West Texas A&M University in Canyon has been named the safest college campus in all of Texas. In fact, the same study ranked WT one of the top 10 safest in the entire nation. The firm, Your Local Security, examined data from the U.S. Department of Education’s Campus Safety and Security and the FBI’s 2018 Uniform Crime Report to determine its 2020 rankings. WT is the only school in Texas to make the list. The University is ranked higher than such schools as Dartmouth College, University of California — Irvine and Bowling Green State University.

“Personal safety is of utmost importance at all times, but especially during the current circumstances,” said WT President Dr. Walter Wendler. “I am proud of the University Police Department and the City of Canyon for keeping our community safe. This recognition certifies that WT is a safe home for students, and we will continue to keep it that way.”

School officials say that safety rankings such as this are key information as students and parents are considering higher education options. In WT’s case, statistics showed that the University has one of the list’s lowest rates in hate crimes and violence against women. The overall violent crime rate is .90 per 10,000 people. WT’s property crime rate also is low — 7.69 per 10,000 people — and the University was specially cited for its on-campus lock shops that allow students to safely secure valuables.

Credit: Your Local Security
Credit: Your Local Security
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Your Local Security took data from the FBI and the U.S. Department of Education and narrowed its focus to public, private, and nonprofit institutions with a minimum of 5,000 students offering two-or four-year degrees. The company evaluated the safety of a college campus based on a combination of these factors:

  • Violent crimes per 10,000 people
  • Property crimes per 10,000 people
  • Hate crimes per 10,000 people
  • Number of Violent Against Women Act (VAWA) offenses per 10,000 people

After analyzing those factors, Your Local Security determined each school’s overall crime score. The overall list includes schools in 47 states; colleges in Hawaii, Iowa, and Mississippi didn’t submit information to the FBI and are missing on the list.

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