices ranked Rhodes #13 among liberal arts colleges for economic return, reflecting our commitment to lifelong learning and achievement.
