The Most Beautiful College Campuses in the Country

If you want to live in one of the most beautiful places in the country, why not do so during your college years? There are college campuses that are waterfront (Eckerd College in Florida, Texas A&M, University of Hawaii at Manoa with a view of Diamond Head), others that are nestled in mountain ranges (Washington and Lee University in Virginia, University of North Carolina – Ashville, Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, Bates College in Maine), and still others that are center stage in the midst of thriving urban environments (New York University, University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Georgetown in our nation’s capital). 

Although beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, there are some college campuses that are universally considered to be among the most attractive in the country.  Princeton University in Central New Jersey, the fourth oldest university in the country, is typically on every list of stunning college campuses due in part to its Gothic architecture.

Southern schools with reputations for beautiful college campuses include the University of Richmond in Virginia with 350 acres of Gothic architecture and open lawns. Another is Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee where the first building on campus was built as a private summer estate complete with gardens and a zoo. Of course, Duke University in Durham, North Carolina also makes most lists as a Gothic wonderland with its exquisite Duke Chapel in the center of campus. 

 

Students willing to leave the East Coast will find a couple of the most beautiful campuses at University of Notre Dame in Indiana and Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.  Heading further west, Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon is noted for its 137 forested acres atop a hill, with the entire campus wind powered.  Also on the west coast, the University of San Diego in California is highly praised for its Spanish Renaissance décor and breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. 

 

An impressive campus with a unique claim to fame is Florida Southern College, with bragging rights as the site with the highest volume of Frank Lloyd Wright-designed buildings in one place. Thirteen beautiful buildings by this iconic architect grace the campus.

 

Although there are many criteria to consider when choosing a place to call home for one’s impressionable college years, having a beautiful environment can only enhance the experience. 

Susan Alaimo is the founder and director of Collegebound Review that, for the past 25 years, has offered PSAT/SAT® preparation and private college advising by Ivy League educated instructors. Visit CollegeboundReview.com or call 908-369-5362