Top 10 College Campuses In The US
This is the historic learning facilities on the University of Washington’s campus during a spring day (Photo: Secretseattle.co).
We’ve put together a list of some of the best college campuses in the country. If you’re struggling with deciding on a college, this list could potentially help you make your decision.
1. University of California Los Angeles: UCLA is one of the most reputable schools in all of California. So not surprisingly, they are rated the best college campus in the United States. The whole campus consists of four hundred-nineteen acres. The dorms are some of the highest rated dorms in the country and the location couldn’t be any better. The campus sits in the nice suburbs of LA and is just minutes away from the closest beach. The weather there is fairly warm and sunny. Also, rain and storms are pretty uncommon within the area. The entertainment is excellent due to their high quality athletics. The university’s men’s college basketball team has won the most NCAA championships ever with eleven and counting.
2. Stanford University: Stanford University comes in at the number two spot for many reasons. Starting off, Stanford is one the best places for food and dining. On campus, there are eight campus owned restaurants and tons of more privately owned places. Other than food, Stanford still has lots to offer. The dorms and on campus living do not disappoint. Although slightly less nice than UCLA, Stanford’s dorms still have a good overall quality. Outside of the dorm there is a huge variety of athletics you can go see on campus at Stanford, ranging from Football, to even Fencing.
The historic student union on campus at the University of Stanford (Photo: Andrew Brodhead).
3. Harvard University: Harvard University is one of the most prestigious colleges in the world. As a result, their campus lives up to the reputation. The living on campus is not bad at all with all dorms and on campus housing having a fancy Victorian theme and architecture. You won’t be finding too many fast food places due to that exact reason. But Harvard’s dining halls will keep you fed. The athletics at Harvard aren't really known. But to keep students busy, the school offers hundreds of clubs and activities year round.
4. University of Washington: The University of Washington’s campus is incredible. The main factor is the beauty. The trees that are lined up along the campus create an insane environment that everyone would love. Mount Rainier, one of the best-looking mountains in the US, is also in clear view from the campus. There are plenty of good restaurants around the campus, even being in the city where Starbucks was invented. The campus lies down the bay from downtown Seattle, so it provides a nice distance to be able to relax from the bustle of the city, but allowing for students to visit the city whenever they please. The University of Washington’s football team has been doing pretty well lately as well, even making the College Football Championship Game.
5. Northwestern University: Northwestern University is one of the most respected colleges in Chicago, let alone all of the midwest. Its campus follows that pattern with the entire 73 acre campus being on the water of Lake Michigan. The campus could not be more beautiful and the location is also great and all you need is about a half hour train ride to downtown Chicago. The athletics aren’t amazing but the academics are the opposite. The college ranks number nine in the country for academics according to US News.
6. University of Colorado Boulder: University of Colorado Boulder has another beautiful campus. The location is located at the base of the rocky mountains, and you even have the start of a mountain within walking distance of the campus. This goes without saying that hiking is an enjoyable activity. Recently, Boulder was named the number 1 college town in America by Best College Reviews. This was based on livability, looks, their good food, and other factors. The University of Colorado’s football team was fun to watch this year. They recently hired former NFL star Deion Sanders. He brought many good recruits to the team, creating some electric games.
7. Princeton University: Princeton University could be considered the best university in the United States. Thus the school’s campus is amazing. The campus is known for their historic architecture due to the fact that the school was founded in 1746. The location of the New Jersey campus is decent with New York City not being to far. But, the campus lacks city values due to location being in a fairly rural part of New Jersey. But, you really shouldn’t be spending time off campus because you would be missing out on the beauty of the historic churches, classrooms, and libraries.
8. Penn State University: Penn State University is definitely for students who want to be in a more remote location. The campus sits in a valley in central Pennsylvania surrounded by country land. There are a good amount of food selections on campus and many parks to relax at too. The town it sits in is practically run by the university. The positives of this is it that creates a community feel to everything there, which is a key aspect of the overall campus feel.
9. Rice University: Rice University is a very prestigious university. It may seem like an ivy league college, however it resides in Houston, Texas and not the typical New England area. This is actually an aspect that appeals to many people. Many people love Texas, and wouldn’t want to move to the Northeast. Rice has beautiful architecture throughout their campus, and they are located near many activities. The Houston Zoo, museums, and golf courses all reside practically next to the university. Texas is known for some of its good food, and this is no exception near Rice University.
10. The University of Alabama: The University of Alabama is the final spot on this list. Even though it is last, it is still a solid university that deserves to be on the list. The campus sits in suburban Alabama which has warm weather all year around. But the most famous aspect of the college would be their athletics. Alabama is known for many of their sports, but Football takes the top. During the season, the whole campus practically shuts down on Saturdays so the whole University of Alabama community can come together and enjoy the game that they will most likely win.