Small colleges have long played a significant role in shaping American higher education. They may not make national headlines every day, but their impact on students, communities, and the broader landscape of learning is undeniable. That’s why Kent Barnds and I, Dean Hoke, created Small College America. Its mission is to present critical discussions at the forefront by interviewing small college higher education leaders, policy experts, and innovators. The podcast delves into the evolving role of small colleges, their economic impact, innovative strategies for sustainability, and how they can continue to provide a highly personalized educational experience.
Each episode explores the distinctiveness of small colleges—through conversations with presidents, provosts, foundation leaders, and changemakers who are deeply engaged in the work of shaping the future. We focus on the real issues small colleges face—from enrollment shifts and financial pressures to mission clarity, leadership, and collaborative innovation.
Why is now the perfect time for this podcast? Higher education faces unprecedented challenges, and small colleges, with their adaptability and personalized approaches, offer valuable lessons and innovative solutions critical to the broader education landscape.
Our most recent episodes include:
Wendy Sherman Heckler and Chet Haskell – From Otterbein University and Antioch University, respectively these two leaders discuss their groundbreaking collaboration known as the Coalition for the Common Good. It’s a bold new model for partnership between mission-driven institutions focused on shared values and long-term sustainability.
Eric Lindberg—Executive Director of the Austin E. Knowlton Foundation in Cincinnati, Ohio, shares insights into the Foundation’s commitment to supporting small colleges, reflects on his own liberal arts experience, and outlines how strategic philanthropy can strengthen institutional resilience.
Dr. Paaige Turner, Provost and Executive Vice President at Aurora University discusses her transition into the role after serving as Dean at Ball State University. She brings a fresh perspective on leadership, regional relevance, and the evolving communication needs of today’s students.
Upcoming Guests:
We’re excited to welcome several new voices to the podcast in upcoming episodes:
Charles Kim, retired Managing Director at Kaufman Hall and former head of its Higher Education division, now serves on the boards of Augustana College and Westminster College.
Scott Wiegandt, Director of Athletics at Bellarmine University, who helped lead the university’s move from NCAA Division II to Division I.
Karin Fischer, senior writer for The Chronicle of Higher Education and author of the Latitudes newsletter, brings deep insight into the global and domestic challenges facing small colleges.
Steve Bahls, President Emeritus of Augustana College and national expert on shared governance, discusses how collaboration can lead to institutional agility and long-term success.
Matthew Ward, Vice President of Enrollment Management at California Lutheran University.
Liz Nino, Executive Director of International Enrollment at Augustana College.
Dr. Marco Clark, President of Holy Cross College at Notre Dame, Indiana.
Whether you’re a small college president, a prospective student, an alum, or simply someone passionate about the future of higher education, we invite you to join us. Each episode of Small College America is a chance to learn, reflect, and engage with the people who are shaping this vital sector.
Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform or listen directly at https://www.podpage.com/small-college-america/. We hope you’ll tune in. If there’s a story or college you think we should feature, let us know.
Small colleges are changing higher education—be part of the conversation.
Dean Hoke is Managing Partner of Edu Alliance Group, a higher education consultancy, and a Senior Fellow with the Sagamore Institute. He formerly served as President/CEO of the American Association of University Administrators (AAUA). With decades of experience in higher education leadership, consulting, and institutional strategy, he brings a wealth of knowledge on small colleges’ challenges and opportunities. Dean, along with Kent Barnds, is a co-host for the podcast series Small College America.
March 24, 2025, by Dean Hoke: Each small college has something special about it. Alice Lloyd College in Pippa Passes, Kentucky, was founded by Alice Spencer Geddes Lloyd and June Buchanan. They established the school in 1923 with minimal funds to provide affordable, quality education for Appalachian students facing economic hardship and limited educational opportunities. Their pioneering vision continues today, empowering students to become leaders dedicated to serving their Appalachian communities. This profile of Alice Lloyd College is the seventh in a series presenting small colleges throughout the United States.
