AVERAGE: 66.8
Mills College is an independent liberal arts and sciences college located in Oakland, California. Mills traces its roots back to its founding in 1852 as the Young Ladies’ Seminary in Benicia, California. A leader in women’s education and the oldest undergraduate college in the west, Mills College continues this tradition of providing education exclusively for women at the undergraduate level. The school has since expanded, however, to include co-educational graduate and continuing education programs. Mills has been named one of the top “Great Schools, Great Prices” for its level of academic quality in relation to the net cost of attendance and the college was listed as #6 in the West by U.S. News & World Report.
Academic Programs
Accredited since 1949 by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Mills College has gained a national reputation for its academic excellence. The Mills College mission and pledge is to educate students to “think critically and communicate responsibly and effectively, to accept the challenges of their creative visions, and to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to effect thoughtful changes in a global multicultural society.” More than forty undergraduate majors are offered for women at Mills, with the top five most popular majors in English, Psychology, Economics, Biology, and Political, Legal, and Economic Analysis (PLEA). The college’s graduate program offers more than two dozen degrees, credentials, and certifications and the top five programs include Education, Master of Business Administration, Pre-Med, English, and Music.Mills College is partnered with more than 20 institutions through which students may engage in international study. Students have the option of choosing from a variety of different programs, including both semester and year-long study abroad opportunities, in countries across Europe, Asia, Australia, Latin America, or Africa.
Student Life
More than 1,500 students are currently enrolled at Mills, including over 900 undergraduates. Mills College has been recognized for the diversity of its student body which enhances students’ overall learning experience. Students hail from over 40 states, at least a dozen countries and over 50% of undergraduates identify themselves as students of color. A variety of housing options are available for residential students; traditional-age, first-year students live in a Themed Housing Community that is organized around a common interest. Transfer, resumer, graduate, and continuing students reside in one of the school’s historic Mediterranean-inspired halls or Craftsman-style apartments.Located on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay, Mills College is within easy reach of the diverse metropolitan centers in the greater Bay area. When they are not participating or enjoying the recreational and fine arts events on campus, students have easy access to the multitude of social, cultural, and recreational opportunities that the beautiful San Francisco Bay area has to offer.
An NCAA Division III member, Mill’s athletic teams are nicknamed the Cyclones. While Mill’s rowing and swimming teams are independent, the women’s cross country, soccer, tennis, and volleyball teams are all members of the Great South Athletic Conference.
