The Ruskin Colleges were a group of American colleges founded in the early 20th century by the socialist philanthropist Walter Vrooman, the college administrator , and others, in the same spirit as the British Ruskin College, which Vrooman had cofounded. A core idea was for students to gain vocational training and earn their way through college by working in a cooperative business associated with the college. Ruskin Colleges were founded in Missouri, Illinois, and Florida.