Summer is nearing its end, and students across the country are preparing to say goodbye to their summer jobs and pack their bags for college.
For some of America’s most fortunate students, study days will soon be filled with views of botanical gardens and glass-and-marble libraries.
Aside from being breeding grounds for US presidents, founders, and world leaders, many elite universities also boast of some of the most extravagant and breathtaking architecture in the US.
While choosing a school solely based on its looks might not be the best idea, a college campus‘s architecture and amenities can certainly shape its atmosphere and student experience.
Business Insider listed the most beautiful college campuses in each state, based on published rankings and unique architectural and historical features of each institution.
ALABAMA: Spring Hill College in Mobile
Founded in 1830 by Mobile’s first Catholic bishop, Michael Portier, this Southern institution — named one of the South’s most beautiful campuses by Southern Living — was among the first Catholic colleges established in the Southeast.
Several of its buildings have been recognized and added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The 381-acre liberal arts college, enveloped by pink azaleas, features a Greek Revival home that doubles as the commencement venue; an expansive green field at the steps of the library; and the St. Joseph Chapel, where rock legend Jimmy Buffett married his first wife, Margie Washichek, in 1969, according to the college.
Oh, and did we mention there’s an 18-hole golf course on campus?
ALASKA: University of Alaska Fairbanks in Fairbanks
The University of Alaska spans 2,250 acres, has multiple community and rural campuses across the state, and is one of the oldest universities in Alaska.
Its in-house museum, the Museum of the North, was designed by award-winning architect Joan Soranno. It was part of Architectural Digest’s 2018 “most iconic buildings in America” list and has won several national awards since its opening in 2005.
The museum’s design was inspired by Alaska’s natural surroundings and meant to evoke “images of alpine ridges, glaciers, breakup on the Yukon River and the aurora,” according to the University of Alaska.
ARIZONA: University of Arizona in Tucson
The University of Arizona campus in Tucson is full of desert plants and red-bricked halls.
Surrounded by the beautiful Santa Catalina Mountains, the roughly 400-acre campus features rows of red-brick halls, towering palm trees lining its walkways, and a nationally recognized public garden home to many desert plants.
ARKANSAS: University of Arkansas in Fayetteville
Set in the Ozark foothills of Fayetteville, the University of Arkansas weaves its history into its campus design, with red-brick halls and tree-shaded walkways that span the 512-acre campus.
The school’s historic core district, which includes 15 buildings, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Old Main building — which is the oldest and most recognizable structure on campus — was added to the register in 1970.
CALIFORNIA: University of California, Berkeley in Berkeley
Once a 2-acre site in Oakland, UC Berkeley‘s grounds have now grown into a sprawling 178-acre campus.
In the 1860s, college administrators worked with Frederick Law Olmsted, the architect of New York City’s Central Park, to design a plan for the new campus. By 1898, as enrollment increased, a competition was held to appoint a new architect, and French architect Emile Bénard won first place.
While Bénard presented his formal Beaux-Arts vision for the new campus, he declined to serve as the supervising architect, and John Galen Howard — who finished fourth — was instead chosen to oversee the project.
COLORADO: University of Colorado Boulder in Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder‘s campus underwent a transformation between 1918 and 1939, when American architect Charles Klauder — whose other notable works include Cornell University, Penn State University, and Princeton University — was hired to revamp it, Architectural Digest reported.
Klauder added a touch of Tuscan Vernacular Revival style that came to be associated with the college and was also known as the University of Colorado style. The updated campus grounds featured multi-hued sandstone walls and red roofs.
Several other buildings were built in the Collegiate Gothic style, and traces of it can still be seen in older buildings across the campus.
CONNECTICUT: Yale University in New Haven
Elements of traditional Collegiate Gothic and modernist styles co-exist on Yale University’s 261-acre campus. Modern structures, including architect Eero Saarinen’s Ingalls Rink and the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, stand out against the classical buildings.
Founded in 1701, Yale University is the third-oldest college in the country.
DELAWARE: University of Delaware in Newark
Lush manicured lawns and a mix of red-brick and Collegiate Gothic-style buildings make up much of the University of Delaware.
Established in 1743, the university is home to 21 NCAA Division I teams and 40 club sports. It also has a four-floor library — the Morris Library — stretching 6 acres and accommodating over 1,700 students.
FLORIDA: Flagler College in St. Augustine
Flagler College’s 47-acre campus — recognized by Southern Living as one of the most beautiful campuses in the South — operates out of the former Spanish Renaissance-style Ponce de León Hotel.
