When you go to college, you want to be in a nurturing, inspiring environment. Our surroundings make a huge impact on our minds, after all. America, being an incredibly diverse, large and wealthy land has some of the most breathtaking college campuses in the entire world. But this isn't true of all colleges. Some are in drab environments, whereas others have been proven to lead to success. And this article will highlight the 50 most inspiring college campuses in America.
What makes a college's campus inspiring? This question has a subjective answer. What is inspiring to one student could be intimidating to another. Therefore, this list has analyzed several measures of a college's design to consider it creative. Firstly, colleges need to provide evidence that their environments have facilitated academic achievement. Secondly, colleges need to demonstrate that their facilities make it easier to study and enter a career. And thirdly, colleges need to balance aesthetics with practicality. There are a million ways to define a college's design as being creative, but those above criteria mean that the designs in this list not only look interesting to a majority of people but lead to results.
Up until now, there has not been a list of the colleges with the most creative and inspiring overall designs. Luckily, this list fixes that. The entries below are able to show to all colleges across the US and the world that their buildings, grounds, and facilities can be tools for academic achievement while making students happy. As the entries show, there is no one way of achieving this outcome. All 50 are doing this in their own ways.
The colleges on this list are great choices for students who want to learn in a creative and efficient environment. But it's also possible that none of the choices are right for you. If that's the case, then this article can still be a useful tool. Each entry in this list has a detailed summary of why it has been included. These are there so that you can compare them with your own college options. If any of your college choices are using the same creative design solutions like these, then that's a strong indicator that it's the right college for you!
MethodologyThe entries in this list were sourced from a range of articles. Articles that look at design innovations on campuses, that analyze college buildings that are impressive feats of architecture, and that rank college campuses as the best or most beautiful all formed the core of the research. After we had discovered the potential entries on these sources, we conducted extensive research into the colleges themselves. This was to ensure that the college campuses were as creatively designed as the sources said.
Ourlist of sources is as follows:
- The New York Times, The Innovation Campus, Building Better Ideas
- Architectural Digest, 15 College Campuses with the Best Architecture
- Architectural Digest, The 50 Most Beautiful Colleges in America
- Academia Obscura, 10 Offbeat University Buildings
- Niche, 2020 Best College Campuses in America
- Thrillist, The Most Stunning College Buildings in America
- Best Colleges, The Most Technologically Advanced Colleges
- Insider, 13 of the Most Unique Colleges in America
- USA Today, 51 Amazing University and College Buildings Across the USA
The final rankings have beenprioritized with the following criteria: evidence that the designshave led to increased achievement, evidence that the designs havemade studying and living easier, evidence that students love thecampuses/other college infrastructure, innovative ideas inimplementing the designs and aggregated ranking on the source lists.
Our final list, from 50 toone, is below:
50. Case Western Reserve
University
Cleveland, Ohio
The campusat Case Western Reserve University is just minutes from downtownCleveland, making it the ideal location for a student who wants to bein a vibrant urban location as they study. The college's location atUniversity Circle has "more than 50 arts, cultural, educational,health and human service institutions" spread across 550 acres ofspace. USA Today and AcademiaObscura name the Case WesternReserve University's Peter B. Lewis Building as one of the mostamazing in America.
49. Belmont University
Nashville, Tennessee
BelmontUniversity is technically an urban college, locatedin southeast Nashville, Tennessee. But thanks to the design of thecampus, almost all vehicles skirt it, meaning the grounds are oftenfree from the sound of traffic. The campus is far from quiet,however, because it hostsover 500 student performances every single year. ArchitecturalDigest considers BelmontUniversity to be one of America's 50 most beautiful college campuses.Niche also names thecampus the 94thbest college campus in America.
48. The University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Even though The University of Chicago's campus is just 20 minutes from downtown Chicago, it still has an open-spaced and rural feel. The campus stretches across an amazing 217 acres, which is filled with nature. One example is the Botany Pond, which is the college's own botanic garden. The buildings are also stunning, being gothic, covered in ivy and featuring numerous gargoyles. Thrillist states that The University of Chicago's Rockefeller Memorial Chapel is one of America's most stunning college buildings. Architectural Digest also names the campus as one of the most beautiful colleges in America.
