20 Notable Colleges Who Excel In Supporting Students With Learning Differences
As a college counselor, I understand the unique challenges that students with learning differences face when it comes to entering into higher education. Fortunately, there are many colleges that offer specialized academic support and access to help students succeed. This article will highlight twenty of the best colleges for students with learning differences.
After all, building a balanced list of colleges is reliant on fit, support, community, and cost (some support programs are included in your tuition while others are an additional fee).
How to Find the Best Fit for a Learning Difference
Students need to ask themselves:
What are your current accommodations?
How have the learning environment and instructional methods been modified?
Has the school’s program created embedded services that may be more covert?
Has the student’s social environment been developed and supported by external resources?
Families need to research answers to burning questions:
Do students meet with a counselor weekly?
Can students take a reduced course load?
Is there extra tutoring available for challenging subjects?
Are there specific learning specialists, learning services, and programs to support students?
How long has the program been in existence and the program director been in charge?
Do programs support students holistically?
Is there a social-emotional plan for students?
Bottom line, don’t be afraid to ask specific questions about support services and reach out to College Flight Path for more information on programs that fit your student’s learning profile.
The Best colleges for students with learning differences
Beacon College - Located in Florida, Beacon College is the first accredited college in the United States exclusively for students with learning disabilities. Beacon’s academic and social experience honors different learning styles for those diagnosed with dyslexia, ADHD, and related learning disabilities.
Curry College - Curry College in Massachusetts offers a Program for Advancement of Learning (PAL) that provides individualized support for students with learning disabilities. Space is limited for this program and each application is evaluated carefully.
Landmark College - Landmark College in Vermont is another college that exclusively serves students with learning disabilities. They offer a variety of programs and services to help students succeed, from tutoring to writing support.
Mitchell College - Mitchell College in Connecticut offers a comprehensive program for students with learning disabilities that includes academic support, counseling, and assistive technology.
University of Arizona - The Strategic Alternative Learning Techniques (SALT) Center at the University of Arizona provides individualized support for students with learning disabilities. SALT is a comprehensive student support program where students meet weekly with a student support specialist, are mentored, and have access to psychological and wellness services.
University of Denver - The Learning Effectiveness Program (LEP) at the University of Denver offers academic support and coaching for students with learning disabilities. The goal of UD’s program is to help students understand how they think, learn to leverage their gifts, and build the skills they need to be successful. There is one-on-one academic counseling, skill building resources, and mentorship available.
University of Iowa - The REACH program at the University of Iowa provides comprehensive support for students with learning disabilities, including academic coaching and assistive technology. This comprehensive transition program helps students with intellectual, cognitive, and learning disabilities so students can transition well into campus life and grow their skills for a future career.
University of Kansas - The Academic Learning Center, Academic Retention and Engagement Center, KU Writing Center, Native American Initiatives, and the Student Access Center, make up the suite of services that KU offers its students. These services aim to support Comprehensive, whole person development.
University of Lynchburg - First Year Initiatives, Second Year Experience, AARC, ACP, PASS and Get Organized are hallmark programs designed to help Lynchburg students be successful at any stage of their academic journey. The Learning Strategies Program at the University of Lynchburg also provides individualized support for students with learning disabilities.
University of Connecticut - The Academic Achievement Center offers tutors trained in study skills and time management support, while UCONN Connects is an intervention program that offers individualized support (a staff or peer facilitator) that walks students through the semester to help provide support services and solutions when problems arise.
University of Rochester - The Rochester Center for Students with Disabilities at the University of Rochester provides academic support and accommodations for students with learning disabilities. At The Learning Center (TLC), students can engage in tutoring, study groups, academic advising, and enroll to work in a low distraction study zone.
University of Vermont - The Student Accessibility Program (SAS) at the University of Vermont provides academic support and accommodations for students with learning disabilities including assignment extensions, attendance flexibility, accessible document conversion, and assistance for students with Autism.
Westminster College - Westminster College in Pennsylvania offers the Academic Success Center where students have access to tutoring services, peer success coaches, and a full suite of disability resources.
Albion College - Albion College in Michigan offers a Learning Support Services program that provides academic support and accommodations for students with learning disabilities. They offer a first-year experience program to help students transition to the rigors of college coursework, advising and mentorship programs to help build one-on-one relationships, and a full suite of student services for those with learning differences.
Beloit College - Beloit College in Wisconsin offers a Learning Enrichment and Disability Services (LEADS) program that provides academic support and accommodations for students with learning disabilities. In addition, Beloit offers career works, health and wellness, student success, equity, and community programming, student engagement and leadership workshops, tutoring and writing support.
Carleton College - Carleton College in Minnesota offers a Disability Services Office that houses Academic Support Center (ASC), Quantitative Resource Center (QRC), The Language Center, and The Center for Community and Civic Engagement (CCCE). Together this suite of services provides academic support and accommodations for students with learning disabilities.
College of the Atlantic - The Four Pillars of Student Life - Student Support, Student Engagement, Student Leadership, and Student Development - are central to empowering students to become authentic and successful leaders.
College of Wooster - The Academic Resource Center (ARC) at the College of Wooster in Ohio provides academic support and accommodations for students with learning disabilities through Academic Life Coaching, Academic Skill Development, Disability Support Services, ELL, Peer Tutoring, and other workshops.
Connecticut College - Connecticut College offers a comprehensive program for students with learning disabilities that includes academic support, counseling, and assistive technology through the Office of Student Accessibility services and the Academic Resource Center (ARC).
Earlham College - Earlham College in Indiana is home to The Academic Enrichment Center (AEC), which helps students understand their learning style, work with mentors and tutors, engage with academic support and arrange accommodations for students with learning disabilities.
Other notable mentions include American University, Bowling Green State University, Northeastern University, UC, Irvine, Middlebury, DePaul University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Augsburg College, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Lynn University, High Point University, Marist College, West Chester, Wheaton College, West Virginia University, and Mercyhurst College.
When considering which college offers your student the best support, please consider size, culture, major, location, and physical accessibility. This list paints a picture in broad strokes highlighting particular universities that support students with learning differences throughout their college journeys, however, each university offers access in many ways. In fact, there are many colleges that offer specialized programs and resources for students with learning differences, but not all schools offer the same level of support.
When entering into the college process, be sure to ask program heads specific questions about how much access students have to individual support; research website information about how often the program will engage with your student; and reach out to College Flight Path for more information on how to build a balanced list and help your student achieve their goals.
