Most Beautiful College Campuses in the Southwest
Escape to the sunny Southwest and explore some of the most stunning campuses in the Southwest.
The southwestern part of the country has many college campuses that rank among the most beautiful in the U.S. They encompass the classic beauty usually associated with historic colleges and universities, mixed with endearing accents that you regularly find in the South, such as palm trees and Spanish moss. From Tempe to Texas, here’s a look at some of the most attractive schools in the Southwest.
In This Article
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ
Arizona State University has several different campuses, including one in downtown Phoenix and one at Lake Havasu. However, the one that stands out for its unique layout and attractiveness is the Tempe campus. This campus offers a variety of architecture and is a mix of classic collegiate charm and modern appeal. The red brick Old Main building is the oldest original building on campus — dating back to 1898 — and is on the National Register of Historic Places. At the other extreme are more contemporary buildings, including the Gammage Auditorium, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright; high-tech dorms; the latest research labs and facilities; and the Sun Devil Stadium. The campus is devoted to sustainability. The ASU Tempe campus features the famous School of Sustainability and the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability and is the most solar-powered college campus in the country. The campus grounds are transected by wide pedestrian malls and landscaped with palm trees and fountains.
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ
Located right in Tucson, the University of Arizona campus has all the allure of an Ivy League college. Red brick is everywhere, and virtually every one of the 179 campus buildings incorporates brick into its design. One of the campus’ most endearing assets is its Mall, which rivals the Washington, D.C. Mall in appearance and beauty. The grassy, palm tree-lined Mall serves as a central concourse, helping section off the campus into quadrants. It’s a main passage for students to hang out, get to class or get fresh air and participate in various activities.
Like ASU Tempe, the University of Arizona has a beautiful and historic “Old Main” building of its own — the oldest building on the campus (built in 1891) and likewise a registered historic building. Also on campus is the Arizona State Museum, devoted to studying and preserving Southwestern history. The Environment and Natural Resources 2 Building has its own unique style, including being built to look like a canyon. Throughout the approximately 380-acre campus, there are plenty of biking trails as well as a streetcar to get students around campus.
In addition to the brick architecture, strong academics and plenty of nature and greenery, the university also prides itself on being able to offer good weather as part of the draw of its campus.
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK
The Oklahoma State University website boasts of the many selling points of its gorgeous campus — how it was voted one of the most beautiful campuses in the region and features lovely Georgian architecture scattered across 700 acres.
The OSU campus in Stillwater, OK, is what you would think of when you imagine a beautiful college campus, complete with plenty of green space and nature, artwork and architecture — including old brick buildings, charming dorms and historic classrooms. If modern architecture is more your thing, there’s plenty of that too, such as the 124,000-square-foot Henry Bellmon Research Center’s innovative facilities and the cutting-edge Business Building.
Adding even more beauty to the campus is the duck-filled Theta Pond, which dates back to 1895, located within the equally picturesque Centennial Gardens.
Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX
The lush green grass of the “Boulevard,” accented by bright red flowers in the warmer months, welcomes you to Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Every home game day during football season, students and fans come out to tailgate there — to celebrate their school and their team. Brick is everywhere on this campus as well, not only in the framework of the buildings but also in the paving stones of streets and walkways. The many archways and the quads add intrigue to the campus and give it that time-honored flair.
The stately domed Dallas Hall is the oldest building on campus and one of its centerpieces. It overlooks the carefully manicured and designed diamond-shaped lawns of the Boulevard. The large porch of the Laura Lee Blanton Student Services Building is shaded by columns and offers rocking chairs, providing a Southern feel. This building has many important offices, such as the registrar, financial aid and academic advising. The Fondren Library, one of seven libraries on campus, is another building that deserves mention for its attractiveness, and the floor-to-ceiling windows on the fourth floor open up to unmatched views of the Dallas skyline.
Baylor University
Waco, TX
Baylor University in Waco, Texas, may be located in the South, but it looks a lot like a town in Europe, with all the charm to go with it. The Founders Mall is a beautifully landscaped green space stretching away from the majestic federal-style Pat Neff Hall building. Along the stretch of lawn are bushes, trees, and flowers that beautify this area, and hedges that are shaped to form the word BAYLOR, which are both impressive and eye-catching.
The Burleson Quadrangle at the center of campus adjoins the lovely Burleson Building and Old Main, which, as with the other campuses mentioned here, is the oldest building at the university. It dates back to September 19, 1887, meaning the historic building is about to celebrate its 137th birthday. This area of campus looks like something off a postcard of Vienna.
Waco Creek, winding through the Baylor grounds, along with its walkways and bridges, adds yet another element of beauty.