47. Furman University
Greenville, South Carolina
Thecampus at Furman University is currently undergoinga tree replacement project. This will ensure that the college'sexterior remains green and breathtaking for literally hundreds ofyears to come. This exterior beauty is vitalto the college, as "the entire campus is your classroom." Andevery single student who is enrolled into the college lives oncampus. Architectural Digest namesFurman University one of the 50 most beautiful colleges in America.Niche names it the89thbest college campus in America.
46. Illinois Institute of
Technology
Chicago, Illinois
WhenIllinois Institute of Technology's campus was createdin the 1940s, its design was groundbreaking. In fact, the campus,which was built by the college's head of the Department ofArchitecture, "stood in sharp contrast to the patrician campuses ofthe past." Newer additions to the campus all look modern andsophisticated, such as the McCormick Tribune Campus Center, with itsdiagonal pathways looking like interior streets. Illinois Instituteof Technology features on Thrillist's stunningcollege buildings listand Architectural Digest's bestcollege architecture list. School Profile
45. St. Olaf College
Northfield, Minnesota
Norwegianimmigrants foundedSt. Olaf College. And this Scandinavian foundation can still be seenon the college's campus today. Most of the 30 campus buildingsare in a Scandinavian-modern architectural style, making it unique inappearance. Architectural Digest callsSt. Olaf College's campus one of the 50 most beautiful in America,highlighting its 300 acres of space and two buildings that are listedon the National Register of Historic Places in its favor. Niche names it the 84thbest college campus in America.
44. Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, New York
Themore than 100 buildings that makeup the Vassar College campus have been "designed by some of themost notable architects of their day." This includes The ThompsonMemorial Library, which is in a beautiful gothic style and which hasa huge stained glass window depicting Elena Lucrezia Cornaro, thefirst female to ever be awarded a doctorate. This library features onThrillist's list ofthe most stunning college buildings in America. ArchitecturalDigest names Vassar College asbeing one of the 50 most beautiful colleges in America.School Profile
43. Mississippi State
University
Starkville, Mississippi
The campus at MississippiState University excels in many areas, but its athletic andrecreational facilitiesare particularly great. The base of recreational activities is theJoe Frank Sanderson Center, which is 150,000 square feet.Additionally, the RecPlex and 18 hole golf course have everythingthat a student could want in outdoor sports. The college's ChadwickLake also has excellent fishing opportunities! USAToday namesthe Davis Wade Stadium as one of America's most amazing collegebuildings. Niche namesMississippi State University's campus as the 64thbest in America.School Profile
42. Kenyon College
Gambier, Ohio
Insiderconsiders Kenyon College one of the most unique colleges in America,thanks to the fact that students can access a 500 acre naturepreserve and 10 acre farm. ArchitecturalDigestalso names the college one of the 50 most beautiful in America. Butthere's much more than beauty on offer. The college is filledwith state of the art facilities, from its science quad to itsathletics center. The buildings are made from century old stone andcontemporary glass, giving the campus an entirely unique feel.
