Quick Highlights:
- Two of the most beautiful college campuses are Stanford University and Ohio University.
- College campuses are often known for their stunning architectural and natural beauty.
- Campus designs vary from historic Gothic styles to modern landscapes integrating natural features like lakes and gardens.
- The aesthetics of these campuses play a significant role in attracting prospective students and enhancing the educational environment.
Whether you’re captivated by red brick buildings shrouded by greenery or Renaissance-inspired architecture and gothic buildings galore, the lure of a college is partly composed of its appearance. We’ve got a list of 50 most beautiful college campuses and their stunning quads to help you narrow down your selection.
Many American prospective students agree that the beauty of college campuses in America plays a large role in deciding where to attend. Admissions experts say that visiting a campus is one of the core factors that influence prospective students to choose a school.
The main buildings of a college campus hold a great deal of history and culture. They’re where countless alumni have learned, studied, and socialized. And, the beauty and charm of a college campus quad offers familiarity long after graduation.
See Also: Most Beautiful College Arboretums
Top 50 Most Beautiful College Campuses
If you’re keen on choosing an incredible college setting, you’re in the right place. Below are 50 of the prettiest college campuses in the United States.
1. Stanford University
Stanford University in Stanford, California comes in as the most beautiful college campus. Stanford University is consistently ranked one of the top five universities in the world for its academic program. Yet for our most beautiful college campuses, we rank it number one.
Stanford University tops our list because it has one of the most unique layouts and campus features. Stanford University has terra cotta-colored roofs, charming fountains, and long indoor-outdoor hallways that invite in a fresh breeze while walking to class.
Related: Most Beautiful College Churches and Chapels
2. Ohio University
Ohio University’s College Green is located in the heart of campus. It’s close to Campus Safety administrative offices, dining halls, laundry centers, a custodial and maintenance service center, and garage parking.
The College Green includes plenty of space for students to enjoy, numerous benches on pathways with access to class buildings, and green trees for students who want to keep in touch with nature and relax.
Related: Most Luxurious Student Recreation Centers
3. University of Washington
The University of Washington is known for its gorgeous Yoshino cherry blossom trees that canopy the quad’s green surface, offering shaded hangout spots and sweet scents that add a cozy feel to the campus.
UW is most often referred to as one of the nicest college campuses in the United States. Students can lounge under this view for a peaceful break from their studies to relieve stress and tension from hard days of studying.
Because the University of Washington prides itself on its cherry blossoms, each year it announces when the season’s full bloom of cherry blossoms have peaked so that visitors and university-goers can enjoy the sight. The best time to see the blossoms is around mid-March and through early April.
Related: Most Amazing College Museums
4. University of Arizona
The University of Arizona’s greenest part of campus is the arboretum on its main campus. It harbors a great collection of rare plants that live in arid conditions from all parts of the world including palms and olive trees.
The preserved plants at the University of Arizona not only add a green touch to the campus’ overall beauty but also act as research material for science majors at the institution.
In place of a traditional campus quad, students have a wondrous green sanctuary to visit to nurse their school stresses with some of nature’s touch.
Related: Most Amazing College Libraries
5. University of Alabama
The University of Alabama’s quad is the campus’ main center, which is not only a space that acts as the institution’s central point for surrounding buildings but also a small green patch for students to come and enjoy the lawn surrounded by the serenity of trees. Students are often found playing Frisbee or football on the quad.
Beneath the quad is a burial of an old, burned-down dorm building that dates back to the Civil War.
Related: Best College Dining Experiences
6. University of Colorado Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is known for its warm stone buildings and shining red facades. You can see the red glow of this prettiest campuses in the US all the way from the top of the Flatirons, the stately mountains that jut out of the hillside behind the city of Boulder.
The University of Colorado Boulder features gently sloping hills and little green space nooks to hang out on, rather than a massive lawn.
There’s also ancient-looking pine trees and aspens, which light up in a bright yellow during their peak in fall. Whether you’re coming from Portland, Oregon or Boston, Massachusetts, students from coast to coast adore this campus and the myriad outdoor activities and natural beauty it provides.
7. Pepperdine University
The Pepperdine University has several locations — the Malibu Campus, West LA Graduate Campus, Encino Graduate Campus, Irvine Graduate Campus, Silicon Valley Center, Westlake Village Graduate Campus, and other international locations.
