Texas College Safety

I'm a Texas resident looking at local colleges, but safety reports are shaking me up. Which are considered to be the most dangerous colleges in Texas?

Understanding your concern. Safety is a critical factor to consider while selecting a college. It's wise to know the crime rates and safety measures of colleges you're interested in.

However, please remember that "most dangerous" can be subjective because factors such as the campus size, residential settings, the city crime rate, the emphasis given by campus safety programs, community involvement, etc., affect safety statistics.

Often, universities in larger cities have higher crime rates due to the simple factor of location. However, it doesn't necessarily make them dangerous; many of these institutions invest heavily in campus security, offer safety escort services, use secure access in their buildings, have well-communicated emergency plans, etc.

The Clery Act mandates that colleges and universities in the U.S. disclose information about crime on and around their campuses. Hence, a good starting point would be to check each of your interested colleges' Annual Security Reports for more detailed and specific information.

Crime rates fluctuate year by year, so it's challenging to list "the most dangerous" colleges. Instead, assessing the precautions and safety measures at the universities can provide a more accurate picture of student safety. Such efforts could include easy access to campus security, well-lit pathways and common areas, blue light emergency phone stations, comprehensive ID and access control policies, proactive mental health and anti-bullying programs, and robust orientation programs which include safety training and awareness.

At the end of the day, remember, regardless of statistics and measures in place, no college can guarantee complete safety, and much will depend on individual actions and precautions.

A practical approach would be to visit the campuses, talk to current students about their experiences and assessments relating to safety concerns, discuss your concerns with the universities' safety departments, and then make an informed decision based on these collective insights.