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Are College Crime Rates On The Rise?

The huge step of moving away to college is a nerve-wracking time for parents and students alike. When deciding where to attend college, plenty of numbers are involved, from SAT scores and GPA to the number of students at the college. Though the crime rate may not enter your mind during these considerations, it probably should. After all, moving away to college means you'll be living there, not just attending school. It is critical that college students feel safe on the campus they choose to attend.

For almost 20 years, the Department of Education has collected crime statistics for more than 6,000 universities across the United States, publishing an annual report of campus security policies and statistics. You can find these reports on the Department of Education website and in printed form, including data for specific colleges as well as information on the safety of college campuses as a whole. The statistics you'll find here are quite sobering; 20 percent of all women will be sexually assaulted during their college years. The staggering number of other crimes committed on campus underscores the need to pay attention to college safety tips.

In these reports, you'll find crime rates for selected crimes, including vandalism, assault, sex offenses, hate crimes, robbery, assault, and liquor or drug possession. Because these statistics include the number of alcohol-related offenses, they show to what extent alcohol is a problem on the campus, an important consideration both for students and for their parents.

As you may have assumed, colleges with the highest crime rates tend to be located in busy metropolitan areas that are themselves known for higher crime rates. The statistics show that the safest areas to attend college are smaller towns and rural areas, which tend to have lower crime rates than more populated areas.

If you are concerned about safety on the campus, certainly consider these statistics when choosing which college to attend. However, it is important to recognize that crime can happen anywhere, no matter how safe the campus feels. No city, town, or college campus is 100% safe. Though moving away to college is undoubtedly a time of much excitement, it is also a time of growing responsibility, and an important time to think about your personal safety. Prepare for the potential for crime by carrying a canister or pepper spray or a personal alarm. That way, you can protect yourself and avoid becoming a crime statistic.

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