31 Most Beautiful College Campuses in the U.S.

South Hall may be the University's only existing original building (completed in 1873), but there's no denying that the campus is still iconically beautiful. Who could forget the way the reflecting pool was shot in The Graduate? With the third-largest clock tower in the world and a functional replica of Epidaurus’s ancient Greek theatre, UC Berkeley impresses visitors with great architecture.

The Bay Area weather also plays into Berkeley's favor. With a Mediterranean climate, the city experiences cool summers and mild winters. Temperatures are routinely in the 80s during the high points and rarely hit freezing at the lows. That means there's plenty of beautiful weather to explore the 1,232 acres of the campus by walking the meandering paths (preferably at a slow pace so as to hinder students on their way to class).

From a distance, no one would blame you if you picked Duke University just because of its appearance. While the grounds have a lot to offer, the best attraction is Duke Chapel. The Gothic tower stands 210-feet and sits on an 8,470-acre plot of land. This North Carolina college is worth every penny.

A break from the fast-paced city it calls home, the University of Chicago is definitely worth the trip down to Hyde Park. Meant to rival Oxford, the buildings take you out of the midwest and into England. A must-see is the Rockefeller Chapel, donated to the university and a perfect example to visitors of the Modern Gothic style of the campus.

The sands of Waikiki (just steps away from campus) may distract students from their studies, but that isn’t all that the University of Hawaii has to offer. The campus, founded at its current location in 1912, boasts impressive research facilities that only add to this tropical paradise. Since Hawaii is a little out of the way, you might want to turn this campus visit into a family vacation.

When you think of Conway, Arkansas, architectural expertise may not be at the forefront of your mind, but it should be. Hidden in the center of this suburban town is a small, liberal arts college with gorgeous red brick buildings and courtyards lined with imported pecan shells. It's the perfect college for visitors and students to stroll through on a clear autumn day.

Cornell University in Ithaca, New York is easily one of the most famous universities around for more than one reason. It’s an Ivy League school, but it also has a stunning campus. It sits on a hill that slopes down to Cayuga Lake. As if the lake was enough to look at, every window has a view of the town from above.

Be careful! Walking around Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. may give you a serious crick in your neck. You’ll want to crane your head back, so you can take in every gorgeous tower that the school has to offer. Healy Hall is one of the best buildings and sits atop “the Hill” and looks down on Potomac River. It’s a National Historic Landmark that was designed by the same people that made the Library of Congress.

Indiana University in Bloomington has constantly been ranked as one of the most beautiful colleges in the United States. The grounds have miles and miles of cycling and walking trails, but that isn’t the best part. Students and visitors can view the inspirational Art Deco and Art Nouveau buildings, many of which were built by locally sourced limestone.

Even if you’re not going to attend Loyola Marymount University, it’s worth visiting. The campus looks like it came straight from Spain. The Sacred Heart Chapel is one of the best buildings. It was built in 1955 and has authentic Spanish-Gothic architecture complete with stained glass windows.  

Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida is more than just a school – it was also a luxury hotel! This college will make you feel as though you’re on vacation, and you wouldn’t be alone. The hotel once hosted Mark Twain, President Roosevelt, Ernest Hemingway, Martin Luther King Jr., and Zora Neale Hurston. Now, you can look out of the Tiffany stained glass windows while reading your assignments.

You would expect a college significantly older than our nation to celebrate the architectural advancements of 17th century Europe, and, in this case, you’d be right. Harvard lives up to its prestigious reputation with stunning brick buildings and impressive gates, all located just a few miles away from downtown Boston. See for yourself by taking a tour.

The oldest remaining buildings on Dartmouth's campus, Wentworth and Thorton Halls, have been standing for almost two centuries. Top it off with the Baker-Berry Library and a network of hiking trails, and Dartmouth is sure to grab your attention on your next campus tour.

This 739-acre testament to man’s capabilities spans the glowing countryside of North Carolina with gorgeous buildings from almost every architectural movement this country has experienced. As University Architect & Director of Facilities Planning Anna A. Wu said, “the campus is an expression of these seeds of change.” Even if you don't want to attend here, take a campus visit just to enjoy the scenery. 

Sitting directly on the shore of Lake Michigan, the campus borrows much from the European architecture it clearly praises. With its prime lakeside location, kayakers, divers, and other aquatics enthusiasts are drawn to the campus. When you visit Northwestern, don't forget to take a stroll through the hundreds of trees that fill the courtyards.

