Marietta College

Marietta College, is a picturesque campus located in southeastern Ohio at the mouth of the Muskingum River. This liberal arts college is home to nearly 1500 undergraduates. It is a regionally based college (50% from Ohio, another 25% from Pennsylvania and West Virginia) that is often overlooked for its strong, nationally based programs.

Marietta, Ohio

This Rockwellian town of 14,000 was once on the short list to become the first capital of the United States. In 1788, this first permanent settlement of the Northwest Territory, was located in the far western part of the infant country. Named after French queen, Marie Antoinette, Marietta has had its share of historic moments. The town was once a stop on the Underground Railroad. Numerous buildings, including some on campus, can attest to secret rooms or passages for freed slaves. In the 20th century, co-founder of the Marietta based Pure Oil Company, Charles Dawes, served as the 30th Vice-President of the United States under Calvin Coolidge.

Petroleum Engineering

Drawing upon the 1860 discovery of oil in the area, Marietta College is one of only 24 colleges to offer this unique degree. Predominately offered at larger schools located in the oil rich areas of Texas and Oklahoma, this Midwest school offers a vast amount of petroleum in the Ohio Valley.

As the only engineering major on campus, students are still required to complete the full breadth of liberal arts courses. This program is the 10th largest in the nation and the only one at a liberal arts college. As the demand for petroleum engineers continues to rise, this field offers high entry level salaries and nearly 100% job placement for graduates (previous blog post).

All Scholars Day

While visiting this charming campus, I was not able to fully grasp student life as it was "All Scholars Day." On this day, classes are canceled in order to celebrate the knowledge seniors have acquired over their years on campus. Each senior presents their capstone project to a panel of professors, culminating their knowledge, depth and breadth of their educational experience at Marietta. This is not just a day for seniors, as nearly all undergraduate students attend multiple presentations to support and acquire ideas for their future endeavors.

Baseball Program

One of 18 varsity sports on campus, this nationally known Division III program has had an impact on Major League Baseball. The Pioneers have won six national DIII championships, including back-to-back in 2011-12, the first in over 30 years. The baseball team has had nine players drafted into MLB throughout its history, including relief specialist Kent Tukelve and former manager, Jim Tracy. Perhaps their most famous contribution to MLB is former student, Ban Johnson, founder of the American League and World Series.

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