41. Harvard University
Boston, Massachusetts
Thrillistconsiders Harvard University's Carpenter Center for the Visual Artsto be one of the most stunning college buildings in America. That'sbecause it is the only US structure designed by the modernist pioneerLe Corbusier. ArchitecturalDigest,also considers the entire campus to be one of the most beautiful inAmerica. Lastly, Nichenames it the 51stbest college campus in America. Harvard Univesity is also constantlyproactively lookingfor ways to use its common spaces to create an increased sense ofcommunity between students, faculty and staff.School Profile
40. College of William & Mary
Williamsburg, Virginia
As one of the oldest colleges in America, The College of William & Mary has an incredible historic campus. But it also benefits from a range of recent renovations and constructions, making it "a model of technological innovation, accessibility and comfort." Some of the more unique features on campus include a sunken garden, a ropes course and an open air amphitheatre located on the bank of Lake Matoaka. Thrillist names the college's Wren Building, which was designed by Sir Christopher Wren in 1700, as being one of the most stunning college campus buildings in America. Architectural Digest names The College of William & Mary as being one of the 50 most beautiful colleges in America. School Profile
39. Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa
The American Society ofLandscape Architects has giventhe main campus of Iowa State University the Medallion Award for itsoutstanding landscaping. In addition to beautifully landscapednature, the college campus has the largest public art collection inthe nation on display, with approximately 2,000 works of art beingpresent. But USA Today isimpressed with Iowa State University's C.Y. Stephens Auditorium,which it considers to be amazing. Niche alsostates that the college to have the 48thbest campus in America.School Profile
38. University of Hawaii at
Manoa
Honolulu, Hawaii
Theadvantage of studying at a college in Hawaii should be obvious toall. It has an amazing climate and beautiful scenery. But thespecific location and design of University of Hawaii at Manoa gofar in enhancingthese natural advantages. The college is in the breathtaking ManoaValley on Oahu. The campus is eight miles away from Honolulu airport.The campus is also designedso that it can accommodate multiple concerts, cookouts, andcelebrations on any day of the year. USA Today alsoconsiders University of Hawaii at Manoa's Hawaii Hall to be anamazing American college building. Architectural Digest names the college's buildingsand views as the things that make it one of the 50 most beautifulcolleges in America.School Profile
37. Southern Methodist
University
Dallas, Texas
Thegreat thingabout Southern Methodist University's campus is that it "is smallenough for you to really know your professors and make lifelongconnections and large enough to stretch your mind in a variety ofacademic disciplines and campus activities." Students who attendthe college get to live in one of the 11 on campus residentialcommons, which all have their own architecturally distinct design. Architectural Digest namesSouthern Methodist University as one of the 50 most beautifulcolleges in America. Niche namesit the 42ndbest college campus.
36. University of
Mississippi
Oxford, Mississippi
Thecampus at University of Mississippi is known for being beautiful,thanksin part to the 18 Georgian buildings designed by the architect FrankP. Gates. And the original campus building, The Lyceum, dates back to1848. Today, University of Mississippi's Campus Recreation Departmentensures that thecollege's grounds are always put to good use. Thrillist names The Lyceum as one of themost stunning college buildings in America. Niche namesUniversity of Mississippi as being the 28thbest college campus in America.
35. Dartmouth College
Hanover, New Hampshire
The Dartmouth College campusis all about the outdoors.The Appalachian Trail runs right through the grounds! The collegehas managed to utilize its surroundings so that all students can takefull advantage of the natural activities on offer. It has createdover 100 acres of skiing trails 14 miles away from campus, runs anorganic farm, owns a ravine lodge 45 minutes from campus and givesstudents access to 17 cabins. It also owns27,000 acres of wilderness that it utilizes for recreation. USAToday considersDartmouth College's Baker-Berry Library to be one of the most amazingcollege buildings in America. ArchitecturalDigest alsonames the college one of the 50 most beautiful in America.School Profile
34. United States Air Force
Academy
Colorado Springs, Colorado
USA Today and Thrillist both name different buildings at United States Air Force Academy on their lists. USA Today praises Polaris Hall, which has the Center for Character and Leadership, whereas Thrillist names the college's futuristic Cadet Chapel as one of the most stunning college buildings in America, noting that it is the most visited man-made attraction in the State of Colorado. But these buildings are only just scratching the surface of the United States Air Force Academy's creative design. It also has 19 research centers, a planetarium, multi-use trails, an airfield and much more.