Not only do students get to call a National Historic Landmark their classroom, but they are also only a few miles from the Atlantic Ocean, nestled in a quaint historic town full of vendors and Spanish-era relics.
GEORGIA: Berry College in Rome
With its Gothic-style buildings across a 27,000-acre campus nestled within forests and fields and surrounded by mountains, it’s easy to confuse Berry College for an English manor in Downton Abbey.
Berry College has doubled as a filming site for movies such as “Remember the Titans” and “Sweet Home Alabama.”
HAWAII: University of Hawaii at Mānoa
Located in the picturesque Mānoa Valley, the 320-acre campus of the University of Hawaii at Mānoa offers sweeping views of the volcanic rock and easy access to Waikiki Beach.
IDAHO: University of Idaho in Moscow
Many architectural styles are on display across the University of Idaho’s vast campus, including the Collegiate Gothic style at the administration building, designed by architect John E. Tourtellotte, who also worked on the Idaho State Capitol.
In its north wing, the building has a U-shaped, three-story, Gothic structure, at the entrance of which President Teddy Roosevelt famously gave a speech after leaving the presidency.
Other notable spaces include a 63-acre arboretum, which is home to over 2,500 different plant varieties from around the world.
ILLINOIS: Northwestern University in Evanston
Located near Lake Michigan in Evanston — only a short drive from Chicago — Northwestern University’s 240-acre campus features Victorian-style halls and a Neo-Gothic chapel.
INDIANA: University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame is famous for its football team and theology program, per Condé Nast Traveler, which named it one of the prettiest colleges in the US.
However, it’s also well-known for its gorgeous architecture and lush quads. Its glittering golden dome, covered in gold leaf, stands tall amid other buildings, and the Neo-Gothic Basilica of the Sacred Heart is a visual delight for visitors and students alike.
IOWA: Iowa State University in Ames
A campus lake, a central lawn, and a 110-foot-tall Campanile bell tower are just some of the beautiful design elements at Iowa State University’s 2,000-acre campus.
The campus is also home to one of the most Instagrammable public gardens, which, at 17 acres, includes a conservatory, a butterfly wing, and Elwood, the world’s largest concrete gnome, per the university, which stands 15 feet tall.
KANSAS: Kansas State University in Manhattan
A defining feature of K-State’s campus architecture is its extensive use of Cottonwood Limestone in several buildings, including Anderson Hall — which is also on the National Register of Historic Places — and Dickens Hall.
KENTUCKY: University of Louisville in Louisville
Established in 1798, the University of Louisville has three campuses: the Belknap Campus, which covers 274 acres and is the main campus; the Health Science Center; and the Shelby Campus.
Belknap Campus, based near Old Louisville, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. The main campus is known for its red-bricked buildings and a bronze cast of Auguste Rodin’s famous statue, “The Thinker.”
LOUISIANA: Tulane University in New Orleans
Tulane University‘s 110-acre uptown campus, located along St. Charles Avenue, has over 80 buildings, each with distinct architectural styles.
Gibson Hall, built in the Romanesque Revival style and finished in limestone, overlooks the stunning 340-acre Audubon Park.
MAINE: Bowdoin College in Brunswick
Founded in 1794, Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, sits about 30 minutes from the Atlantic coast.
The liberal arts college’s 207-acre campus reflects classic New England architecture, with historic brick buildings, tree-lined paths, and a central quad that changes its colors with the seasons.
MARYLAND: United States Naval Academy in Annapolis
Situated between the Severn River and downtown Annapolis, this military school has a scenic waterside setting and a variety of Beaux Arts-style buildings spread across its campus.
According to Architectural Digest, the US Naval Academy is also home to what is considered the world’s largest single dormitory, Bancroft Hall, which resembles the Palace of Versailles.
MASSACHUSETTS: Harvard University in Cambridge
As one of the oldest colleges in the US — founded in 1636 — Harvard University has undergone several design transformations over the years. It is also home to some historic buildings, such as Massachusetts Hall, which, according to the National Park Service, is one of the oldest surviving Harvard buildings.
Beyond the academics, one of the perks of going to school here is that you get to dine in Annenberg Hall, which looks like Hogwarts’ Great Hall, and call several Georgian red-brick buildings your classroom.
MICHIGAN: University of Michigan in Ann Arbor
The University of Michigan has many beautiful buildings across its 3,070-acre campus.
