Ever dreamt of strolling through a campus that looks like it leapt straight out of a Jane Austen novel? Or maybe a scene from a Wes Anderson film, bursting with symmetrical buildings and vibrant colours? Well, get ready to have your breath taken away! Here are the 20 prettiest colleges in the US that are sure to woo you. We're talking ivy-covered walls whispering secrets, sprawling green quads begging for picnics, and architecture so grand it'll make you feel like royalty!
The US is home to some of the most beautiful campuses, featuring majestic dining halls, extraordinary dorms, surreal libraries, and breathtaking lawns. These prettiest campuses in the US not only provide high-quality education but are also a feast for the eyes! Let's explore the prettiest colleges in the US.
1. Stanford University
Founded: 1885
Location: 450 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305, United States
Type of campus: Private research university
Acceptance rate: 4%
Architectural style: Richardsonian Romanesque and Mission Revival
One of the most renowned universities in the world, Stanford University is one of the most beautiful universities in the US. Leland Stanford and his wife Jane founded this coed institution in 1885 as a tribute to their only child. A mile-long, tree-lined Palm Drive leads to the Main Quad, a spacious green oval surrounded by red-roofed buildings and Memorial Church with its stunning mosaic façade, the college campus's crown architectural asset. The Cantor Arts Center's exhibit of 170 bronze sculptures by Auguste Rodin, one of the largest outside of Paris, continues the aesthetic of beauty. This is, indeed, one of the prettiest colleges in the US!
Places of aesthetic interest:
1. Cactus Garden
2. Cantor Arts Center
3. Frost Amphitheatre & Stanford Live
2. Berry College
Founded: 1902
Location: 2277 Martha Berry Hwy NW, Mt Berry, GA 30149, United States
Type of campus: Private liberal arts college
Acceptance rate: 82.6%
Architectural style: Gothic
In terms of visual setting, Berry College is unmatched and is one of the prettiest colleges in the US. Its campus spans more than 27,000 acres of agriculture, woodlands, and even a mountain. It was created in the beautiful English Gothic architecture style that makes it one of the most beautiful universities in America. Henry Ford, Berry's largest donor, made the Ford Food Hall, Ford Theatre, and Mary Hall possible. The aesthetic campus can be one of the reasons to study in the US.
Places of aesthetic interest:
1. Berry College Memorial Library
2. Victory Lake Campsite
3. Oak Hill Estate
3. University of Notre Dame
Founded: 1842
Location: Notre Dame, IN 46556, United States
Type of campus: Private catholic research university
Acceptance rate: 12%
Architectural style: French, Victorian, and Gothic
The University of Notre Dame is also considered to be one of the prettiest colleges in the US. This 178-year-old Catholic institution is characterized by the gleaming golden dome of its main building and the neo-Gothic Basilica of the Sacred Heart. It has one of the best looking campuses in the US, and the well-architected buildings are difficult to miss. The campus is full of lush quads where students congregate to relax while they're not in class or at the football stadium, in addition to beautiful buildings.
Places of aesthetic interest:
1. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart
2. The Hesburgh Library
3. Notre Dame Stadium
4. Florida Southern College
Founded: 1883
Location: 111 Lake Hollingsworth Dr, Lakeland, FL 33801, United States
Type of campus: Private college
Acceptance rate: 51%
Architectural style: Organic
The next institution having one of the most beautiful campus in the US is Florida Southern College. You might be pleasantly surprised to learn that this institution has the largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright structures in the world. It also includes the Annie Pfeiffer Chapel with its coloured glass and wrought-iron tower. Florida Southern is situated on a hillside overlooking Lake Hollingsworth. With its unmatching architecture, it is indeed one of the prettiest colleges in the US.
