Choosing a college can be one of the most important, and emotional, decisions of your life. You read guides, take tours, talk to friends and compare financial aid offers, but in the end, it often comes down to something less tangible: that moment when you just know.
For many students, that moment happens at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky — a place where a 250-year legacy meets personal connection and forward-looking opportunity.
It feels personal from the start
When you visit Transy, you notice right away that it’s different. Professors don’t just lecture — they learn your name, ask about your goals and stay connected long after class ends.
With an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio, you’re never invisible here. You’ll find professors who know you by name, advisers who listen and classmates who root for your success.
Jessie Reynolds ’25 said, “The community at Transy is so encouraging and has pushed me to take advantage of every opportunity I could.”
That sense of belonging, being challenged and supported at the same time, is what many students describe as the moment they knew Transy was the right fit.
It feels real, not polished
At Transy, the community is small enough to feel personal but connected enough to the city to feel alive. The campus sits just blocks from downtown Lexington, one of the nation’s top college towns, filled with local coffee shops, creative startups, art venues and internship opportunities.
Unlike colleges where students stay inside a campus bubble, Transy students are part of the city around them. They volunteer with local nonprofits, intern at Lexington-based companies and create public art that leaves a lasting impact.
Savannah Kinster ’25 captured it perfectly: “I thought it would be a great way to do a community-engagement project that interacts with the space. … The close-knit connections with faculty, staff and students have really uplifted me to pursue my passions.”
That combination of purpose and place makes Transy feel authentic; not curated, not distant, but connected and real.
It feels like a smart investment
Families today are right to ask hard questions about cost and value. Transy’s answer is simple: nearly every student (99 percent) receives scholarships or grants, and the university ranks among the best values in private liberal arts education in the region.
Through programs like 100 Doors to Success, students are paired with alumni mentors who guide them through career exploration, internships and networking. As Kaitlyn Maes ’24 explained, “(The 100 Doors program) was one of the reasons I picked Transy. Mentorship was already built into the system.”
That kind of intentional mentoring leads to results. Transy graduates are accepted to medical, law and graduate schools at rates well above the national average and begin careers with confidence that’s built on both skill and connection.
It feels like a community that lasts
The right college doesn’t fade when you graduate — it follows you, in the best possible way.
Transy alumni describe that connection often; how friendships, faculty relationships and shared experiences continue long after commencement. Through the Transylvania Alumni Association, graduates stay involved by mentoring students, speaking on panels and funding scholarships for future Pioneers.
That commitment to connection builds trust, and it says something powerful about what Transy gives back.
It feels like the future
In today’s changing educational landscape, with AI transforming industries, hybrid work reshaping careers and questions about the value of higher education everywhere, students need more than a degree. They need adaptability, creativity and community.
Transylvania’s liberal-arts foundation gives students the tools to thrive, no matter where the world goes next. Critical thinking, writing, collaboration and ethics, these skills outlast every new technology and trend.
You know you’ve found the right college when it prepares you not just for your first job, but for your whole career. Transy’s graduates prove it every day, leading in classrooms, boardrooms and communities across the country.
How you’ll know it’s right
For some students, it happens on a campus tour, walking past Old Morrison, hearing the hum of conversation from Carpenter Academic Center and realizing you can see yourself here. For others, it’s later, maybe on the first day of class when a professor asks what you think instead of telling you what to believe.
It might be when you land your first internship downtown or when you meet your 100 Doors mentor who shows you that what you’re learning connects directly to the world outside. It might even be something small, a class discussion that lights a spark, a late-night talk with a friend who understands you, or a faculty member who checks in because they noticed you missed a day.
That’s the moment you know. The right college isn’t just the one that looks good on paper. It’s the one that makes you feel seen, supported and ready for whatever comes next.
At Transylvania University, students describe that feeling every year, the quiet certainty that they’ve found their place and their people. And for more than two centuries, Transy has made sure they do.
Ready to find your fit?
Schedule a campus visit: transy.edu/admission/visit. Explore scholarships and aid: transy.edu/financial-aid/value.