William Jewell College — Local services in Liberty

Sadly, like many formerly church-related colleges, Jewell has abandoned historic Christianity and its identity as a Christian and Baptist college.

When I attended there, many years ago now, it was a wonderful, solid, mostly faithful school. I got a great education from caring professors and even was able to attend Oxford for a year. All this at a cost the same or lower than KU or MU at that time.

Now it has become much more expensive, and much smaller, with the enrollment having declined by over one third as it has abandoned its Christian identity. I never considered it for my own children for those reasons.

It certainly has much nicer facilities and lawns now. But I much prefer the old, humbler, Christian Jewell, which was affordable for ordinary middle-class kids. I would choose a mind and heart for God over fancy buildings and lush landscaping every time.

Ironically, Jewell and its neighbor across the river in Kansas, Benedictine College of Atchison, have switched places. BC has re-emphasized its Christian identity and become more faithful to its church and heritage (Catholic), and has seen great growth and renewal. (And it also has a beautiful campus.)

Jewell has done the opposite, abandoning its churches, heritage, and faith (Baptist), and enrollment has plunged. Jewell has about 800 students now and Benedictine 1400. In my time it was the opposite.

I hope Jewell would do what Benedictine has done, and see the same revival and renewal. But I am doubtful that...

I Would never recommend this college to anyone. They are not the college they use to be years ago. Reasons I give such a low rating. Dorms are very expensive and required the 1st year. Heaters and airconditioner broke down numerous times. Water heater not working and only cold showers available. Brown water coming from faucets. Advisors do not do their jobs. Will not return calls or emails for days, weeks if ever. Will not help you with selections to best map out your course to your major. Recommend changing your major even though it is the only thing you want to do. Will even recommend going to a different school if you dont. Make you take classes that are not transferable. The teachers do not care about the students. Just there to collect a paycheck not actually teach. If this does not make you look into other colleges and you choose to go here. You will soon experience what a lot of others have. I have heard more bad than good from others I have discussed these issues with that have had very...

I first visited William Jewell twenty five years ago and was positively impressed with its reputation and grounds. Last year I toured William Jewell with my daughter as we were college shopping for her. We were impressed with the quality of the place and the friendly, helpful and open people that we met. We were surprised at how small the student body is. We were scared by the cost of tuition. Fortunately they worked with us with academic scholarship and athletic scholarship, making it still costly, but tolerable. My daughter has now been a Cardinal for five months and is very happy. Her largest class has 25 students. Her classes, dorm friends, classmates, professors, teammates and coaches all have been great. Because of it's petite size, William Jewell isn't for everyone, but we highly recommend it. Quality...