Background
Established in 1923, Alice Lloyd College (ALC) is a private liberal arts college located in Pippa Passes, Kentucky, in the heart of Appalachia. The campus occupies approximately 175 acres in a picturesque mountain valley, offering an idyllic rural setting. Alice Spencer Geddes Lloyd (1876 – 1962) and her co-founder June Buchanan (1887 – 1988) were the co-founders and worked without pay on both education and fundraising for the college.
The school was created to provide post-secondary educational opportunities to serve students from Appalachia; the college remains steadfastly committed to its original mission of providing affordable, quality education, especially to students from Kentucky’s Appalachian region. It became a bachelor’s degree-granting institution in the early 1980s. Alice Lloyd College serves almost exclusively a 108-county Central Appalachian service area. Tuition is guaranteed to full-time students residing in the service area.
Alice Lloyd College remains dependent on the private support of the American free-enterprise system for over half of its revenue sources.
Curricula
Alice Lloyd College offers bachelor’s degrees across numerous academic fields, including Biological Sciences, Education, English, History, Sociology, Business Administration, and Criminal Justice. Education remains a cornerstone of ALC, reflecting its historic mission, with notable concentrations in Elementary Education, Secondary Education, and Special Education.
ALC’s distinctive curriculum model is designed around leadership education and character development, which are integral to the college’s foundational philosophy. Alice Lloyd’s Gatton Winston Scholars Program (formerly The Caney Scholars Program) financially supports ALC graduates seeking advanced degrees. It is the only program of its kind in the nation. Applicants must have high academic standards, be of strong character, and show potential for leadership. The College’s “Caney Scholars” program emphasizes leadership, community service, and personal responsibility, complementing traditional liberal arts education.
Strengths
Tuition Guarantee and Financial Aid: Alice Lloyd College offers free tuition for full-time students residing within its designated service area, making higher education accessible to economically disadvantaged students in Appalachia. This tuition-guarantee policy, funded through endowment revenues and private donations, covers full tuition for eligible students.
Work-Study Program: Uniquely, all full-time students participate in a mandatory work-study program. This program requires them to contribute labor weekly to campus operations, fostering a strong work ethic, practical experience, and reduced operating costs for the institution. Only seven colleges in the US have such a program.
High Graduate Success Rates: Nearly 95% of Alice Lloyd graduates secure employment or acceptance to graduate programs within six months of graduation, demonstrating the effectiveness of the College’s rigorous academic and character development programs.
Leadership and Character Development: A cornerstone of Alice Lloyd College’s educational experience is the emphasis on developing leaders through service learning and character education, which external evaluators consistently recognize as a defining institutional strength.
Weaknesses
Alice Lloyd College’s student retention and six-year graduation rate is below both national and regional averages for private colleges.
Financial Dependency on Donations: Alice Lloyd College operates tuition-free for eligible students from its service region, placing considerable reliance on donations, grants, and endowment income. This dependence can pose financial stability risks if philanthropic trends shift negatively.
Rural Isolation: The College’s isolated location, while picturesque, can deter students seeking urban experiences or greater proximity to metropolitan opportunities, limiting the pool of prospective students to those primarily interested in a rural collegiate experience.
Economic Impact
Alice Lloyd College significantly impacts the economy and social infrastructure of eastern Kentucky. Alice Lloyd College significantly contributes to the local and regional economy, generating $33 million in total economic impact for the Fiscal Year 2021-2022, according to a recent study commissioned by the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities. According to Alice Lloyd College President Jim Stepp, “Today, 83% of our alumni live, work, and serve in these mountains and are fulfilling our founders’ vision. Additionally, the college frequently engages in community initiatives, supporting local economic and educational development.
