A Rock Solid Education is a challenging, friendly, fun and supportive living and learning experience at a comprehensive, medium-sized university for a reasonable price. A Rock Solid Education is your once in a lifetime opportunity to lay the foundation for your future. 

Rock Solid Academic Quality

• Slippery Rock University is a comprehensive university with four colleges offering over 160 challenging academic programs in the arts, sciences, teacher education, allied health, business, the humanities and social sciences.

• At Slippery Rock University, teaching students like you is our top priority. Only our faculty members teach Slippery Rock University courses – no graduate assistants teach any courses.

• Slippery Rock University offers academic programs of exceptional quality you won’t find at every university, a few of these include environmental studies, emerging media technologies, sport management, dance, allied health, physical therapy.

• Slippery Rock University’s College of Education continues to lead both regionally and nationally. The College of Education became the first in Pennsylvania to earn a five-year accreditation under newly established National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) guidelines. Each year, over 100 school districts from around the nation come to The Rock for the Teacher Job Fair to recruit our education students.

• Academically talented students may choose our Honors Program. Designed to make a challenging academic experience even more personal, the Honors Program offers many exclusive scholarships and travel opportunities.

• Learning extends outside the classroom.  At The Rock, you’ll discover dozens of travel and volunteer opportunities, regionally, nationally and even overseas.  Each major offers you practical experience through internships, work-study, student teaching, or volunteer work.

Rock Solid Setting

• Our students tell us that we’re not too big, not too small, but that we’re just right. With over 7,500 students, Slippery Rock doesn’t feel overwhelming like a huge research institution, but we are also large enough to offer a true university experience. We combine the friendliness of a small, liberal arts college with the resources of a comprehensive university: over 160 academic programs of study, over 20 Division II NCAA sports, and more than 100 clubs, fraternities and sororities, intramural sports, activities and organizations every year.

• Slippery Rock University is a rolling campus of over 600 acres set among some of the region’s most scenic forests and lakes. It’s no wonder so many visitors comment on the natural beauty of our campus and the area. The mix of modern and stately architecture blends a sense of tradition with the latest technologies for an outstanding learning and living experience.

• Slippery Rock is a quaint college town of around 3,000 residents when school is not in session. It is a safe, comfortable, village setting for you to focus on your college experience.  

• Slippery Rock University is conveniently located in western Pennsylvania near three major interstates. Our campus is less than an hour’s drive north from downtown Pittsburgh.

Rock Solid Support

• It all starts with new student orientation. You’ll receive your class schedule, meet your academic advisor, and get to know other students months before your first class in the fall. You may even choose to stay on campus overnight. You’ll discover all you need to know to hit the ground running when you arrive at The Rock. 

• The First Year Studies seminar continues to build your Rock Solid Foundation and helps you excel in college. When paired with two other courses, the FYRST seminar is a key part of a Learning Community, designed to help you meet new people, make friends, form study groups, and most importantly - graduate.

• Of course small class sizes are important.  While providing the value of a state university, the average first year (freshman) class size is only about 32 students. With a student:faculty ratio of 19:1, it’s easy to see why The Rock offers the environment you need to succeed.

 Your college years only come once. Choose a Rock Solid Education!