Whether searching for the perfect place to continue your education, or simply looking for a pretty spot to visit for the afternoon, visiting a campus known for its physical splendor (and not just its academic might) is a great way to get a sense of the area in which the school is located. Wander through masterfully constructed historical buildings, curated gardens, and glimpse incredible mountain and ocean views. Here are 15 of the most beautiful college campuses in the United States that are worth experiencing for yourself.
A small liberal arts college in Williamstown, Mass., Williams College is located in the heart of the Berkshire Mountains. The campus is absolutely breathtaking in autumn when the foliage changes to vivid yellows, oranges and reds.
As the second oldest college in the country, the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va., is known for its early architecture, including the Georgian and Anglo-Dutch styles. Surrounded by forests and bordered by Lake Matoaka, the campus offers a magnificent combination of historical and natural beauty.
College of William and Mary, 104 Jamestown Rd, Williamsburg, VA, USA
Tucked away in rural Hanover, N.H., prestigious Dartmouth College is known around the world for its Georgian-American colonial-style buildings and large landholdings in the wilds of New Hampshire. The campus also features world-renowned décor, including original murals by Jose Clemente Orozco.
Middlebury College is located off Route 7 in rural Vermont, nestled between rolling mountains in the Champlain Valley. Whether viewed in winter, autumn or summer, the red brick colonial-style campus architecture is beautifully enhanced by its gorgeous pastoral surroundings.
Middlebury College, 14 Old Chapel Rd, Middlebury, VT, USA
The 540-acre campus at Bard College in Annandale-On-Hudson is gorgeous. Picture lunch on the rolling lawns facing the Hudson with views of the Catskill Mountains. The campus architecture includes early examples of collegiate Gothic buildings, as well as modern structures by prominent architects.
Bard College, 30 Campus Rd, Annandale-On-Hudson, NY, USA
This women’s college in Sweet Briar, Virginia, is set on an enormous 3,250-acre tract of land at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Ralph Adams Cram designed Sweet Briar College in the colonial revival style, featuring red brick buildings with white columns and balconies.
Sweet Briar College, 134 Chapel Rd, Sweet Briar, VA, USA