Drury University (DU)

From day one, Drury students are engaged in real research and scholarship with faculty mentors. This is a rare advantage; one that speaks to Drury's singular approach to equipping students for leadership in the 21st century. Through its distinctive Your Drury Fusion program, the University provides students with an opportunity to blend career, calling, life, community, self and service to gain a broader perspective on the world. It also is a place where students get to really know their professors as well as their classmates, creating a strong sense of culture and community that transcends the classroom.

Established in 1873, Drury University sits on 90 acres in the heart of Springfield, Missouri. A designated "Tree Campus" by the Arbor Day Foundation, it is an oasis within the city where students are engaged in highly interactive, intellectual exercises that teach them to be flexible, innovative and creative problem solvers.

The university offers all of the majors you would expect from a top liberal arts university plus majors like architecture, music therapy, software engineering, computer game design and a pre-med program with five pre-acceptance partner medical schools.

Your Drury Fusion provides all students multiple credentials, holistic advising which combines academic and career planning from day 1, and a minimum of three experiential projects over your four year career. The Drury Difference leads to 97" of graduates employed or in professional or graduate school within six months of graduation.

Students at Drury do not spend their class time in lecture halls. They like to be part of the action. Students are immersed in hands-on, real-world experiences such as showing their work at the Pool Art Gallery, designing campers for local disabled homeless individuals, and working with a Congolese refugee support program that provides healthcare to those most in need.

Drury University empowers students to practice "meaningful involvement everyday" with excellent, personalized co-curricular experiences that are based on a variety of topics, interests, and fields of study. Over 85" of Drury students are involved in extracurricular activities spanning nine different categories and over 70 organizations. There are ample opportunities for students to gain friends within similar interests, improve leadership skills, network with faculty and staff, and make your mark on Drury's campus.

Drury also gives students the opportunity to learn alongside students from all over the country and the world. The Drury University student body represents 37 states and 52 countries.

Student Organizations and Activities include:

Campus Ministries
Choral groups
Concert band
Dance
Drama/theater
Greek Organizations
International Student Organization
Jazz band
Literary magazine
Model UN
Music ensembles
Musical theater
Pep band
Radio station
Student government
Student newspaper
Student-run film society
Symphony orchestra
Television station

Students here are “inviting and willing to always let someone join in on the fun.” As one student says, “I never imagined a college campus could feel so supportive and connected until I came to Drury.” Classmates have “a lot of school spirit” and “are so nice and welcoming.” There isn’t “only a single type of person on campus;” instead, there’s a “community for everyone, whether they are musicians, writers, athletes, artists, gamers, or anything in between.” A common bond among students is “a strong desire to learn.” Classmates here are “bright and ambitious” and “very studious.” As one student describes, “It is a small campus with hardworking people.” At the same time, this focused student body is “very personal and outgoing.” The school’s relatively small size creates “so much room for building friendships” and makes it possible to have “friends from across all the disciplines.” As one student says, “You get to know everyone at such a personal level; it makes the school feel like a true community.”

At this “very social” school, students enjoy “friendly gatherings and discussions” around campus, especially “during the Fall semester,” and casual hangouts in the dorms like movie nights and board game nights. Many students participate in intramural sports or are student-athletes. Overall, “athletics are pretty big” here, with some adding that Greek life is “also very fun.” Drury “encourages students to be involved in the community” and has weekly opportunities to volunteer, including “at the local juvenile probation office, humane society, and elementary schools.” There are numerous clubs available, and students tend to be involved “in at least one organization on campus.” There are also campuswide events hosted by the Student Union Board, such as Fall Fest, Homecoming, and Spring Fling. Students often venture off campus to explore Springfield, which has “so much to see and do,” including movie theaters, a mall, restaurants, coffee shops, and music venues. Springfield also hosts cultural events like the First Friday Art Walk, where “various galleries (including Drury-owned and student-run ones) host different art shows all around town…. It’s really an amazing night out on the town exploring different art and city life.” Whether on or off-campus, hanging with the community, or checking things out solo, the consensus is that you will “have free time to pursue whatever it is that will fill your needs” and that you can find it at Drury.