Bay Path University’s Longmeadow campus ranked as safest in Massachusetts
Bay Path University’s Longmeadow location, home to its traditional undergraduate learners, is the safest campus in Massachusetts, and the 12th safest college in the nation, according to a recent list compiled by Niche.com, which reviewed 1,400 schools and ranked the safest campuses in America for 2027. According to Niche.com, the 2027 Safest College Campuses ranking is based on key statistics and student reviews using U.S. Department of Education data.
The site states that these top-ranked colleges offer a safe and healthy environment with little or no campus crime, drugs, or alcohol usage. In addition, Niche looked at campus crime rates; local crime grades; student surveys on safety; residence hall date violence rates; residence hall rape rates; alcohol-related arrests; and drug-related arrests.
“Our corner of Longmeadow is pretty special,” said Peter Testori, EdD, Associate Vice President for Student Engagement & Academic Resources at Bay Path University. “We work hard to maintain a safe, welcoming environment where our students get a sense of belonging, support, and calmness. Prioritizing safety while making sure the campus looks beautiful and feels peaceful helps create the kind of college experience our traditional undergraduate learners value. By caring for this campus, we’re also caring for the students who call it home.”
Bay Path’s main campus in Longmeadow and the school’s Philip H. Ryan Center in East Longmeadow are well-lit and equipped with emergency call boxes and security cameras. Routine patrols of all facilities take place 24/7, and the school implemented a new communications system in 2023 to relay important safety messages to students, staff, and faculty more efficiently. Last year, the campus opened North House, a dedicated hub for student well-being that offers wellness initiatives, a campus food pantry, and a private space where students can learn about available mental health resources.
“We’re a small, tight community here,” said Dr. Testori. “And we all make sure to look out for each other.”