Places of aesthetic interest:
1. Nina B. Hollis Wellness Center
2. The Florida Southern College
3. Historic Districts
5. University of San Diego
Founded: 1949
Location: 5998 Alcala Park, San Diego, CA 92110, United States
Type of campus: Private roman catholic research university
Acceptance rate: 53%
Architectural style: Spanish Renaissance
One of the most beautiful colleges in the US is the University of San Diego, which adheres to just one architectural style: the Spanish Renaissance. It has elaborate facades, magnificent ironwork, and carved woodwork. On some campuses, several architectural styles coexist. The ocean views and palm tree-lined courtyards only add to the allure of this paradise on campus. The university, undoubtedly, has the prettiest campuses in America! So, how about getting your US student visa right now and start applying to one of these prettiest colleges in the United States?
Places of aesthetic interest:
1. Pavilion Dining
2. The Wind Garden
3. Immaculata Walkway
6. Bard College
Founded: 1860
Location: 30 Campus Rd, Annandale-On-Hudson, NY 12504, United States
Type of campus: Private liberal arts college
Acceptance rate: 60%
Architectural style: Gothic Revival
Bard College, one of the most beautiful universities in the US, is famous for its beauty. The Fisher Center, a sweeping masterpiece of glass and brushed stainless steel by Frank Gehry, presents Bard's booming arts scene all year long. On the country campus's architectural spectrum, which dates back to the 19th century, the college is on the more modern end and has one of the most beautiful university campus in the US. With the Catskill Mountains evident in the distance, exploration is made simple by the pathways.
Places of aesthetic interest:
1. The Arts “Factory”
2. Library
3. Residence Halls
7. Rice University
Founded: 1912
Location: 6100 Main St, Houston, TX 77005, United States
Type of campus: Private research university
Acceptance rate: 7%
Architectural style: Mediterranean Revival
If you haven't gone to Rice, whether you live in Houston or are just visiting, you're missing out. Rice University is one of the most beautiful US university campuses. With its majestic architecture and abundance of oak trees, the campus undoubtedly reflects its prestige in the education field. You can't go wrong if you're searching for one of the most beautiful campuses in the US, a location to take prom or portrait photos. There are so many grassy areas that are ideal for taking in a gorgeous sunny day, even for a friendly campus picnic. With some of the prettiest landscapes, Rice University rightfully takes its place on our list of the prettiest colleges in the US.
Places of aesthetic interest:
1. Barbara and David Gibbs Recreation Center
2. Shepherd School of Music
3. Lovett Hall
8. Cornell University
Founded: 1865
Location: Ithaca, NY 14850, United States
Type of campus: Private research university
Acceptance rate: 10.9%
Architectural style: Romanesque Revival
Cornell, a top institution and one the prettiest colleges in the US, is an Ivy League school with the highest diversity. It has been referred to as the first real American institution and was established by one of the first millionaires in the nation. Along with Stanford University and the University of Virginia, Cornell is also regarded as having the most beautiful campus in the US. Beautiful gorges and waterfalls wind through the campus, which is perched on a hill. The architecture is striking a mix of postmodern, modern, and traditional styles. Its gothic collegiate architecture is what makes it one of the prettiest Ivy League campuses in the US.
Places of aesthetic interest:
1. Big Red Barn
2. Cayuga Lake
3. Willard Straight Hall
9. University of Washington
Founded: 1861
Location: Seattle, WA 98195, United States
Type of campus: Public research university
Acceptance rate: 46%
Architectural style: Collegiate Gothic
At the University of Washington's Seattle campus, the magnificent Collegiate Gothic Suzzallo Library has exquisite gilding, 35-foot stained glass windows, and 65-foot vaulted ceilings. However, the 29 Yoshino cherry trees in the quad steal the show in the spring when their stunning pink flowers contrast with the red-brick buildings. Students and other visitors consider the University of Washington to be one of the prettiest colleges in the US. Don't you feel like packing your bags and leaving for the best universities in the US already? Well, then, get ready for the ultimate guide to university essentials.
Places of aesthetic interest:
1. The Quad
2. UW Botanic Gardens
3. Suzzallo Library
10. Princeton University
Founded: 1746
Location: Princeton, NJ 08544, United States
Type of campus: Private Ivy League research university
Acceptance rate: 6%
Architectural style: Collegiate Gothic
Princeton University, one of the most beautiful universities in the US, is famous for its notable alumni, such as Jeff Bezos. The University Chapel and Cleveland Tower are exquisite examples of Collegiate Gothic architecture made of grey stone. But the splendour of the 500-acre site doesn't stop there. The campus is covered with courtyards, dreamy little greens, and winding walks, making it one of the most beautiful universities in USA.
