La Roche University (LRU)

A small, Catholic school in suburban Pittsburgh, La Roche University "integrates liberal arts and professional education in creative ways." Offering more than 50 degree programs in a range of diverse fields (like nursing, accounting, graphic design, and real estate), the La Roche University education is highly practical, providing its students with "all the tools needed to succeed" in the real world. Thanks to uniformly small class sizes, "students get a lot of individualized attention" from their instructors. Described as both "attentive" and "caring," professors treat "students as more than just students, but as individual learners." If you are struggling in a class, "It is easy to make an appointment with your professors and meet with them every week." In addition, "La Roche has great tutoring programs as well as a [Writing Center] to help the students succeed." While this private school comes with a high price tag, "[it offers] great scholarships and lots of financial aid" to qualified students, which helps take the sting out of the tuition check. Students say the administration still has plenty of room for improvement: "There are a lot of problems as far as classes and budget and the overall way in which La Roche is run."

With just more than 1,200 full-time undergraduates, "Life at La Roche is very laid back." On this small campus, "everyone knows everyone" and it only "takes about five minutes to walk to class" from the dorms. Students assure us that "If you are willing to be involved, you will never be bored." At La Roche, there are over 30 student groups and an active intramural sports program, as well as 12 varsity men's and women's teams. Alcohol is prohibited on campus, but, students admit that "people still drink" from time to time. Even so, a party "never gets out of control" at La Roche, and most students prefer to "hang out with...friends, study together, [and] go out to eat" in their free time. When they want a break from the school's "lovely and spacious campus," students really appreciate their location on the outskirts of Pittsburgh. With this "amazing city at your fingertips," a fun night on the town is only a short drive away. On that note, "you better hope you have a car to get off campus," because "everyone goes home" on the weekend.

On this small campus, the majority of students are Pittsburgh locals, and about half are commuters. The university also attracts international students from almost 50 countries worldwide, creating an "academic and social community where everyone is accepted as they are." Friendliness is the common denominator among the La Roche student body, and most students describe their classmates as "very nice and well-rounded individuals." A current student attests, "Being a transfer student myself, I've seen the environment of other college campuses, and I can honestly say that I have never seen such a diverse group of students interacting so seamlessly."