Rhodes College

Rhodes College stands out as a nationally ranked liberal arts and sciences institution, uniquely blending the academic rigor of an Oxford-Cambridge style tutorial system with a vibrant Memphis setting. Students here benefit from an education deeply rooted in personalized learning, engaging in individual sessions with professors that mirror the Oxbridge model—a system only shared with Harvard in its early implementation. This distinctive approach ensures a deeply engaging and intellectually stimulating academic journey, preparing students for diverse paths.

The college's story is one of remarkable resilience and evolution, tracing its origins back to the mid-1830s as the all-male Montgomery Academy in Clarksville, Tennessee. Surviving the American Civil War, during which its campus endured extensive damage, the institution underwent several transformations, eventually becoming Stewart College and then Southwestern Presbyterian University. A pivotal moment came in 1917 with the admission of women, followed by the groundbreaking move to Memphis in 1925, orchestrated by President Charles E. Diehl, which ignited a new era of growth and recognition, despite facing challenges like the Great Depression and World War II.

Renamed Rhodes College in 1984 to honor former president Peyton N. Rhodes, the institution continued its impressive expansion, admitting its first Black students and significantly growing its endowment and facilities. Today, Rhodes offers over 50 majors, interdisciplinary majors, minors, and academic programs, continually enhancing its curriculum. Beyond the classroom, students at Rhodes benefit from robust partnerships with various Memphis institutions, providing invaluable networks for research, service, and internship opportunities, truly integrating their learning with real-world experience and community engagement.