The shining star of Pepperdine’s campuses is their main campus in Malibu, which is perched on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, offering a calming respite from the stress of studying.
Surrounding the main green on campus is a convenient parking lot, bookstore, classrooms, library, and administrative offices for easy access.
8. Thomas Aquinas College
Thomas Aquinas College of Santa Paula, California has what is referred to as the “crown jewel” of chapels. The Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel is a 15,000 square foot construction that is designed after a Spanish Mission-style architecture.
Outside of the chapel is a patch of lawn where people gather to meet after ceremonies or mass, which acts as a form of an academic quad. The chapel also has a bell tower. It is a beautiful part of campus, and the sight is known to bring serenity.
9. Duke University
Duke University’s historic West Campus quad was first constructed in the 1920s. Surrounding the quad are buildings and paths dedicated to higher learning.
From the quad, Duke Chapel is visible from the highest focal point on campus. There are beautiful oak trees down the paths giving the West Campus the nickname “University in the forest.” The East Campus also has a quad, which has plentiful lawn space for students who wish to rest on the grass. Surrounding the East Campus quad lawn is a path that’s great for strolls and biking.
10. Vassar College
Vassar College located in Poughkeepsie, New York is famous for its National Historic Landmarks located on its thousand-acre campus. Vassar is a liberal arts school. It boasts over a hundred buildings designed by a number of famous architects, solidifying its spot in our top 10 prettiest campuses in US.
The Vassar College residential quadrangle was built in the late 19th century. The quad was built with funds donated by John D. Rockefeller. In 2009, the quad was closed for renovations. The structure was updated to include a more energy-efficient design, but the existing facade was maintained.
As an arboretum college, Vassar is a beautiful campus that doesn’t require a singular quadrangle to keep students satiated. The campus in its entirety is a wondrous landscape filled with trees and lawns.
11. University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame, which is located in Notre Dame, Indiana, includes a campus lake and over 1,250 acres of land.
The Main Quad, otherwise known on campus as the God Quad, has Washington Hall. It is one of the most beautiful parts of the University of Notre Dame campus, lush with trees and open fields. The God Quad is close to the Memorial Library and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. The God Quad also includes Lewis Hall, St. Edward’s Hall, Sorin Hall, and Walsh Hall, which are all housing for campus students or faculty.
The University of Notre Dame also features a collegiate gothic-style campus, which is characterized by stained glass windows, flying buttresses, and pointed arches, which mostly appear in the campus chapel. The University of Notre Dame is also nestled next to a lake and brimming with lush trees, which makes the collegiate gothic architecture feel both homey and historic all at once.
12. Baylor University
Baylor University of Waco, Texas is a private institution with a thousand-acre campus located near the Brazos River. It is also close to the I-35 freeway which connects Dallas to Austin.
This enormous university has a campus quad built at the axis point where the north and south points of campus meet. It is traditionally likened to the Oxford-Cambridge, old English style of campus architecture.
The courtyard includes an open lawn that is used for general gatherings among students, events, and festivals. The quad is walking distance to the Great Hall, the Chapel, the common room, and the dining hall. The Burleson Quadrangle is an especially beautiful part of campus which functions as a residence hall for students and is one of the oldest parts of campus.
13. Brown University
Brown University’s Wriston Quadrangle brings all of the university’s main campus buildings together around a single square. The university dining hall, Sharpe Refectory, and residential halls all surround the quadrangle for easy student access.
The campuses lawn and trees are well maintained to give the campus a green touch for students to take in. Keeney Quad has recently undergone a renovation. The Quad’s residence halls have been newly painted, and the floors have been newly installed. Lighting, elevators, lounges, and renovations to bathrooms have all been made to the Quad’s residence.
14. University of Utah
The University of Utah in Salt Lake City features a large square field with a freshly maintained lawn and a crisscross path that divides the field into four pieces. The chapel is visible directly from the quad, and in the distance are the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Students can leave campus on the weekend to play, hike, and ski in the mountains, which is a draw for students to come to college in Utah.
This college with the most beautiful campuses in the US also encourages students to bike around campus, and there are dedicated bike paths and spots where students can safely park their bike during class.