33. Michigan State
University
East Lansing, Michigan
The large main campus of Michigan State University is divided up so that different aspects of college life have plenty of space. The entire campus is 5,200 acres, with 2,000 of those acres being developed. The campus features over 550 buildings, with approximately 100 of those reserved for academics, 130 reserved for agriculture, 160 for housing and 40 for athletics. The campus is also being constantly modernized. In 2017, it began a $22.5 million solar project that will generate 5% of the college's electricity when completed. Additionally, Niche names Michigan State University's campus the 35th best in America. USA Today names the college's Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum as one of the most amazing college buildings in America.School Profile
32. University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Two thingsmake University of Minnesota's Twin Cities campus stand out: itssafety and its culture. Every student is kept abreast of importantsafety advice thanks to its text message alert system. It also hasmany emergency phones, alarm buttons and security cameras keepingstudents safe. And if that weren't good enough, then students arealso able to get safely escorted from campus to nearby neighborhoods.Culture wise, the college has an incredible arts center, threemuseums and a whole arts quarter. USA Today namesone of its museums, The Weisman Art Museum, as being one of the mostamazing college buildings in America. Best Colleges alsostates that University of Minnesota is the sixth most technologicallyadvanced college in the USA.School Profile
31. United States Naval
Academy
Annapolis, Maryland
All of the students whostudy at the United States Naval Academy live in one building,Bancroft Hall, which is the largestcollege dormitory in the world. Both USA Today andArchitectural digestpraise this building, noting its beauty and sheer size in its favor.But the United States Naval Academy has many other incrediblebuildings, such as the chapel, which has even been featuredon a postage stamp. The Princeton Review hasalso stated that thecollege has the second best science lab facilities in America.
30. Flagler College
St. Augustine, Florida
Somany aspects of Flagler College are designed to be convenient andspecial for students. The college's diningoptions strive to give all of its diners a unique experience. Thecampus is also incredibly walkable,with residence halls situated only a few minutes away from the mainclassrooms, even for slow walkers. But perhaps the most impressivepart of Flagler College is its campus centerpiece, the majestic HotelPonce de Leon building. This building is on USA Today's topcollege buildings list and also contributed significantly toArchitectural Digest namingthe college one of the most beautiful in America.
29.
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington
TheSeattle campus of University of Washington is in an idyllic location.It has views of the Cascade Range to the east and views of theOlympic Mountains to the west. The campus is also filled withbeautiful architecture, inspiring statues, and state of the artfacilities. Located right next to the college is "The Ave," orUniversity Way, which is filled with inexpensive restaurants, bookstores, record stores, clothing stores and much more. Thrillist and USA Today nameUniversity of Washington's Suzzallo Library as one of the moststunning buildings on a college campus in America. Niche names it the 100thbest college campus in America. Architectural Digest considers it to be one of the 50most beautiful colleges in America.School Profile
28. Arizona State University
Tempe, Arizona
Thefive campuses that make upArizona State University are all distinct, yet they all offer"attributes and focuses to meet the needs of any learner." Thecollege has also managed to become an environmentally friendlyinstitution. In fact, the Tempe campus is the mostsolar-powered campus in America. USA Today namesthe college's Cronkite Building, located in downtown Phoenix, as anamazing college building. Best Colleges namesArizona State University as the second most technologically advancedcollege in America.School Profile
27. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee
Thecampus at Vanderbilt University is locatedone and a half miles from downtown Nashville, Tennessee. It sprawlsover 341 acres, and contains over 300 tree and shrub varieties,making it a nature lover's dream. Nine miles from campus, there isalso an observatory in the college's name, which is on the NationalRegister of Historic Places (as is one of the buildings on thecollege's campus.) Architectural Digest considersit to be one of the 50 most beautiful college campuses in America.Niche lists it as the25thbest college campus in America.School Profile
26. University of Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
Thanks to the design of the physical infrastructure at University of Missouri, students can work alongside the college's world leading faculty. This results in students producing work that benefits the entire world before they graduate. And if that weren't impressive enough, then the college also has a breathtaking botanical garden that is divided into 16 different gardens of different themes. Architectural Digest names the college one of the 50 most beautiful in America. Niche names it the 36th best college campus in America. School Profile
25. University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas
TheUniversity of Arksansas campus containsover 20 places to eat, meaning that all tastes can be catered to,from fast food to fine dining. But this variety stretches far beyondfood. For instance, it also has an impressive array of recreationalfacilities, such as an Olympic sized swimming pool and a state-of theart fitness center. Thrillist isincredibly impressed with the way the college's Arkansas Unionbuilding at the heart of the college has become a gathering space forevery kind of student. USA Today callsthe college's Old Main building amazing. Additionally, Niche names University of Arkansas ashaving the 57thbest college campus in the USA.