One that stands out is the law school library, which features an arched doorway and follows a similar aesthetic to Mason Hall.
MINNESOTA: St. Olaf College in Northfield
Locally known as “The Hill,” this 300-acre campus is surrounded by woodlands and prairies.
Twenty of its buildings were designed by Edward Sövik, a well-known American architect, author, and professor on campus. Two St. Olaf College buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
MISSISSIPPI: University of Mississippi in Oxford
Situated in the picturesque college town of Oxford, the University of Mississippi is surrounded by towering oak trees, magnolias, and several storied buildings.
The most famous — and also the first academic building on campus — the Lyceum, was built in 1848 by architect William Nichols.
MISSOURI: Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University held a competition to select a firm to design its new campus when it moved to larger grounds in St. Louis in 1900, as construction on its hilltop site first began.
A design project inspired by British universities Oxford and Cambridge bagged the first prize, and the firm behind it, Cope & Stewardson, went on to turn their vision into reality — think soaring towers with classical Gothic arches and lush quads.
MONTANA: University of Montana in Missoula
The campus’s red-brick clock tower stands tall against the backdrop of Mount Sentinel, which displays a giant letter “M,” like the state’s version of the Hollywood sign. The building offers just one of the many architectural styles seen across the college campus.
NEBRASKA: Creighton University in Omaha
As reported by Travel & Leisure, which named Creighton University the most beautiful college in Nebraska, elements of old and new design blend harmoniously on this campus, giving the university a distinct character.
NEVADA: University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe
You wouldn’t be the first to confuse pictures of wooden cabins on the university’s website with those of a luxury hotel chain or a serene forest home.
The university’s Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences — the said wood cabin — fits in with its natural surroundings while still standing out thanks to its intricate woodwork and masonry.
NEW HAMPSHIRE: Dartmouth College in Hanover
Dartmouth is another college where old and new coexist. Within a 5-acre space are two of the college’s oldest buildings, Wentworth and Thornton Halls, built in the early 1800s.
On the modern front is the Hopkins Center, built in 1962 and designed by Wallace Harrison, the same architect who designed New York’s Lincoln Center and the United Nations building.
NEW JERSEY: Princeton University in Princeton
Princeton is another Ivy League university that provides academic excellence alongside stunning architecture.
The classic Collegiate Gothic style is on display in buildings across the campus, with a few modern exceptions such as Spelman Hall by I.M. Pei, Lewis Library by Frank Gehry, and the Carl Icahn Laboratory by Rafael Viñoly, Architectural Digest reported in its list of the most beautiful colleges in the US.
NEW MEXICO: St. John’s College Santa Fe in Santa Fe
St. John’s College is a dream destination for anyone who loves the mountains. Given its proximity to the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the campus has access to several hiking trails, and nature is always at your doorstep.
NEW YORK: Colgate University in Hamilton
Nestled in a part of nature that feels untouched, with sprawling hills, a whole forest, and a lake on campus, this upstate New York institution is one of the prettiest places in the state.
Its 575-acre campus has over 2,300 trees and 10-mile walkways that are perfect for unwinding after a long day of studying.
NORTH CAROLINA: Duke University in Durham
Duke University’s architecture holds traces of both Gothic stonework and Georgian styles within its West and East campuses. Its 210-foot-tall Duke Chapel — which is frequently booked for weddings — exudes peak Collegiate Gothic style, standing out among the 254 buildings on campus.
Other highlights on campus include the Duke Forest and the Sarah P. Duke Gardens.
NORTH DAKOTA: University of North Dakota in Grand Forks
One of the largest and oldest universities in the state, the University of North Dakota spans 521 acres. Several buildings on campus feature the Collegiate Gothic style, which features brick exteriors, stonework, and arched entrances.
The iconic Merrifield Hall reopened in 2025 after a two-year renovation.
OHIO: Kenyon College in Gambier
This liberal arts institution features historic buildings, stone structures, outdoor art installations, and wooden beams — all surrounded by natural forests and lush green walkways.
OKLAHOMA: Oklahoma State University in Stillwater
From a pond and open courtyards to brick-lined walkways, Oklahoma State University’s 1,489-acre campus has it all.
The architectural details are largely of the Neo-Georgian style, and highlights to visit across campus include the Formal Gardens, the grand staircases, and the Theta Pond.
OREGON: Lewis & Clark College in Portland
Originally known as the Albany Collegiate Institute, this private liberal arts institution relocated from Albany to Portland in 1934 and, almost a decade later, was renamed Lewis & Clark College after its namesake explorers.
