Cool College Campuses: Historic halls, inspiring landscapes, and academic excellence

Pepperdine University originally opened in 1937 in the city of Los Angeles, but by 1972 the new campus in Malibu was opened and welcoming students. This campus is perfect for ocean lovers as it sits right next to the Pacific Ocean providing stunning views of the crashing waves. The 830-acre campus is reminiscent of a tropical paradise with touches of the Mediterranean thanks to their white stucco buildings adorned with red-tiled roofs. The campus was designed by Los Angeles based architect William Pereira and features lush greenery and is dotted with palm trees and other exotic plants providing a campus that is as much paradise as university.

24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA, Phone: 310-506-4000

Furman University had its first attendance by students in 1825, but ultimately moved its campus in 1958, and is now considered one of the most beautiful campuses in the nation. The 750-acre campus is green with lush foliage and dotted with Georgian-style buildings throughout. The gardens themselves have an Asian quality to them, featuring a picturesque sparkling lake that surrounds the campus with impressive views of the iconic campus Bell Tower. For those who love to walk or run in the great outdoors, this campus offers several routes that will take them past gorgeous water fountains, canopies of trees, several gardens, and the Furman Farm.

3300 Poinsett Highway, Greenville, SC, Phone: 864-294-2000

Princeton University sits on a 500-acre campus along the shores of Lake Carnegie in Central New Jersey. It’s one of the oldest university campuses in America and its oldest structure, built in 1754, is also its crown jewel – the distinguished Nassau Hall. Having been burned down twice, its latest iteration is in the Italian-Renaissance style.

Other notable buildings on the Collegiate Gothic campus include the Princeton University Chapel – the world’s third-largest campus chapel – and Lewis Library, a modern Frank Gehry-designed building. Besides the stunning architecture on the Princeton campus, it is also praised for its meticulously landscaped grounds with acres of park-like green space, small garden spaces, and pedestrian-friendly walkways.

220 Nassau Hall, Princeton, NJ, Phone: 609-258-3000

Dartmouth College is one of the oldest campuses in the nation, founded in 1769 and a member of the Ivy League, so it’s no surprise that its 269-acre campus is awe-inspiring. Its centerpiece is the Dartmouth Green, a large open grass space surrounded by trees and crisscrossed by walking paths, a place where the main events take place throughout the year.

Even more impressive are the untouched natural areas that surround and run through the campus; this includes part of the iconic Appalachian Trail. The beautiful Connecticut River is also just a stone’s throw away from campus, allowing for an array of outdoor activities.

6016 McNutt Hall, Hanover, NH, Phone: 603-646-2875

University of Virginia is located in beautiful Charlottesville, Virginia. The original campus was actually owned by former President James Monroe and is known for its stately Jeffersonian architecture. Particularly famous is the Rotunda, modeled after the Pantheon and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It recently received a $58 million makeover. The Academical Village, designed by Thomas Jefferson, fulfills his vision that campus architecture and student learning were inseparable. Named one of the most beautiful campuses in the country, its social heartbeat is the expansive tree-lined green space dubbed The Lawn between it and the pavilions of the Academical Village.

400 Emmet Street South, Charlottesville, VA, Phone: 434-924-0311

Emory University first opened its doors in 1836 before moving to its current home in the city of Atlanta in 1915, this classically stunning campus offers a gentle mix of metropolitan paradise and natural oasis.

The architectural highlight is the breathtaking Lullwater House, home to the president of the university. Constructed in 1926 by architects Ivey and Crook, it blends Tudor and Gothic Revival in its design and sits amidst the oasis that is the Lullwater Preserve. The preserve itself occupies more than 100 acres featuring lush woods, Candler Lake, and several walking trails – an excellent setting for both relaxation and learning.

201 Dowman Drive, Atlanta, GA, Phone: 404-727-6123

As the second-oldest college in the nation, it shouldn’t surprise anyone to know that the campus has a distinct historical feel to it, but it may shock them to find out that it also has one of the most naturally stunning campuses. The focal point, Lake Matoaka, is a great place to bird watch, hike, kayak, and canoe. On the banks of the lake is the Martha Wren Briggs Amphitheatre, an open-air venue students utilize for professional musical and theater performances. The adjacent wooded area has the iconic Crim Dell Bridge arching over a delicate pond surrounded by various colorful and majestic trees.

College of William & Mary, Sadler Center, 200 Stadium Drive, Williamsburg, VA, Phone: 757-221-4000

Gettysburg College was opened in 1832. The 200-acre campus is known as one of the prettiest campuses in the United States. Its wondrous mix of architecture and nature make this an excellent campus for students and faculty. Pennsylvania Hall, the oldest building on the grounds, is an architectural highlight created in 1837 by John Cresson Trautwine with an inspired American Greek Revival-style edifice. The Glatfelter Hall is another true gem, a Victorian Romanesque building created in 1889 by John A. Dempwolf. Surrounding these astounding structures are beautiful natural green areas, active avian life, and gorgeous Quarry Pond.

300 North Washington Street, Gettysburg, PA, Phone: 717-337-6300

Harvard University was founded in 1636. It is the oldest university for higher education in the nation and an urban oasis in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Some of the most magnificent features to this 200-acre-plus campus are the gorgeous buildings including designated National Historic Landmark Memorial Hall – a High Victorian Gothic-style structure with a multicolored design completed in the late 1800s. Additional notable structures include the Richardsonian Romanesque Sever Hall, and a building created using white Chelmsford granite – the University Hall. Aside from these stunning displays of architecture, Harvard is also home to the oldest arboretum in the United States. The Arnold Arboretum is a well-respected space for studying plants.

86 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA, Phone: 617-495-1000

Indiana University-Bloomington was originally a State Seminary before becoming a premier university in 1838, featuring just under 2,000 acres of land. One of its most prominent features is the architecture created from locally sourced limestone, since the campus buildings were built during the Great Depression. Its architecture is most notably Romanesque-style, with structures including the Student Building, which is listed on the National Register of Historical Places. In addition to the buildings made from limestone, the stately and iconic Sample Gates set the tone for all visitors who arrive. The campus also features stunning natural green areas that provide more than 1,200 miles of running and bicycling trails.

107 S. Indian Avenue, Bloomington, IN, Phone: 812-855-4848