24. University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
The only college on this list that can claim to have a campus designed by a founding father and President of the United States is University of Virginia. Architectural Digest goes as far as to call Thomas Jefferson's Academical Village at the college "one of the most important architectural projects in U.S. history." Thrillist and USA Today noted that the college's Rotunda, which Thomas Jefferson based off of the Pantheon in Rome, as the jewel in this campus's crown. Niche names the college campus the 85th best in America. In the 21st century, University of Virginia is in the process of preserving its campus while highlighting some of the darker aspects of its past. For instance, it is creating a memorial to the enslaved people who were forced to build and maintain the college's grounds in its early years. School Profile
23. Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute
Troy, New York
To understand why RensselaerPolytechnic Institute's campus is designed how it is, prospectivestudents need to grasp itsClustered Learning, Advocacy and Support for Students (CLASS) system.This is a "comprehensive approach to the student experience atRensselaer." CLASS is focused on building its community so thatstudents can become the leaders of tomorrow. This means that manyon-campus buildings are focused around career development andconnection building. And all residential halls are clustered inspecific sections of the college to make the experience as productiveand enjoyable as possible to students. USA Today alsonames the college's Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and PerformingArts Center as being one of the most amazing college buildings inAmerica. Best Colleges namesRensselaer Polytechnic Institute the 19thmost technologically advanced college in America.
22.
Berry College
Mount Berry, Georgia
When Berry College saysthat its campus has a huge claim to fame, it means huge literally. Ithas by far the world's biggest campus. Its 27,000 acres are filledwith "a wealth of opportunities simply not available at othercolleges." The college makes the most of its gigantic campus,offering students a staggering range of learning opportunities. Italso means that every single student who attends the college is giveneight semesters of paid, professional development experience. But thebuildings on the Berry College Campus are also phenomenal. In fact,USA Today calls its EnglishGothic Ford Buildings amazing. Architectural Digest alsoconsiders the college to be one of the most beautiful in America.
21. Pennsylvania State
University
University Park,
Pennsylvania
It's hard to rank Pennsylvania State University's design as one entity, as the college has 24 different campuses across its home state. But this large array of campuses can itself be considered a great piece of design. The 24 campuses give students the option to study in a wide range of locations. Students can even choose to transition from one campus to another after two years of study. One thing that unites every Pennsylvania State University campus is the fact that they all use incredible technology. Best Colleges even names the college the 10th most technologically advanced in America. Niche names the college's University Park location as the 39th best college campus in America. School Profile
20. Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, North
Carolina
Wake Forest Universitydescribesits campus as being "a big canvas" for students to express theirpassions. That's because it offers a comfortable and challengingenvironment for all students. It's also a very modern campus, withover half of the college's dorm rooms having been built from scratchor fully renovated in recent years. Best Colleges isalso astounded at how Wake Forest University has augmented its campuswith technology, stating that there is an app for almost everything astudent encounters. The source also names it the most technologicallyadvanced college in America. Architectural Digest namesthe college as one of the 50 most beautiful in America.