Places of aesthetic interest:
1. Campus lawn
2. Neo-Gothic dorms
3. Lake Carnegie
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11. Flagler College
Founded: 1968
Location: 74 King St, St. Augustine, FL 32084, United States
Type of campus: Private liberal arts college
Acceptance rate: 81%
Architectural style: Spanish Renaissance
Located in stunning St. Augustine, Florida, the exclusive liberal arts college - Flagler College, was formerly a five-star hotel and is now one of the prettiest colleges in the US. The stunning Spanish Renaissance design of the Ponce de León Hotel dates back to its construction in 1888. The structure, a National Historic Landmark, serves as the college's focal point today, making it one of the prettiest colleges in the US.
Places of aesthetic interest:
1. Ponce de León Hall
2. Lobby hall’s stained glass windows
3. Flagler Room
12. Swarthmore College
Founded: 1864
Location: 500 College Ave, Swarthmore, PA 19081, United States
Type of campus: Private liberal arts college
Acceptance rate: 7%
Architectural style: Collegiate Gothic and Modern
The next institution, known as one of the most beautiful US campuses, is Swarthmore College. The Scott Arboretum in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, is located not far from Philadelphia and features a courtyard full of aromatic trees and plants in addition to exquisite gardens full of hydrangea, lilacs, and tree peonies. The outdoor amphitheatre, which consists of a series of cascading stone levels covered in turf and shaded by tulip trees, is the attraction. Crum Woods, as well as its holly and rhododendron plantings, surround it. This makes it one of the most beautiful university campuses in the US.
Places of aesthetic interest:
1. Scott Arboretum
2. Stone cottages
3. Pink flowers
13. University of Virginia
Founded: 1819
Location: Charlottesville, VA, United States
Type of campus: Public research university
Acceptance rate: 19%
Architectural style: Neo-Classical
The University of Virginia is one of the prettiest colleges in the US, and it is the only university in the country to hold this honour. The school's original instructors were appointed by Thomas Jefferson, who also set up the curriculum and created the campus's now-imitated structure. Highlights of this stunning location include the Neoclassical domed Rotunda, modelled after the Pantheon in Rome, and the Small Special Collections Library, which has the biggest collection of letters, manuscripts, and early printings of the Declaration of Independence. The University of Virginia has the most beautiful campus in the US in terms of not just aesthetics but also from a literary point of view.
Places of aesthetic interest:
1. Albert & Shirley Small Special Collections Library
2. Blue Ridge Mountains
14. Duke University
Founded: 1838
Location: Durham, NC 27708, United States
Type of campus: Private research university
Acceptance rate: 6%
Architectural style: Collegiate Gothic
Julian Abele, one of the nation's earliest well-known African American architects, was responsible for creating a large portion of this University's Revival Gothic splendour. It is one of the prettiest colleges in the US, notably the towering Duke Chapel. However, Duke University’s campus is not entirely a Gothic wonder. The newly designed Robert H Brodhead Center for Campus Life connects the architectural charm of Horace Trumbauer while offering a modern touch to the design. This university is one of the most beautiful colleges in the US.
Places of aesthetic interest:
1. Duke Chapel
2. Science Terrace
3. West Campus Plaza
15. University of Wisconsin – Madison
Founded: 1848
Location: Madison, WI, United States
Type of campus: Public land-grant research university
Acceptance rate: 49%
Architectural style: Beaux-Arts
Many universities are located on picturesque lakes, but none truly controls its lakeside environment, like the University of Wisconsin-Madison, one of the prettiest colleges in the US. Nearly embracing the Lake Mendota shoreline are the Memorial Union and outdoor stone patio. The Bascom Hall, a white-columned hilltop structure, is another prominently located edifice on this prettiest college in the USA.
