College and University Blog
Most Beautiful College Campuses: Part 1
They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder (whoever “they” are!) but some of the best college campuses in the U.S. are also some of the prettiest college campuses.
The Princeton Review now includes a section on Most Beautiful Campus and Least Beautiful Campus in its annual college rankings, and it’s a safe bet that spending four years of your life at a school that’s ascetically pleasing can’t hurt.
There are undoubtedly dozens of other schools that could be included in this list thanks to their gorgeous landscapes and buildings, but we’ve narrowed it down to 10 of the most beautiful college campuses in the United States. Five are listed below—enjoy yourself as you check out the eye candy, and be sure to check back tomorrow for the remainders!
1. Bryn Mawr College | Bryn Mawr, PA
Bryn Mawr College is a women’s-only liberal arts college located in Bryn Mawr, PA. Many of Bryn Mawr College’s older dorms were modeled after Cambridge University in the United Kingdom and are known for their Collegiate Gothic architecture style. The gorgeous campus has been designated an arboretum, a collection of trees, thanks to its beautiful landscaping. A sunken reflecting pool, carvings and ornamental ironwork are just a few of the other stunning features of the Bryn Mawr campus.
Bryn Mawr College
2. College of William and Mary | Williamsburg, VA
The College of William and Mary is a public research university located in Williamsburg, VA. The school’s Sir Christopher Wren Building is the oldest college building in the country as well as a National Historic Landmark. A section known as “Old Campus” is comprised of buildings in the Georgian and Anglo-Dutch architecture styles while “New Campus” contains brick buildings of a more modern style. The campus is also home to a Sunken Garden, woodlands, and an artificial lake.
College of William and Mary
3. Furman University | Greenville, SC
Furman University is a private liberal arts college located in Greenville, SC. Its peaceful landscaping is centered around a 40-acre lake and landmark Bell Tower. Most of the buildings on Furman’s wooded campus are of Georgian style architecture. The university is home to a beautiful Asian Garden, Buddhist temple which was moved to the campus from Japan and rebuilt by carpenters, and a replica of On Walden Pond author Henry David Thoreau’s cabin.
Furman University
4. University of Tampa | Tampa, FL
The University of Tampa is a private university located in downtown Tampa, FL. The main building on campus is Plant Hall, built in Moorish Revival architecture. Its minarets are a focal point of downtown and a local landmark. The former Tampa Bay Hotel, Plant Hall is a National Historic Landmark that houses classrooms, offices, and the Henry B. Plant Museum. The campus is full of palm trees, rose bushes, and azaleas. The campus’ Plant Park even features banana trees.
University of Tampa
5. Vassar College | Poughkeepsie, NY
Vassar College is a liberal arts college located in Poughkeepsie, NY. Four of the buildings located on the beautiful campus are National Historic Landmarks. Buildings on campus were designed by several prominent architects and range in style from Collegiate Gothic to International.
Vassar College
Stay tuned tomorrow for part 2 of the Most Beautiful College Campuses!
Melissa Rhone+
Melissa Rhone earned her Bachelor of Music in Education from the University of Tampa. She resides in the Tampa Bay area and enjoys writing about college, pop culture, and epilepsy awareness.