19. Columbia University
New York City, New York
The campus at Columbia University is both old and new. It moved into its amazingly spacious, for New York City, campus in 1897 and had its buildings constructed by the renowned architectural firm McKim, Mead, and White. But in the 1990s, the college's leadership conducted a $650 million building program on the campus, renovating the historic buildings and constructing new ones. During this time, the college also constructed New York City's only university related research park, Audubon Biotechnology and Research Park. Architectural Digest considers Columbia University to have one of the 50 most beautiful college campuses in America. Niche names the college's campus the 37th best in America. School Profile
18. University of
California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Students of this college say that things like "There's a very non-hierarchical feeling at Berkeley." This is because University of California, Berkeley's campus always provides opportunities for students to expand their minds and engage with new ways of thinking. Some of the most inspiring features of the campus are the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, the 34 acre botanical garden, the Sproul Plaza, the Lower Sproul and much more. Thrillist names The Campanile, aka the Sather Tower, as being one of the 25 most stunning college buildings in America. That's because it has an observation deck, 23 bells and is the third largest bell and clock tower in the world. Architectural Digest also names it one of America's 50 most beautiful college campuses. School Profile
17. The Ohio State
University
Columbus, Ohio
There'ssomething for everyone across The Ohio State University's six diversecampuses. Thesecampuses are located across the state of Ohio and vary from beingincredibly urban to highly rural. The Columbus campus considersitself to be a laboratory for innovation, while the Mansfield campusis located over 640 acres of woodland. Niche namesOhio State University's Columbus Campus as being the 33rdbest in America. Thrillist namesthe college's New Ohio Union Building, as being one of the moststunning college buildings in America.School Profile
16. University of Colorado,
Boulder
Boulder, Colorado
There'sso much on offerat University of Colorado, Boulder's campus. It offers wide openfields, a dining hall with cuisine from around the world and even theopportunity to "create your own smoothie via bicycle energy at theVillage Center." There are also four swimming pools, a planetarium,an art museum and much more. Thrillist considersthe University of Colorado, Boulder's first building, Old Main, to beone of the most stunning college buildings in the USA. Niche names the campus the 23rdbest in America. And Architectural Digest namesit one of the most beautiful colleges in America.
15. University of
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
In 2017, University ofPennsylvania's urban West Philadelphia campus was officially declaredan arboretum. This ensures that while the college is in the heart ofone of America's largest cities, it also maintains a secluded andrelaxing atmosphere. Overall, the college now has two arboretums,with the first being located outside of the city. The urban campus isalso incredibly safe. In fact, Security Magazine hasnamed it the safest higher education institution seven years in arow. Architectural Digest names the college one of the 50 most beautiful college campuses inAmerica. Niche considersit to be the 86thbest college campus in America.School Profile
14. Duke University
Durham, North Carolina
Thanksto its sprawling8,600+ acre campus, "no two students' days ever look quite thesame," at Duke University. Every first year student at the collegelives on the East Campus and is able to take a five minute bus rideto the West Campus. The East Campus alone is filled with almost 200acres of open lawns, tennis courts, gyms and much more. ArchitecturalDigest names Duke University ashaving one of the 50 best campuses in America thanks to the fact thatit has 254 beautiful buildings. Thrillist andUSA Today also namethe Duke Chapel as being one of the 25 most stunning collegebuildings in America. Lastly, Niche namesthe college as having the 52ndbest campus in America.School Profile
13. University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Indiana
Every building on theUniversity of Notre Dame campus fitsin with its original Gothic aesthetic. And each of the college's 30on-campus residence halls "is a world unto itself," which allcombine to create a unified identity that is unlike anything elsefound on any campus in the world. The campus also stretches across1,250 acres. University of Notre Dame features on ArchitecturalDigest's unranked 50 mostbeautiful colleges in America list and Niche's bestcollege campuses list, ranking at 21st.Thrillist also namesthe college's Main Building as being one of the 25 most stunningcollege buildings in America. Lastly, Best Colleges namesit the 22ndmost technologically advanced college in America.
