As the 2022-2023 school year draws to a close, many hopeful freshmen will head to colleges and universities across the country in the fall.
But only a few of these campuses have been named “the most beautiful.”
“America's most beautiful college campuses don't just attract prospective students and their families,” says a recent Travel + Leisure magazine report. “Tourists flock to these impressive institutions to admire their perfectly manicured lawns, stunning architecture and remarkable landmarks.”
The report, released earlier this year, ranks the “25 Most Beautiful College Campuses in the U.S.” The list includes a handful of campuses in the Midwest — including one in Illinois — as well as several schools in California, New York and Florida.
At the top of the list, unsurprisingly, is Stanford University, located near Palo Alto, about 35 miles outside of San Francisco.
“The entrance to Stanford's 8,180-acre campus is arguably the largest of any beautiful campus,” the description says. “A kilometer long, tree-lined Palm Drive leads to the sprawling green oval Main Quad, surrounded by red-roofed buildings and the architectural jewel of the campus, the Memorial Church, with its impressive mosaic facade.”
While the No. 2 spot went to a rural college in Georgia, No. 3 on the list went to the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.
“It's hard to miss its glittering golden dome Notre Dame's The main building, not to mention the Neo-Gothic Basilica of the Sacred Heart that defines this Catholic school founded in 1842,” the report states. “In addition to the gorgeous architecture, the campus is full of green squares where students gather to kick back when they're not in the classroom or on the soccer field.”
The next Midwestern school to make an appearance is Kenyon College in Ohio at No. 12, followed by the University of Wisconsin – Madison at No. 18.
At No. 21 is the University of Chicago, located in the city's Hyde Park neighborhood.
According to the report, the south side campus is a bit of an architectural marvel, combining “the traditional English Gothic style with the modern designs of Eero Saarinen and Mies van der Rohe on 215 acres that include a formal botanical garden.”
And pay attention to details, the list adds. “Many of the gargoyles on the ivy-covered buildings date back to 1893, when the campus was built.”
