Who We Are

Where is Hampden-Sydney College?
Picturesquely set in Virginia's historic Southside, Hampden-Sydney College is located 70 miles southwest of Richmond, in the heart of Virginia. Farmville, a town of 6500, is seven miles north. We are near Highway 460 and only one mile from US 15.

How many men attend Hampden-Sydney College?
Nearly 1,100 men entered the gates of Hampden-Sydney College this fall. Currently, 28 states and nineteen countries are represented in the student body. Of those students enrolled, approximately 71% hail from the Commonwealth of Virginia, though traditionally, Virginia residents have represented closer to 60% of the student body. The current student to teacher ratio is 11:1 and the average class has 15 students.

Where can I find more information about Hampden-Sydney?
Click on the links below to view some of Hampden-Sydney College's recent appearances in the national media.

• Hampden-Sydney College Webpage

• President Howard on National Public Radio

• Forbes Top Colleges in America

• The New York Times on the Value of an All-Male Education

• Famous Hampden-Sydney Alumni

Do most of the students come from public or private schools?
Whether you attend a public high school or a private high school you should feel comfortable at Hampden-Sydney. Historically, 60% of our freshmen are graduates of public schools while 40% come to Hampden-Sydney from private schools.

What is Hampden-Sydney known for?
Founded in 1775, Hampden-Sydney is the tenth oldest college in the country and the second oldest in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The College is known for its Honor Code, which states that students will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do. It is because of this Honor Code that students feel free to leave bags and books unattended in the library or the cafeteria. Because professors trust their students, professors will rarely proctor an exam, choosing instead to attend to other items in their office while students complete an exam. Hampden-Sydney is also known for its Rhetoric Program, which is a reflection of the mission articulated by the school's first President, Samuel Stanhope Smith. Smith, a Valedictorian of Princeton University, aimed to model Hampden-Sydney after his alma mater, but with a "greater emphasis upon the cultivation of the English language than is usually done in places of public education." Smith's goal lives on today as all Hampden-Sydney men learn to express themselves grammatically and persuasively in both writing and speech.