About Deep Springs College
Deep Springs College is one of the most radically different educational institutions in the world. Located on a working cattle ranch in an isolated California desert valley, it enrolls only 26 students at a time. The college operates on three pillars: rigorous academics (small Socratic seminars), mandatory manual labor (students run the ranch, farm, and all facilities), and complete self-governance (students hire and fire faculty, decide curriculum, select the next class of students, and manage the college's operations). Tuition is free — covered by the college's endowment. Most graduates transfer to top universities (Yale, Harvard, Oxford, Brown) after 2 years.
Disruptive approach and innovative methodology
Full self-governance
Students hire faculty, choose curriculum, select the next class, and run all college operations.
Manual labor as pedagogy
Running a cattle ranch and farm is mandatory — learning responsibility, physicality and service.
26 students total
The smallest accredited college in the US. Every student is essential to the community.
Free tuition
Full scholarship for all students — valued at over $50,000/year, funded by endowment.
Impact and recognition
Founded 1917 — over 100 years of radical education
Only 26 students on a remote cattle ranch
Students govern the entire institution
Graduates transfer to Yale, Harvard, Oxford, Brown