Reader's Digest Campus Crime Rankings

Reader's Digest ranked America's top colleges and universities from lower to higher reported crime rates. See the complete rankings.

General Methodology

Reader’s Digest, using a database compiled by Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE), examined reported crime per student at the main campuses of 285 colleges and universities for 2004 and 2005 (the latest years available). IRE’s data comes from the Department of Education (DOE), which compiles information submitted by schools nationwide as part of the Jeanne Clery Disclosure Act. Reader’s Digest then ranked the institutions from lower to higher reported crime, weighing severe offenses like murder and rape more heavily. (The complete list and methodology appear here for your perusal.)
We caution readers that our findings are not necessarily indicative of how dangerous a campus may be. The DOE data only cover reported crime (not arrests or convictions), which is self-reported on college campuses. Also, many factors—such as the school’s size, how accessible it is to the public, the percentage of commuter students, location (urban vs. rural) and the presence of a capable police force or tight security—can affect whether criminal allegations are identified. The Reader’s Digest ranking can be used most effectively when comparing schools with similar demographics, such as two mid-sized, suburban, private colleges. For those who have narrowed their college choices, DOE offers a useful comparative tool at: http://ope.ed.gov/security/search.asp. Professor Matthew E. Kahn performed the statistical analysis.

• • Colleges
• • Security Threats