With the Gothic architecture and towering trees, time seems to stand still on this campus. Kenyon College is located a healthy distance from any major cities, which allows it to maintain its reclusive appeal. When Old Kenyon, a stone dorm dating back to 1829, was damaged in a fire, the original blueprints were used for reconstruction. Don't worry, though. Overnight visits aren't as rustic as that original building.

Western Massachusetts has some of the most sought-after autumn leaves in the country, and among them is Amherst College, one of the highest-ranked schools in the country. While its buildings are beautiful, the real draw is Amherst’s wildlife sanctuary, which spans 500 acres. Campus tours won't have to stray that far, though, as the Main Quad contains numerous trees.

With its mountain views and open spaces, the University of Colorado at Boulder manages to soak in the Rocky Mountains, set in an area where you can see them for miles. Traditional red brick buildings and a state-of-the-art planetarium give this campus a definite edge over other campus tours.

A forested campus with a range of buildings from self-sustaining to historic, Lewis and Clark College offers an extraordinary view of Mount Hood and the surrounding Oregon landscape. Explore what design experts rave by touring the unique buildings at this Portland college.

The campus of the Fightin’ Irish is normally admired for the golden dome of its Main Building, which is topped with a 19-foot-tall statue of the Virgin Mary built as a replica of the one in Lourdes, France. The campus is also home to a wide selection of trees and a record-breaking bell tower. When taking a break on your campus visit, spend a relaxing, restful moment at the Grotto.

We’re talking about Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri! Built in 1853, the building's architects designed a unique campus that is the vein of Cambridge and Oxford. One of the most majestic is Brookings Hall as it sits on greenery that begs you to be outside. Fun fact: the architects were from the same firm that designed New York’s Central Park.

The diverse trees that give the Grove its name and the oldest college bell in the country make this campus a prime destination for nature lovers and architecture experts alike. A trip to Ole Miss isn't complete without spotting the Lyceum, the first building constructed on campus.

Located in Georgia, Berry College has over 27,000 acres of land. In fact, it’s one of the largest campuses in the United States. The university has woods, horseback riding, 80 miles of hiking trails, and more. Plus, the architecture is stunning as most of the buildings were built in 1902.

Bryn Mawr College, located in Pennsylvania, has a lot to be proud of. The college’s website states that the campus features some of the earliest instances of Collegiate Gothic architecture and was used as inspiration for thousands of buildings afterward. The school is surrounded by trees on a 135-acre plot, and it’s no surprise that this campus is renowned for its landscape.

Waco, Texas is known for a lot, and Baylor University is at the top of that list. This Baptist-affiliated school dates back to 1845 and sits on a 1,000-acre plot of land. One of the goals of the school is to provide a welcoming environment that provides a hugely attractive common area for students. The building is also impressive as it combines Italianate and American Victorian features.  

Hawaii is beautiful enough, but Brigham Young University in Laie stands apart from everything else due to its breathtaking appearance. The college itself houses the Polynesian Cultural Center, which is a huge tourist attraction. Not far from the cultural center is Laie Hawaii Temple. The 42,000-square-foot building sits on crushed lava rock and coral.

The College of William & Mary was built centuries ago, and anyone who visits the campus claims that it appears suspended in time. The school claims to have one of the oldest college buildings in the United States. It’s so old that even Thomas Jefferson once attended the college! With beautiful trees and carefully manicured grounds, this is one school you have to see to believe.

Elon University is another North Carolina school. The campus is so beautiful that it’s registered as a botanical garden. It has tons of plant life that flourishes on 525 acres. It also has a huge fountain that students were permitted to swim. Now, students can only look at the beauty, but it’s a relaxing place to study.

This campus only adds to the natural beauty already encompassing it. With Asian-inspired gardens and a rustic replica of Henry David Thoreau’s cabin (not to mention the iconic Bell Tower), students and visitors are sure to be amazed by the seamless blending of diverse styles.

Princeton University is what most colleges want to look like when they appear in movies or on TV – that’s how amazing it looks. The building is designed with classic Collegiate Gothic architecture and is often covered in vines. During the fall, the leaves turn and coat the ground in fall colors, making it easily one of the most beautiful places in the United States.

You may not have heard of Sewanee, but it’s home to the University of the South. Visiting this campus is as close as we’re going to get to seeing perfection. It almost honestly looks almost photoshopped into the hills and valleys of Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau. The crown jewel is the All Saints’ Chapel, which was built according to the Notre Dame from Paris.

Mount Holyoke College is in South Hadley, Massachusetts. Its 2,000-acre campus features waterfalls, a pair of lakes, woodland trails, and even a botanical garden. It was originally established as a female seminary but became a college by 1888. From there, it just expanded and expanded.