15. University of Virginia
The University of Virginia quad is commonly referred to as “The Lawn.” The Lawn is regarded as a gift that was conceived by the university’s founder, Thomas Jefferson. With a large open field facing the Rotunda, it is the center point at the University of Virginia. It is so beautiful that the UNESCO World Heritage Site considers it a masterpiece.
Surrounding the Lawn are university buildings such as the Old Cabell Hall and Pavilions. The Lawn also has gardens with all kinds of flowers and trees. This gorgeous center of the university site is also where graduates walk to receive their diplomas at the end of their schooling at the University of Virginia.
16. Covenant College
Covenant College of Pasadena, California does not have a classic quadrangle on the main campus.
However, it does have a chapel lawn, which is a classic imitation of a quad. The chapel lawn gives students an opportunity to relax and take in the sunlight and nature while also working on their studies. Students may bring their laptops, books, and papers to study on the chapel lawn for an open form of studying.
The chapel lawn is also Covenant College’s main location for student events, concerts, and festivals. Local bands in the area are known to have performed on the chapel lawn.
17. College of the Atlantic
The College of the Atlantic is one of the greenest campuses in the U.S. It has 37 acres of land that includes a farm, research station, and a hundred acres of protected land that preserves trees and green.
Located in Bar Harbor, Maine, the campus in its entirety is a beauteous place surrounded by water, green, and plenty of fresh air. Being so close to the water, the campus is laid out so that the paths and buildings are parallel to the coast.
There’s a recreational lawn for students to gather and the Turrets Seaside Garden that grows local plants and wildlife.
18. Hanover College
Hanover College celebrates its gorgeous southern Indiana backdrop. The campus quad faces the Brown Chapel and is located near the Graham Brown Campus Center where students get their administrative needs met. The chapel is a gorgeous stained glass window structure that can seat up to 100 people at a time.
The center dining room is also a short walk from the quad which also includes a lobby and patio. The Josephine Ogle Conference Center is also located close to the quad for students to access in case they need a space for meetings that also has a whiteboard, projector, and screen.
19. University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is located in Athens, Georgia. It is famous for its Federal architecture buildings and for having a classic look. The university’s main quadrangle is an open green lawn that also doubles as the gateway to the west side of campus.
The Georgia Quad has ancient canopy trees and a cistern to collect rainwater. This space is used for campus events, concerts, festivals, and general student relaxation and recreation as necessary.
20. Denison University
Denison University is a beautiful campus located in Granville, Ohio. This 900-acre campus includes several quadrangles throughout.
The Academic campus includes the administration building, Davis Plaza, Fellows Hall, Learning Commons, William Howard Doane Library, Higley Hall, and the Slayter Union. It is beautifully paved with a Gothic-inspired look. The surrounding trees in the fall give the walkways a beautifully picturesque look.
The Science campus includes the Samson Talbot Hall of Biological Science, F.W. Olin Science Hall, Ebaugh Laboratories, and Herrick Performance Hall. Near the quads is the Swasey Chapel. Also within walking distance of the chapel is the Admissions and Financial Aid Office.
East and West Residential Quadrangles include dining halls and residential halls for students living on campus. The North Residential campus has more campus residential halls, mostly for fraternity and sorority housing. The fine arts quad is dedicated to dance, theater, music, performance, and recitals.
21. Cornell University
Cornell University’s campus quad is separated into different parts. The North quad is known for its beautiful scenic Fall Creek Gorge.
Cornell University has been working on numerous major projects. Recently completed was the new Milstein Hall, which is the first new building in 100 years for the College of Architecture, Art and Planning (AAP). Another project is the expansion of the Johnson Museum, which now houses lecture rooms, art studios, galleries, and an art storage area, headed by Pei Cobb Freed.
Cornell University’s Arts Quad is used for performances, lectures, concerts, and other events. The location also has on-site parking and services for disabled individuals who need access. The Cornell Arts Quad also has the founders’ statues — Ezra Cornell and A.D. White.
22. Miami University of Ohio
Miami University of Ohio has several historical buildings dedicated to student education and enhancement.
The Hamilton Hall, which was built in 1940, was built on campus primarily to house sororities. MacCracken Hall is also located in the central quad and is primarily used as a residential hall. Also near the central quad is the Maplestreet Commons, a student hall with a variety of dine-in and takeaway food options.