12. University of Southern
California
Los Angeles, California
In2017, University of Southern California completed the USC Village, a15-acre extension of its University Park Campus. The entire area wasdesigned so that lifelonglearning and new friendships could begin. The campus features a rangeof shops, dining options, an open-air central piazza and much more.Thrillist considersUniversity of Southern California's Doheny Memorial Library to be oneof the most stunning buildings in America, with the source naming itan incredible place to study. Niche considersthe campus to be the ninth-best in America. Best Colleges also names University ofSouthern California as being the ninth most technologically advancedcollege in America.School Profile
11. Princeton University
Princeton, New Jersey
Studentsare requiredto live on the Princeton University campus during their first twoyears of study. This is so that they can take part in the "academic,social, cultural and recreational programs, as well as academicadvising," that the college has specifically been designed toprovide. This approach is so successful that most students decide tolive on campus permanently. Architectural Digest namesPrinceton University as being one of the 50 most beautiful collegecampuses in America. Niche namesthe college's campus he 53rdbest in America. And Thrillist callsthe historic campus building Nassau Hall one of the most stunningbuildings on a college campus. This is thanks to its importance inAmerican history as well as its design. It was at one point thelargest building in Colonial America and briefly served as thenation's capitol building. USA Today namesanother historic college building, The University Chapel, as one ofthe most beautiful in America. But the college is still incrediblymodern in many areas. Best Colleges evennames it the 15thmost technologically advanced college in America.School Profile
10. Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut
Thecampus at Yale University offersstudents "endless opportunities for exploration." It containsover one million square feet of lab space, a world renowned artgallery and 13 million books across 22 libraries. And ArchitecturalDigest considers Yale Universityto have one of the most amazing collections of buildings in America.Additionally, Thrillist andUSA Today consider thecollege's Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library to be one ofthe most stunning buildings in America. Lastly, Niche namesit the 14thbest college campus in America.School Profile
9. The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Two things make TheUniversity of Alabama's campus standout: its natural beauty and Greek Revival architecture. But whatensures that this amazing space is utilized to its fullest is thefact the there is an entire departmentthat is dedicated to making the campus creative. This department hasorganized film festivals, arts festivals, improvisational jamsessions and much more. Architectural Digest statesthat The University of Alabama is one of the 15 best colleges inAmerica when judged by the quality of its architecture. Thrillist also names the college's SmithHall as one of the 25 most stunning college buildings in America.Lastly, Niche says thecollege has the seventh best campus in America.
8. Massachusetts Institute
of Technology
Boston, Massachusetts
The New York Times notesthat Massachusetts Institute of Technology was one of the pioneers ofusing creative design to inspire achievement. This started withBuilding 20, a wooden structure that was rapidly constructed in theSecond World War. Despite this building being envisioned as atemporary structure, it became home to some of the greatest advancesin science in the word. This was thanks to the building being a placethat mixed disciplines and allowed people to work in an openenvironment. But in 1998, the building was demolished and replacedwith the incredible Ray and Maria Stata Center for ComputerInformation and Intelligence Sciences. This building's design makesit look like it is crumpling inwards. And the inside contains 430,000square feet of above ground space, along with 290,000 square feet ofunderground space. This building's design "challenges much of theconventional wisdom of laboratory and campus building." As well asThe New York Times, Architectural Digest, USA Today andAcademia Obscura alsohighlight this building as an example of the college's incrediblecreativity, which extends across the campus. Best Colleges also calls MIT's campus the 12thmost technologically advanced in America.School Profile
7.
University of Michigan
Ann
Arbor, Michigan
Thecampuses at University of Michigan are staggering. In fact, they have"one of the largest health care complexes in the world, one of themost extensive library systems in the country, and some of the bestcomputer access for students and faculty of any campus in the world."And if that weren't good enough, then the space features "thousandsof concerts, recitals, speakers, symposia, films, and readings eachyear." Thrillist namesUniversity of Michigan's Michigan Union building as being one of themost stunning in America. Niche alsonames the Ann Arbor campus as being the 13thbest in America. Best Colleges callsUniversity of Michigan the 16thmost technologically advanced college in America.School Profile
6. Washington University in
St. Louis
Saint Louis, Missouri
The inspiration for Washington University in St. Louis's campus came from Oxford and Cambridge in the UK, which many consider to be two of the world's most amazing college campuses. This design has earned it a place on Architectural Digest's 50 most beautiful college campuses in America list. It also ranks as the second-best American college campus on Niche's list. But what sets the Washington University in Saint Louis campus apart from others is the fact that "technology is integrated into all aspects of the college experience," meaning it has both a historic and state of the art feel in its design. It also stretches over an amazing 2,300 acres.
