Kenyon College is known as one of the country’s premier liberal arts colleges, with an outsized reputation in creative writing, English literature, and the arts. Located in the tiny village of Gambier, Ohio, this small school of roughly 1,800 students has produced an extraordinary number of acclaimed writers, actors, and thinkers relative to its size. Its Gothic architecture, close-knit community, and deep literary roots make it stand out even among elite liberal arts institutions.
A Powerhouse in Writing and English
Kenyon’s literary reputation is arguably its most defining trait. The college’s English department has been influential in American letters since the mid-20th century, when poet and critic John Crowe Ransom founded the Kenyon Review there in 1939. That journal became one of the most respected literary publications in the country and still operates today. The creative writing culture runs deep: students write for campus publications, workshop their fiction and poetry with faculty, and graduate with a level of craft that feeds directly into publishing, journalism, and academia.
The proof is in the alumni. Bill Watterson, class of 1980, created “Calvin and Hobbes,” one of the most beloved comic strips ever published. He got his start drawing political cartoons for the student newspaper, the Kenyon Collegian. John Green, class of 2000, wrote “The Fault in Our Stars,” which debuted at number one on the New York Times Best Seller list and became a major film. He also co-founded the YouTube channel vlogbrothers and the educational series Crash Course. Laura Hillenbrand, class of 1989, wrote “Seabiscuit” and “Unbroken,” which together sold over 13 million copies and were both adapted into feature films. Allison Joseph, class of 1988, has published eight full-length poetry collections and directs a graduate creative writing program. Carl Djerassi, class of 1943, was a chemist famous for his work on oral contraceptives, but he was also a prolific poet, novelist, and playwright.
The pipeline extends into journalism and media. Matthew Winkler, class of 1977, co-founded Bloomberg News with Michael Bloomberg after starting his career at the Kenyon Collegian. Nadia Reiman, class of 2005, won the first-ever Pulitzer Prize for audio reporting as supervising producer at “This American Life.” Erin Schaff, class of 2011, became a staff photographer for the New York Times.
Strength in Theater and the Arts
Kenyon’s drama department is another major draw. The college has a strong theater tradition that has launched careers on stage and screen. The most famous example is Allison Janney, class of 1982, who won an Academy Award for “I, Tonya” and multiple Emmys for her roles in “The West Wing” and “Mom.” Playwright Harrison David Rivers, class of 2004, has won the GLAAD Media Award and the Relentless Award for his work. The college’s intimate size means students get real stage time and close mentorship from faculty, which is a significant advantage over larger programs where undergraduates compete with graduate students for roles.
A Campus Built Around Middle Path
Kenyon’s physical setting is distinctive and often cited as one of the most beautiful campuses in the country. The college sits on a hilltop in rural Ohio, centered around Middle Path, a ten-foot-wide footpath that runs the entire length of campus. It serves as the main artery, gathering space, and village green all at once. Students, faculty, and visitors walk it constantly, and it functions as a kind of social spine for the community.
The architecture is largely Gothic Revival. Old Kenyon, with its slender spire, and Peirce Hall are the most recognizable landmarks. The Church of the Holy Spirit lifts its steeple high above campus, visible as visitors come up Gambier Hill. The rural isolation is part of the identity: Gambier is a village of a few hundred people, which means campus life is self-contained and tightly knit. Students eat together, study together, and socialize together in ways that bigger or more urban schools simply do not replicate.
Traditions That Mark the Experience
Kenyon takes its traditions seriously, and several of them bookend the student experience in memorable ways. At orientation, each entering class gathers on the steps of Rosse Hall to sing the traditional songs of Kenyon in an event called the New Student Sing. Four years later, after Baccalaureate, the graduating class returns to the same steps for Senior Sing on the day before Commencement. The symmetry is intentional and emotional.
Other traditions add texture throughout the year. Flag Bearers are students who carry college banners in ceremonial processions, dressed in garb based on medieval clerical vestments: white robes with rope belts, covered by long tabbards in Kenyon purple with a gold cross over the heart. The Pealers are students trained in the art of change ringing, playing the bells in the Church of the Holy Spirit steeple for all college ceremonies. These rituals reflect the school’s Episcopal roots and give the campus a sense of continuity that stretches back to its founding in 1824.
Academics and Selectivity
Kenyon is a selective institution. Its acceptance rate sits around 31%, with admitted students typically scoring between 1370 and 1473 on the SAT or 31 to 33 on the ACT. About 64% of enrolled students had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above. From roughly 7,700 applicants, about 2,400 are admitted and around 440 choose to enroll.
Beyond English and creative writing, Kenyon is well regarded across the liberal arts, particularly in economics, political science, history, and the sciences. The student-to-faculty ratio is low, and classes are small, which means professors know students by name and serve as genuine mentors. There are no graduate programs competing for faculty attention, so undergraduate teaching is the priority. For students who thrive in discussion-based seminars and want close relationships with their professors, Kenyon delivers on that promise in a way few schools can match.