Also near the quad are Minnich Hall, Richard Hall, and Scott Hall. The residential halls are located near the quad for ease of accessing a great view and for easy access to the dining halls or administrative buildings.
23. The Ohio State University
Ohio State University is considered one of the most beautiful college campuses in the midwest. To start, the Oval features a grassy lawn, a view of gorgeous red brick buildings, and close proximity to the most important buildings.
This campus is also appreciated for its beautiful brick paths, which are great both for biking and leisurely strolls. The benches are great for relaxing and taking in the scenery or just reading. Some students enjoy the shade from the large trees found throughout the Oval.
24. Columbia University
New York City is home to Columbia University and its stately collegiate gothic campus. On campus is the Van Am Quad, which is located by the Rotunda. The quad is named after John Howard Van Amringe — former dean of Columbia. The Van Am Quad — also a memorial — is between Hamilton Hall and John Jay Hall.
The rotunda and quad are surrounded by grassy lawns that just beckon to be studied on, and from which the high skyscrapers of New York City can be viewed. This ivy league university is the largest in New York and boasts a beautiful pantheon inspired by the days of old.
25. Florida Southern College
This Lakeland, Florida college is one of the most famous campuses in the US.. Why? FSC boasts the most buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, making it one of the colleges with most beautiful campuses.
Given Wright’s modern tastes, there aren’t any traditional quadrangles or ivy-covered brick buildings. However, the Annie Pfeiffer Chapel is an impressive building that is surrounded by beautiful shrubs located on the campus.
Lake Hollingsworth acts as a replacement concept of the quadrangle, and many of the Wright buildings are built around the lake. There are a total of twelve buildings built by Wright. Buildings, pathways, fountains, palm trees, and atriums all give the campus an overall modern and ponderous effect.
26. University of Chicago
Because the University of Chicago’s general location is in an urban setting, getting a nature break is always a welcome event for Chicagoans.
The Dan Hall Garden at the quad is known for its beautiful flowers in the spring, which are aesthetically maintained. The honey-locust trees are especially adored by university-goers. In the fall, the surrounding trees on the quad are perfect for fall sightseeing as the colors change.
The University of Chicago’s famous Rockefeller Chapel is considered one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture on campus and in the general Hyde Park area. The gorgeous Gothic architecture that stands around the University of Chicago’s quad is known for its European-like beauty.
27. University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley campus is famous for Strawberry Creek. It is a creek that connects Dwinelle Hall and the Lower Sprout Plaza. The university preserved this natural bit for its campus appearance along with trees that date back to the 19th century.
The quad has a residence hall that likens the appearance of an ancient castle.
This university is regarded highly for its beautiful aesthetics and environmental preservation as well as historic preservation. The quad also functions as a great event space for festivals, concerts, gatherings, and performances.
28. University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati has the Schneider Quadrangle, which was built in 2007 to honor Herman Schneider — the founder of the university’s cooperative education.
The main quad was previously known as the Baldwin Quadrangle. It is located close to Baldwin Hall, which serves as the main administration for the College of Engineering. Baldwin Hall is also near Swift Hall, which is dedicated to the Math and Romance Languages and Literature departments.
The newly built memorial for Schneider, the freshly paved pathways, new construction, and lawns are all new, making this one of the freshest and most beautiful college campuses. The Schneider Quad and the Baldwin Hall are the most beautiful parts of the university’s campus.
29. University of California, Irvine
The University of California, Irvine — otherwise UCI for short — is a thousand-acre campus that was designed by Clark Kerr, Daniel Aldrich, and William Pereira. These three minds conceived a modern idea of campus design.
The central campus was conceived to include six quadrangles total, with each quad being representative of a particular academic department. The campus conception was also inspired by New York’s Central Park. The campus quads implement both modern architecture and nature. Students have the best of both worlds when they walk through campus.
30. Yale University
Yale University has several quads — each serves a different purpose on campus. The Memorial Quad was donated by Anna M. Harkness to commemorate her son. The Memorial Quad is a residential hall for Yale students. It was erected in 1921 and built with dorms, a dining hall, and courtyards.
The Hewitt Quad includes Yale University’s main auditorium, dining hall, and administration. It also includes a library underneath the courtyard.
The Branford Courtyard on Yale’s Branford College part of campus is known for its beautiful gothic architecture, cherry blossoms, fresh green lawn, and trees. Yale quads are frequently cited to be the most beautiful campus quads in the United States.