Enrollment
Enrollment at Alice Lloyd College remains stable between 550 and 600, primarily from Appalachia. However, recent years have seen an uptick in applications from outside the immediate region due to increased awareness of its distinctive tuition-free and work-study models. Key points:
The acceptance rate in Fall 2023 is 86%—source: National Center for Education Statistics.
48% of graduates are first-generation, 4-year college graduates.
98% of their students come from the 108-county Appalachia Region.
Graduation and Retention Rates
Source: Alice Lloyd College Student Achievement Report
The graduation and retention rates for private colleges are below both national and regional averages. The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center reports that private nonprofit institutions have an average six-year graduation rate of 68%. In Kentucky, the average six-year graduation rate for private colleges is approximately 52.5%. For freshman-to-sophomore retention, the national average is 75%, and Kentucky is about 79%.
Alice Lloyd College’s graduation and retention rates reflect its explicit mission to serve Appalachian students facing significant socioeconomic, geographic, educational, and cultural barriers. Many students are first-generation, with limited financial resources and weaker academic preparation. The institution’s rural location limits access to employment, internships, and support services common in urban areas. Additionally, strong family obligations in Appalachian culture can disrupt students’ academic progress. The college’s pronounced commitment to educating high-risk students partially accounts for lower retention and graduation rates relative to national and regional averages for private nonprofit colleges.
Degrees Awarded by Major
In 2022- 2023, Alice Lloyd College conferred degrees as follows: 92 seniors graduated. In the Class of 2022, 50% are working (all in Appalachia), 45% are in graduate or professional school, 2% are in the military, and 3% are unemployed 6 months after graduation.
Alumni
Alice Lloyd College boasts an alumni network committed to community service, leadership, and regional development, with graduates frequently occupying influential positions in education, healthcare, business, and public service within Appalachia. According to LinkedIn, which has 1,169 alums registered, of which 704 live in Kentucky.
Notable alumni include:
Carl Perkins ( attended in the early 1930s) House of Representatives 1949 – 1984 Known for his advocacy of higher education, including the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, which focuses on improving career and technical education programs
Dr. Clyde Thornsberry (39) Centers for Disease Control, where he gained a national and international reputation as a scientist and expert in several fields, including microbiology and infectious diseases.
Dr. Warren Grady Stumbo (65) is a Distinguished physician and public servant from Eastern Kentucky.
Preston Spradlin (09) Head Basketball Coach James Madison University
Endowment and Financial Standing
Alice Lloyd College maintains a modest yet healthy endowment, valued around $60 – $70 million. Financial stability remains reliant mainly on consistent fundraising efforts and prudent asset management. Forbes 2023 Financial Health Evaluation gives a GPA of 3.463 out of 4.5 and a grade of A-. This reflects Alice Lloyd College’s fiscal responsibility, with continued positive ratings from financial health assessments.
Why is Alice Lloyd Important?
Strong Regional Commitment: The college addresses Appalachian educational disparities and actively contributes to the region’s long-term economic and social well-being.
Providing Tuition-Free Education: ALC significantly reduces financial barriers for Appalachian students, enabling higher education access for underserved populations.
Community Development: The college nurtures local economic and social growth by educating regional students who return as impactful leaders.
Innovative Work-Study Model: ALC’s mandatory Student Work Program teaches graduates practical workplace skills and instills a strong work ethic.
Alice Lloyd College is a unique school that fulfills its mission to educate mountain people for positions of leadership and service to the Appalachian region. 98% of its students come from the region, and 83% of its alumni return to live, work, and serve in the Appalachian region.
Dean Hoke is Managing Partner of Edu Alliance Group, a higher education consultancy, and a Senior Fellow with the Sagamore Institute. He formerly served as President/CEO of the American Association of University Administrators (AAUA). With decades of experience in higher education leadership, consulting, and institutional strategy, he brings a wealth of knowledge on small colleges’ challenges and opportunities. Dean, along with Kent Barnds, are co-hosts for the podcast series Small College America.
Edu Alliance Journal 