Places of aesthetic interest:
1. Lakeshore Nature Reserve
2. Allen Centennial Gardens
3. Wisconsin Union Theatre
16. Wellesley College
Founded: 1870
Location: 106 Central St, Wellesley, MA 02481, United States
Type of campus: Private liberal arts college
Acceptance rate: 13%
Architectural style: Collegiate Gothic
Wellesley's 500-acre campus is a completely different world, even though it is only 12 miles west of Boston and is known to be one of the prettiest colleges in the US. Pathways meander through expansive meadows, groves of coniferous trees, and hardwoods surround peaceful Lake Waban, and 19th-century brick houses are tucked into the wooded hillsides. The luxuriant tropical, subtropical, and desert plants in many greenhouses keep them green all through the lengthy northern winters.
Places of aesthetic interest:
1. Private lake
2. Groves of conifers and hardwoods
3. Lake Waban
17. The College of William & Mary
Founded: 1693
Location: Sadler Center, 200 Stadium Dr, Williamsburg, VA 23185, United States
Type of campus: Public research university
Acceptance rate: 33%
Architectural style: Georgian
The second-oldest college in the country after Harvard, William & Mary is named after its regal English founders. It is centred by the brick Wren Building, whose weather symbol displays the institution's foundation year of 1693. The green Sunken Garden, which extends from the Wren to Crim Dell Pond, is filled with students sprawled out on it. The town of Williamsburg is connected to the 1,200-acre campus by Duke of Gloucester Street. This is one of the most beautiful US campuses.
Places of aesthetic interest:
1. The McLeod Tyler Wellness Center
2. Residence Halls
3. Crim Dell Pond
18. University of Chicago
Founded: 1890
Location: 5801 S Ellis Ave, Chicago, IL 60637, United States
Type of campus: Private research university
Acceptance rate: 6%
Architectural style: Gothic
The University of Chicago spans 215 acres and includes a formal botanical garden, which combines classic English Gothic design with contemporary creations by Eero Saarinen and Mies van der Rohe. It is situated in the South Side Hyde Park area and is one of the prettiest colleges in the US. The campus was built near the end of the Columbian Exposition in 1893, and many of the gargoyles on the ivy-covered buildings come from that time. It is also considered to be one of the best universities in Chicago.
Places of aesthetic interest:
1. Rockefeller Memorial Chapel
2. Botanic Gardens
3. South Side Hyde Park
19. Bryn Mawr College
Founded: 1885
Location: 101 N Merion Ave, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010, United States
Type of campus: Women’s liberal arts college
Acceptance rate: 31%
Architectural style: Collegiate Gothic
This women's liberal arts institution is home to the first example of the Collegiate Gothic design developed by architects Cope and Stewardson. They took inspiration from Oxford and Cambridge universities. Bryn Mawr is the most beautiful campus in the US. Many American campuses, including Princeton and Washington University in St. Louis, later adopted Pembroke Hall's design. The 135 acres of the campus that are covered with trees were laid out with assistance from Frederick Law Olmsted, who created Central Park. So it's not just the buildings that attract attention.
Places of aesthetic interest:
1. Residential campus
2. Gardens
20. Furman University
Founded: 1826
Location: 3300 Poinsett Hwy, Greenville, SC 29613, United States
Type of campus: Private liberal arts university
Acceptance rate: 67%
Architectural style: Georgian
Last on our list of the prettiest colleges in the US is Furman University. The Bell Tower and a lake are the focal points of Furman University's tranquil 750-acre forested campus near Greenville. These picturesque elements make it one of the prettiest colleges in the US. Furman’s campus environment is as diverse as its student body, with buildings ranging from a Japanese temple next to the school's Asia Garden. They are filled with irises, bamboo, and camellias, to a copy of Henry David Thoreau's house. And before we forget to add the most attractive - the 18 holes of golf and the several miles of walking trails.
Places of aesthetic interest:
1. Trone Student Center
2. Bell Tower
3. Lake
This is our list of the prettiest campuses in the US. We hope this blog has helped you narrow down the prettiest colleges in the US and pave your path to success!
