2017 Safest College Campuses in America

2017 Safest College Campuses in America

See which college campuses top the list of the safest in the United States.

A list of the top safest schools in America has been unveiled to show which campuses have earned the right to recognize themselves as one of the most safe and secure schools in the country.

According to Niche, a data analyzing website that identifies schools and neighborhoods that are right for you, the top safest college campuses are ranked based on key statistics and student reviews using data from the U.S. Department of Education. The top-ranked colleges offer a safe and healthy environment with little to no campus crime, drugs or alcohol usage. To find out more about how these rankings are calculated take a peek at Niche’s methodology.

Here are the top three safest colleges in America, based on findings by Niche.

Brigham Young University – Idaho, Rexburg, Idaho

BYU - Idaho ranks number one on the list of the safest college campuses in the United States. This ranking is due, in part, to the low amount of crime, drugs and alcohol recorded on campus. A mission statement by University Police shows that preventing crime and eliminating hazards are a top priority for security professionals on campus.

The university works to educate students on what to do in an emergency situation, preparing them for active shooter situations and creating programs such as SAFEWALK to ensure that students make it to their dorms after late night study hours.

Bay Path University, Longmeadow, Massachusetts

Bay Path University is a private university that ranks second among the top safest college campuses. The Bay Path Department of Campus Public Safety (CPS), according to their website, “works to procide a safe and secure environment in which to live and work for the entire Bay Path community.”

CPS operates around the clock, 24 hours a day, with an advanced e-911 system connected to the Longmeadow Police and Fire departments to handle emergency situations. Residence halls are secured by electronic ID access, which is provided for and maintained by CPS.

Park University, Parkville, Missouri

Park University is third on the list of safest college campuses. The Campus Safety Department works 24/7 to provide a professional, proactive safety resource to students, faculty and staff on the campus. “We accomplish our mission by securing, monitoring, enforcing and providing administrative resources while offering visibility to the community, coordination of safety related activities and acting as a liaison with local emergency services,” the website said.

The university works hard to prepare students for emergency situations, provide security in on-campus buildings and create programs to protect students after hours.  

To see more safe college campuses, see Niche’s list here.

Featured

  • Door Hardware and Campus Security: Enhancing Safety in Schools

    The importance of investing in school safety cannot be overstated, but knowing where to start implementation of school safety features can be a challenge. A recent survey by the National Center on Education Statistics found that a quarter of U.S. public schools have classrooms with doors that can't be locked from the inside. Even among schools with doors that do lock, recent legislation reflects a common misconception that simply keeping the doors locked all day will eliminate the potential for an attack, in direct violation of PASS (Partner Alliance for Safer Schools) Guidelines. Read Now

  • Brigham Young University Strengthens Campus Security With Genetec Operations Center

    Genetec Inc, a provider of enterprise physical security software, announced that Brigham Young University's (BYU) has optimized its security operations with the Genetec™ Operations Center work management system. Read Now

  • AI-based Risk Mitigation: The Next Advancement in Video Surveillance and Public Safety

    Safety is at the forefront of every organization and covers a gamut of scenarios, not just weapon-fueled lethal threats. It also includes smaller-scale and everyday situations like slipping hazards, fallen persons, unauthorized vehicles, and more. These issues cause disruptions in daily operations and cost companies and facilities money and downtime, so a fully realized security plan must involve actions that facility personnel should take once a hazard of any size occurs. Informing everyone that a hazard exists, where it’s located, and what actions to take is imperative for maintaining personal safety. Read Now

  • Fort Worth ISD Strengthens Event Safety

    The issue of concealed weapons being introduced into school extracurricular activities, including sporting events and graduations, became a growing concern in communities across the nation. According to the K-12 School Shooting Database, there were at least 202 incidents of gunfire on school grounds in 2024 across the United States, resulting in 56 deaths and 147 injuries, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced safety protocols. Read Now