  deep springs is an alternative college in deep springs, california, in the united states. a two-year college, the institution currently aims for a student body size of 26, though the number is occasionally lower. after completing two years at deep springs, students may elect to receive an associate's degree, although this rarely happens in practice. most continue their studies at other universities, out of which two-thirds go on to earn a graduate degree, and over half eventually earn a doctorate. deep springs is in deep springs valley in inyo county, california near the larger owens valley and about  over mountain passes from the nearest town, dyer, nevada, and  from the nearest town of significant size, bishop, california. the official name of the institution is "deep springs college." it was founded under the name "deep springs, collegiate and preparatory." from its inception in 1917, the college has been all-male, until its board voted, in fall 2011, that it will begin accepting female students in the summer of 2013. there are currently active legal challenges to the trustees' action, disputing their authority to change the admissions policy, including an injunction preventing the college from accepting female students and delaying coeducation until the 2015-2016 academic year at the earliest. ==organization and philosophy== alt=|thumb|400px|right| deep springs students and staff moving cattle. deep springs is founded on three principles, commonly called the "three pillars": academics, labor, and self-government. in addition to studies, students work a minimum of 20 hours a week either on the ranch and farm attached to the college or in positions related to the college and community. position titles have historically included cook, irrigator, butcher, groundskeeper, cowboy, "office cowboy," dairy, and feedman. deep springs maintains a c
Educational_institutions_established_in_1917 Intentional_communities Junior_colleges Men\'s_universities_and_colleges_in_the_United_States Ranches_in_California Schools_accredited_by_the_Western_Association_of_Schools_and_Colleges