5. Cornell University
Ithaca, New York
The most creative campusthat Cornell University owns is not its primary Ithaca location butits New York City technical campus. This is located on RooseveltIsland between Manhattan and Brooklyn. The most creative part of thiscampus is the Bloomberg Center, which The New York Times noteswas designed to add "friction to people's work lives, as unexpectedencounters (with people, with different spaces, with art) aresupposed to lead to unexpected ideas." This campus also has theTata Innovation Center, which allowsstudents and graduates to "commercialize a new idea, start-ups onthe verge of explosive growth" and much more. Cornell University'smain campus also ranks highly on numerous methodology sources.Architectural Digest statesthat the Ithaca campus is one of the most beautiful in America andpraises the careful way in which it selects new buildings. Thrillist also states that the WillardStraight Hall is one of the most stunning college buildings inAmerica. Lastly, Best Colleges namesits campus the 11thmost technologically advanced in America.
4. Rice University
Houston, Texas
Thecreativity in Rice University's campus lies in its managementas much as its layout. The institution has 11 coed colleges, whichare self-supporting, with their "own government, budget, intramuralteams, and faculty advisors." When students enroll in RiceUniversity, they are randomly assigned to live in one of thesecolleges and remain associated with that college throughout theirstudy. The campus is also filled with free outdoor public artinstallations for all to appreciate. Architectural Digest names Rice University as beingone of the 50 most beautiful college campuses in America. Niche states that it has the 15thbest college campus in America. USA Today alsonames the college's Moody Center for the Arts as an amazing collegebuilding.School Profile
3. Stanford University
Stanford, California
Fivedifferent sources cite Stanford University. And each sourcehighlights a different part of the campus's design. Niche considers its overall campus tobe the 12thbest in America. The New York Times notesthat the college's Institute of Design has most of its furniture onwheels, allowing for environments to be rearranged at will. Thrillist highlights Hoover Tower, whichis a library, office building and observation platform. ArchitecturalDigest names the college's mainquad an incredibly inspiring and creative space. And if that weren'tgood enough, then the Stanford University campus also housestwo world class museums. One of these, The Anderson Collection, is onUSA Today's list ofamazing American college buildings.School Profile
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois
Architectural Digestnames Northwestern University as having one of the most beautifulcollege campuses in America thanks to its location on Lake Michiganand its wide range of building styles. USA Todaysays that the college's athletics center is one of the most amazingcollege buildings in America thanks to its views of Lake Michigan andthe Chicago skyline. The New York Timesparticularly highlights the college's interdisciplinary acceleratorspace, The Garage, as being a great place for students to creativelylearn. The building is an 11,000 square foot former parking garage.Within this space, any student can access a workshop filled withcutting edge equipment and resources. The college's main campusalso has 240 acres of natural beauty surrounding it. It's filled withcreative touches, like The Rock, which is a literal boulder in themiddle of the campus. The Rock sees a different student guard itevery day to earn the right to paint something they want onto it.
1. University of California,
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Any college that wants toimprove its campus should look to University of California, LosAngeles as an example. That's because it has bothincredible aesthetics and a design that inspires people to achieve.In fact, the college describes its campus as being "perpetually inmotion," being the home of over 1,000 clubs, start up business andcommunity events. Niche's studentled rankings even go as far as to name University of California'scampus the best in the entirety of the United States. ArchitecturalDigest considers it to be one ofthe 50 most beautiful colleges in America. Best Colleges names the college the 13thmost technologically advanced in America.School Profile
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