By Sue Luse

Extraordinary. After spending an afternoon touring the High Point University campus, I can’t think of a better word to describe it. While I’ve visited hundreds of colleges, many of them more than once, the High Point University campus always makes an impression. When Dr. Nido R. Qubein took over as president in 2005, he made a commitment to transform the university and invest in academic programs, scholarships, facilities and residential communities. From the spacious dorms, to the 90,000-foot Slane Student Center, to the piped-in classical music and campus ice cream truck, you immediately sense there is something different about this campus.

The Premier Life Skills College
High Point University is located in High Point, North Carolina, about 30 minutes from both Winston-Salem and Greensboro. Its tagline is “The Premier Life Skills College,” and its call to action is simple and profound: Choose to be extraordinary. All incoming freshman take The President’s Seminar on Life Skills, taught by Dr. Qubein himself, to ensure they not only grow academically but also develop competencies critical to today’s workplace: communication, coachability, fiscal literacy and service. HPU’s website states the university “has a healthy obsession for connecting the foundation-building liberal arts education with career-focused outcomes.” HPU delivers on this promise.

The university’s programs focus on learning by doing and are complemented with experiences like internships, undergraduate research, global education and service. Classroom learning is reinforced with dynamic resources and opportunities: makerspaces for its engineering students; a business competition where winners receive funding for their start-up ideas; a planetarium where, beyond astronomy, visitors can “fly through” 3D models of the human body; and a biometric lab in the School of Communications used to measure responses to marketing messages. Every student at HPU also develops a four-year life skills and career plan that includes tasks like self-assessments, job shadowing, resume writing and networking.

Some Facts about High Point:

• Undergraduate enrollment is about 4900
• Students come from 45 states and 32 countries; 73% are from out-of-state
• The campus sits on 520-acres; it includes 122 buildings, 27 gardens and 6 swimming pools
• The HPU Panthers compete in NCAA Division I athletics in 16 sports
• HPU has 10 schools and colleges; it offers 60 majors and 63 minors

Clubs, Sports and Campus Life

With its expansive grounds and amenities, campus life is a big part of the HPU experience. In fact, students tend to stick around on the weekends, and with so much to do, it’s easy to see why. With its fitness and recreation facilities including basketball courts, weight rooms, a climbing wall, outdoor swimming pool and sand volleyball courts, the Slane Student Center is a hub of activity. The Greek system is popular, and students love to gather and cheer on HPU’s NCAA Division I teams (tickets are free to students) or compete in intramural or club sports. With more than 100 clubs and organizations ranging from student government and spiritual groups to the performing arts, students have plenty of opportunities to be involved on campus.

Admissions

High Point University has a Nov. 1 ED deadline, Nov. 15 EA deadline, Feb. 1 ED II deadline and March 1 Regular Decision deadline. Its admissions policy is test optional. The acceptance rate for HPU is about 72%. Characteristics of the Class of 2025 include:

• An average unweighted GPA of 3.39
• A SAT average score of 1281
• An ACT average composite score of 27
• Class composition of 57% female, 43% male students
• 62% public high school graduates; 38% private high school graduates

Popular majors are: Business, Communication, Biology, Psychology and Exercise Science.

Often students who apply to High Point also consider the College of Charleston, Furman University, Baylor University, Texas Christian University (TCU), Southern Methodist University (SMU) and University of Richmond.

Tuition and Fees

The cost of tuition, fees, room and a dining plan is about $58,000 per year (for Tier 1 housing only; there is an additional investment for upgraded housing options). Institutional aid reduces these expenses for many students.

High Point University offers a variety of housing options ranging from double-occupancy rooms (Tier 1) to single and multi-bedroom apartment suites and townhomes. Upgrades from Tier 1 can be anywhere from approximately $4,000 – $12,000 per year. The highest-level residences are impressive and include full-sized beds, granite countertops and an outdoor fire pit.

Who Would be Happy Here?

Students looking for experiential learning, good internship opportunities, and career preparation. High Point University also would appeal to students looking for warm weather, a beautiful campus and active Greek and sports programs. The student body tends to be more conservative. Students who are active would find plenty of opportunities to get involved at HPU.

Are you a College Expert student interested in exploring High Point University? Visit www.highpoint.edu to learn more and talk with Sue or Ryan about whether it’s a good fit for you.