31. Belmont University
Belmont University is one of the largest Christian schools in Tennessee. The campus is located in Nashville, and it includes the Belmont Mansion, which is a mansion with 36 rooms that now serves as a museum. It also features an estate of gardens, conservatories, an aviary, a lake, and an art gallery.
What would traditionally be a university quad is found on the mansion’s site, with 13 acres of land dedicated to any and all social events that the school may participate in. Belmont University has a beautiful campus, which includes a water tower, gardens, even a zoo.
32. Gettysburg College
Gettysburg College is located in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It is a private liberal arts institution that is affiliated with the Lutheran Church.
Gettysburg College’s campus has two large sections that are divided by Pennsylvania Hall, which serves as the university’s administration. The Stine Lake section of the campus is not literally a lake but rather a campus quad. It is anchored by the university library and has a large open lawn for students to enjoy. It is referred to as a lake because of the location’s rainy climate. The university’s previous problems with drainage led to the expression “lake,” which stuck.
Today, the drainage problems are being handled, and there are no floods. This area of campus is very beautiful and is close to the main university buildings such as the library, dining hall, math and computer science department halls, arts and humanities department halls, and fraternity houses.
33. Connecticut College
Connecticut College’s Old Quad is the reserved location for the Blackstone House. It is Connecticut College’s oldest residential hall for students. Also located on the Old Quad is the Branford House, which is directly facing the Shain Library. This is another residential house for students on campus.
When the campus was conceived in design plans, it had a number of Gothic quadrangles throughout, much like classic campus designs found in England at Cambridge and Oxford. Today, the campus contains quad lawns, trees, and pathways that intertwine through old buildings and residential quads for students to experience something similar to the effect of time travel.
34. Mount Holyoke College
Mount Holyoke College is a beautiful campus that was designed by architects who were nature-conscious. The Mount Holyoke College campus has two lakes, waterfalls, riding trails, and a botanic garden. The campus’ layout is itself quadrangle-inspired.
The Blanchard Campus Center is a student center. It includes a college campus store, info desk, lounge, café, and mailboxes for students, is located directly across from a lake, and between that is an open lawn for students to enjoy. The campus center also includes a student art gallery that exhibits projects by Mount Holyoke College students.
35. Boston University
Boston University does not have a traditional quad. However, it does have plenty of open fields for soccer and other sports, as well as freshly mown lawns that run alongside paved streets that are perfect for biking and walking.
Boston University’s Charles River Campus is close to historic galleries, museums, theaters, cafes, and parks, and quite close to the Charles River. Instead of a traditional, classic quad, the Charles River acts as the focal point of BU’s beauty and pride.
36. University of California Los Angeles
The University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) is a 400-acre campus. It is located in Los Angeles, California, home to Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and the nation’s oldest film scene.
UCLA’s quadrangular courtyard is one of the best in the country. Surrounding the beautiful quad is the Powell Library, Royce Hall, and the Humanities Building, also known as Kinsey Hall. There are a total of 163 buildings on campus. It is close to Sunset Boulevard and the Westwood shopping district.
37. Bucknell University
Bucknell University is located in central Pennsylvania. It is a private liberal arts college with outstanding programs in management and engineering, as well as the arts and humanities.
The campus has large sloping hills that go uphill and downhill. The campus includes the Observatory, dorms, Fraternity Road, and Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. The neighborhood and buildings have a Victorian-inspired look.
Nearby are the president’s house, sorority houses, Hunt Hall, dorms for first-year students, and a gymnasium.
38. Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The Wake Forest main quadrangle at Hearn Plaza is named after Thomas K. Hearn, Jr.
The quad overlooks Reynolds Hall. It is a large open lawn with a pathway that cuts through it, connecting the campus’ two ends. The center of the quad is open so that students may use the lawn for activities, events, and functions.
Surrounding the lawn are trees that are perfect for shade. Wake Forest University has a Hearn Plaza webcam so that parents, students, and staff can get a constant view of the quad at all times.
39. University of Maryland
The University of Maryland’s Washington Quad went through some renovations and changes in 2008.