The campus, set amid Douglas firs and rolling hills, exudes an old-school rustic charm. Notable historic buildings include the Frank Manor House, now the office of undergraduate admissions, and the Corbett House, designed by Italian-American architect Pietro Belluschi in 1929.
PENNSYLVANIA: University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia
UPenn incorporates a variety of architectural styles, from Collegiate Gothic to more modernist projects. Several buildings on the 299-acre campus were designed by Cope and Stewardson, a firm famous for its university projects, including Princeton and Washington University in St. Louis.
Here, you’re also embedded in nature with plenty of trees peppered across the campus while still having access to the Philly skyline from Penn Park.
RHODE ISLAND: Salve Regina University in Newport
Built out of the consolidation of seven glorious Gilded Age estates, Salve Regina University’s 80-acre campus has many Instagram-worthy sights.
The most noteworthy of these is the Ochre Court, the second-largest estate in Newport after the Breakers, and it serves as the university’s administrative building.
SOUTH CAROLINA: Furman University in Greenville
The six-story Florentine Bell Tower, Asia Gardens, and numerous fountains throughout campus are just some of Furman University’s highlights.
It also hosts many hiking trails, residences overlooking the lake, and Georgian-style buildings.
SOUTH DAKOTA: Augustana University in Sioux Falls
Tucked away in the scenic city of Sioux Falls, and previously named by Travel & Leisure as the most beautiful college in South Dakota, Augustana impresses with its administration building, manicured quads, and towering trees.
TENNESSEE: Vanderbilt University in Nashville
At Vanderbilt, you’re enveloped in nature’s arms. The college’s campus is nationally designated a Level-II accredited arboretum, home to over 200 species of trees and shrubs.
The campus also features many art sculptures and grand red-bricked facades.
But the most iconic building on campus is Kirkland Hall, a 19th-century structure that originally held all the classrooms, a chapel, and a library. It was rebuilt in 1906 after a fire and recently underwent renovations that modernized its features.
TEXAS: Southern Methodist University in Dallas
Founded in 1911, Southern Methodist University is five miles north of downtown Dallas and features grand buildings, manicured lawns, and the Meadows Museum, which, according to Southern Living, houses one of the “largest and most comprehensive” collections of Spanish art outside Spain.
There’s also Dallas Hall, the university’s first building, which is now on the National Register of Historic Places.
UTAH: University of Utah in Salt Lake City
The University of Utah’s campus is so huge, spread across 1,535 acres and surrounded by the Wasatch Mountain Range, that students use shuttles to get to and from some parts.
The views change with the season, with lush green spaces in spring and summer and snow-capped mountains in winter.
VERMONT: Middlebury College in Middlebury
Picture cozy cottages and manors nestled between the Green Mountains and the Adirondacks — these are the scenes at Middlebury College year-round.
On the architectural front, Battell Hall and the much-older but perfectly symmetrical Painter Hall add further charm to this campus.
VIRGINIA: University of Virginia in Charlottesville
Designed by founding father Thomas Jefferson, the University of Virginia largely features buildings in the Neoclassical style.
Jefferson’s home, Monticello, is also part of the campus’s greater landscape, as is the Academical Village he designed. Monticello and the Academical Village are jointly designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
WASHINGTON: University of Washington in Seattle
A series of stunning Collegiate Gothic buildings line the University of Washington’s Liberal Arts Quadrangle, with cherry blossoms in the spring and snow-capped mountains in winter — it’s no wonder this campus is consistently named among the most beautiful in the country.
WEST VIRGINIA: West Virginia University in Morgantown
West Virginia University’s 1,892-acre Morgantown campus is home to 11 buildings that are on the National Register of Historic Places.
To get a perfect view of three of the most notable historic buildings, visitors can walk by Woodburn Circle on campus.
WISCONSIN: University of Wisconsin–Madison in Madison
The University of Wisconsin-Madison‘s campus is nestled between two lakes and has an incredibly picturesque setting.
On the architectural front, some highlights include Bascom Hall, Music Hall, and Memorial Union.
WYOMING: University of Wyoming in Laramie
Borrowing from the state’s rustic aesthetic, the University of Wyoming exudes an equally tasteful old-school charm.
Highlights include the sandstone Old Main building, one of the first buildings built on this residential campus, and rows of green trees surrounding it.
Editor’s note: This story was first published in May 2026 and was most recently updated in August 2026.
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