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Kenyon College champions "academic vigor" and has earned its designation as "The Writers' College." Students value the school's focus on writing, with one student saying, "Even though I don't want to be an English major, I think any college that values writing as much as Kenyon does has its priorities straight." This private college provides a "wellrounded liberal arts education in which emphasis [is] placed on critical thinking and class discussion." Kenyon offers "small, individualized class sizes" with "terrifically interesting" courses. Faculty members are exceptionally supportive; one student recounts meeting with a professor "for an hour every day leading up to the final because I was so nervous about it, and he hardly batted an eye at taking that much time out of his day for only one student." Professors at Kenyon "love learning just as much as the students," and students say, "It is honestly hard to find a professor who is not thrilled by the content that they are teaching." The faculty creates an engaging environment where students are taught "to see, discuss, and connect the dots" and feel "your voice is valued in class discussion." Additionally, the school "really knows how to offer a huge diversity of programs and activities to a very small campus." There is "a wide variety of options available in terms of classes," and research opportunities are available to all students, including first-years. While Kenyon fosters a studious environment, overall, it's not a competitive place. Instead, the college encourages a "cooperative learning environment," making academics "less stressful." Students say that "out-of-class work is always meaningful" and while "you will spend the vast majority of your time studying...it is also extremely rewarding."

The student body is made up of "forward-thinking students who study hard but also understand the necessity of taking breaks and having a good time on weekends." Most students are heavily involved in both their studies and in extracurriculars. As one student observes, "You're either a jack of all trades here or a master of four." Students describe an environment that is very inclusive. For example, "someone on the football team could just as easily be in the community choir or quiz bowl club." These diverse interests paint a picture of a community that is eclectic and welcoming. As one student explains, "Even though I'm not a philosophy major, I feel just as at home in those conversations as I do when I discuss Mahler or the next big party." Another adds, "Most people [here] have a quirk or five." Overall, Kenyon is a social campus where people are engaged, passionate, and interested in the world around them. As one student sums up, everyone "tends to be extremely friendly, well-rounded, and smart."

Kenyon is a “small campus with a big sense of community.” The campus itself is “utterly pastoral,” and students say, “It’s like going to school in a Marlowe poem—and with all of the English majors running around, most people know who Marlowe is.” As one student recalls, “I stepped on campus and noticed two things: everyone was happy and the campus was gorgeous.” The trade-off for these “absolutely lovely” surroundings is that the town of Gambier is “in the middle of nowhere, so campus can get to be claustrophobic at times.” However, students find plenty of ways to stay busy and connect with peers who share their passions. There are numerous clubs and organizations, as wells as “activist groups for everything from gender awareness to Palestine.” Parties, including Greek life parties, are a “typical activity to unwind after a challenging week of academics.” Students also let off steam through intramural sports, hiking on the nearby Kokosing Gap Trail, or working out in the gym.

Kenyon’s Career Development Office believes that careers start with exploration and encourages students to drop into the office and conduct a self-assessment as early as possible in their education. From there, students can set up job shadowing, find a mentor via the Kenyon Career Network, or arrange to complete a real-world Professional Extension Project (PEP) and get feedback from professionals in the field. All job/internship opportunities and recruiting are centrally managed through Handshake. Students can also set up adviser appointments and register for workshops. One Kenyon Biochemistry major also praises the school’s professors, who provide “amazing resources both inside and outside the classroom” and “can provide insight not only [about] classroom topics, but on life and careers as well.” According to the school’s website, Kenyon offers lifetime services for alumni, which include networking opportunities and the ability to search, as an employer, for a Kenyon graduate to fill a position. According to Payscale.com, Kenyon grads earn a median starting salary of $64,400, and 59 percent of Kenyon graduates would classify their careers as jobs that help make the world a better place.