The goal of the renovation was to turn the outdoor campus ground into a sustainable living space. It included:
- lighting
- a rainwater cistern
- trees
- lawns
- a volleyball court
- barbecue grills
- an open view of the campus’ building facades (which were not available prior to the renovation)
The new quad also includes bike racks, benches, and wireless internet access for all campus members. Tables, chairs, and pergolas also make it one of the most beautiful college campuses in the US to dine outdoors.
40. Furman University
Furman University of Greenville, South Carolina is known for its beautiful lake and 750 acres of woods on campus. The buildings on campus at Furman University are Georgian-style inspired architecture, with classic structural appearances that complement the natural setting on campus.
The Charles Ezra Daniel Memorial Chapel has a patch of lawn and fountain, set before colonial architecture. The Furman University campus’ famous bell tower and amphitheater are located beside the lake for a serene, breezy sight students on campus can soak in.
41. The University of Minnesota at Duluth
The University of Minnesota Duluth offers easy access to the university’s amenities from the campus quad so that students don’t get lost in this enormous campus. From the green quad lawn, students can walk to the recreation center, fitness center, museum, library, dining hall, and residential halls.
The quad is also surrounded by trees so that students can take in the sight of green to catch a break from the stressful routine of school.
42. University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a campus that includes approximately 6 million square feet of institution buildings dedicated to research and academia, and nearly 500 acres of campus landscape in an urban environment.
Although there is no traditional quadrangle on campus, students are always near national museums, historic buildings, memorials, parks, and cafes. The East, West, and Green Quads are residence halls for undergraduate and graduate students at the University of South Carolina.
43. Northwestern University
The quads at Northwestern University are divided into separate sections. The North mid-quads at the University are primarily occupied by students as residence halls. These residences can house up to 85 students at a time, available only to undergraduate students, and include a lounge, kitchenettes, recreation room, and a short walk away from the dining hall.
The South mid-quad is also a residence hall for Northwestern students. It can house up to 88 students. The residence hall is a short walk away from the dining hall, and includes a TV lounge, recreation room, and kitchenette.
44. Harvard University
Harvard University is consistently ranked highly for its beautiful fresh lawn, lawn chairs, and grass slopes. It has oak and maple trees that turn into flaming fall foliage. The quad is also the location where the Cabot House is situated. The Pforzheimer Houses and The Hillies Library are also located at the quad.
The Harvard Yard, which is one of the oldest parts of the Harvard campus, includes freshman residence halls and libraries. It also has a well-maintained green lawn that is perfect for leisurely reading and resting.
Check out this article: Best Student Unions
45. Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma State University is a beloved, well-tended campus. It is surrounded by a green lawn and an agriculture division where fresh food is grown and students are taught about farming.
Although it does not have the traditional quad of classic institutions, it does have plenty of green fields that students can enjoy. The campus is large enough to have a golf course. Many people consider it to be more of a public gathering space than a college.
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46. Morehouse College
Morehouse College’s campus is considered the highest point in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Green is covered with ancient oak trees and brick pavements. It is also the site of the Benjamin E. Mays Memorial.
The Green is the location for many Morehouse College events and functions, including the graduation ceremony. It is also in proximity to the Danforth Chapel, Merrill Hall, Hope Hall, Robert Hall, Sale Hall, and Graves Hall. It is located at the original site of the president’s house.
Related link: Most Beautiful Campus Quads
47. Ithaca College
Ithaca College in New York is already known for having gorgeous scenery that invites you onto the campus. The hills and trees are a popular destination spot for visitors escaping the city to enjoy the crisp fall air and crimson leaves.
One of the features of this New York college is its rolling, tree-lined hills, which slope downward into the charming town of Ithaca. It’s also on the shores of Cayuga Lake and surrounded by natural gorges, offering myriad swimming and recreation options for students.
In the New York winter, the lake becomes an icy slate that beckons you to cuddle up inside one of the college’s famous reading rooms.
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48. Princeton University
Princeton University is one of the most coveted college campuses on earth. Why? Because it has gothic quadrangles throughout, much like classic campus designs found in England at Cambridge and Oxford.
Princeton University is located in New Jersey. It is an Ivy League school. It is the fourth oldest college in the country, meaning its buildings boast both history and character. Nassau Hall, for example, is a colonial-style building on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
In addition to once being the largest academic building in the state, it also served as the United States Capitol building for a short period of time.
Another gorgeous Princeton University building is McCarter Theatre. It opened in 1930. This building, along with the many halls, the chapel, and the residential colleges make Princeton University one of the colleges with the most beautiful campuses to study in.
49. Berry College
Berry College is located in Mount Berry, Georgia, near the Alabama border. The campus of Berry College includes the Ford Hall, which was designed by Harry Carlson. The building acts as the campus dining hall for female students at Berry College. Outside of the hall is the Ford Quadrangle. It was designed to imitate Oxford’s Christ College. This neo-gothic architecture inspires a religious mood for anyone who enters it.
Berry College is one of the most beautiful college campuses in America because it’s surrounded by trees and green spaces. There is a mountain road for hikers and plenty of lawns within the Berry College campus for those who like leisurely walks or bike rides.
50. University of Michigan
The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor has four main areas: the north, central, south, and medical campuses. On the central campus, students will love Michigan Union. It is a beautiful college campus building covered in ivy.
All buildings at the University of Michigan boast this classic look. Even though the campuses are divided, they’re laid out with a conscious design effort and a host of green spaces to encourage interaction and sharing of ideas.
The University of Michigan is less than an hour’s drive from the shores of Lake Michigan, where countless students have sought refuge on the weekends in fall and spring.
The Most Beautiful College Campuses
While it’s hard to pick the prettiest colleges in the US from a country filled with gorgeous university landscapes, these 50 are our top choices.
Yet, we also want to offer honorable mention to a few additional colleges that inspired us with their elegance and history, including: Dartmouth College, University of the South, Rice University, Vanderbilt University, Wellesley College, Bryn Mawr College, Kenyon College, Lewis & Clark College, Washington University in St. Louis, William & Mary, and Indiana University.
America is positively filled with beautiful college campuses — you just have to find the right one for you. Discover more about how to choose the right college with College Rank, the most comprehensive website for college rankings.
Beautiful Campuses: Related Questions
Want to know more about the most beautiful schools and college campuses in America? Let’s answer some of the most relevant remaining questions.
What factors should I consider if I want to attend a beautiful college campus?
Students interested in finding their ideal college campus should consider these factors:
- Architectural Style: Many beautiful campuses, like Princeton and Rice University, feature Collegiate Gothic or Mediterranean Revival styles. You should consider what style resonates most with your sensibilities
- Natural Surroundings: Schools such as the University of Washington are known for their picturesque surroundings, including views of mountains or large gardens. For many students, the natural environment and setting of the campus will be as or more important than architecture.
- Cultural and Historical Significance: Some campuses, like Bard College, combine beautiful natural settings with historically significant buildings and modern art facilities.
Which colleges in the U.S. are known for having the most beautiful campuses?
As of 2024, these colleges are known for their beautiful campuses:
- Bard College (NY): Blends modern and historic architecture with stunning views of the Catskills.
- University of Washington (WA): Known for its beautiful cherry blossoms and views of Mount Rainier.
- Princeton University (NJ): Famous for its ivy-covered Collegiate Gothic buildings.
- Rice University (TX): Lush, oak-lined walkways combined with Mediterranean Revival architecture
How does campus beauty affect student life and academics?
Aesthetic environments can significantly improve a student’s life and their overall college experience. Specifically, studies show that campus beauty is assocaited with:
- Mental Well-Being: Beautiful surroundings can boost mental health and reduce stress.
- Community Engagement: Scenic campuses often foster a strong sense of community, encouraging students to spend more time outdoors and connect with others.
- Academic Motivation: A visually pleasing environment may help stimulate creative thinking and academic performance (Attractions of America)(USA by Numbers).
Can I take virtual tours of these beautiful campuses?
Yes, many universities offer virtual tours. For example, these three college campuses can be explored virtually:
- Princeton University offers a virtual campus tour through its website.
- University of Washington provides a detailed online exploration of its cherry blossoms and iconic landmarks.
- Rice University features immersive online tours of its architecture and tree-lined quads.
When is the best time to enjoy a college campus tour?
Setting aside the topic of the best time to apply to college, the best time to enjoy the beauty of a college campus tour is during either the spring or the winter. Which season is best will depend on the location of the college campus that you are interested in, as well as the unique factors which make it beautiful.
For example, if you wish to visit a campus renowned for its natural splendor, you may wish to wait until to fall so that you can enjoy the changing colors of the trees.