Most Beautiful College Campuses Out West
Head out west to explore some of the most stunning schools on the West Coast.
The western part of the U.S., from Colorado to California and from Hawaii to the Pacific Northwest, is known for many things: mountains, the Pacific Ocean, sun, palm trees and waves. Whether true or not, its people have a reputation for being laidback, healthy eaters, environmentally conscious nature-lovers, surfers and hikers. Maybe skiers. They love music and the arts, care about sustainability, spend a lot of time outdoors and probably drink oat milk and eat nut cheese. They most likely spend at least some of their spare time in a brewery and might even have a home brewing kit.
Suppose you add most of those elements together. In that case, mix in a taste of everything else this part of the country has going for it, throw in a good old-fashioned desire to learn and put it in a university setting, and you’ll end up with colleges and universities in the western region and the students who love them. Here’s a look at the top six most beautiful of those campuses.
In This Article
Pepperdine University
Malibu, California
Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, has scenery galore — the Santa Monica Mountains, Malibu Canyon, the Pacific Ocean. The university is located near Los Angeles and Santa Monica with all the conveniences and entertainment options that that provides. A Christian University, Pepperdine also offers a charming chapel with beautiful stained-glass windows. And if students want even more than everything that the attractive campus offers — including the California-style patios of Joslyn Plaza — they can enjoy the miles of coastline and sandy beaches just steps away. Even the primary dining hall, aptly named Waves Cafe, offers panoramic views of the ocean from its large windows and expansive porch area. The palm tree-lined Eddy D. Field Baseball Stadium likewise overlooks the ocean, and the beautiful Alumni Park is oceanside as well, with green grass and trees and the water stretching beyond.
University of Colorado – Boulder
Boulder, CO
The University of Colorado Boulder is another college that’s located in the midst of the mountains, and this scenic background is just one of the reasons that the CU-Boulder campus is so beautiful. A great place to admire the mountains is from the Center for Academic Success and Engagement, a sparkly new building with modern charm, all the amenities and a fourth-floor terrace where you can take in the impressive views of the Flatirons. In addition, it’s a tradition at the college to hike these picturesque rock formations. Or how about enjoying those mountain views while playing some tennis on the rooftop tennis courts of the Rec Center?
The architecture on the campus has a Spanish or Mediterranean flair, mixed in amidst all the green spaces and pathways, along with a cute little pond. The photo-worthy Farrand Field is rumored to be the second most Instagrammed place in Colorado. Fun fact off the topic of how beautiful the campus is: One of CU’s dining halls was named after the only convicted cannibal in the state of Colorado.
The University of Hawaiʻi-Mānoa
Honolulu, HI
The University of Hawaiʻi-Mānoa is a tropical paradise in Honolulu, on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. On or right near the campus, there are palm trees, bright blue waters, deep green tropical vegetation, colorful flowers, waterfalls and attractive buildings. The McCartney Mall is a long, tree-lined walkway cutting through the center of campus and is the route to many of the university’s classrooms. Painted murals on some of the walls decorate the campus and give it color and an artistic touch — and there’s plenty more art to be seen at the John Young Museum of Art. For some downtime outdoors, get a little Zen in the beautiful Japanese tea garden. UH Manoa has all the beauty of the islands with the education to match. Students swear that they can balance beach time while still keeping up on their studies.
University of Nevada – Reno
Reno, NV
Having just celebrated its 149th birthday on October 12, 2023, the University of Nevada, Reno, is the first and oldest institute of higher learning in the state of Nevada. This college is an absolute haven for outdoors lovers. One of its biggest claims to fame is its close proximity to the dazzling Lake Tahoe, just steps away from campus. Tahoe, the “Jewel of the Sierra,” and its surrounding area offer crystal clear waters, mountains, hills, bike paths, hiking trails, beaches, towering pine trees…
Back on campus, the beautiful 290-acre UNR grounds provide plenty of green lawns for running or reading, Frisbee or friends, and Manzanita Lake is right on-site. The Reno area boasts 22 days of sun per month, but luckily, there’s also plenty of shade beneath the canopy of trees arching over the campus walkways.
If trees bring you joy, you’ll be happy to know that the entire campus is actually a Nevada state arboretum. But if you’re more of an urban soul, don’t worry; you’re not barking up the wrong tree at UNR. The city of Reno has all the perks of city life you need.
Lewis & Clark College
Portland, OR
Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, describes itself as a college that’s in both the woods and the city. It also has the mountains — Mt. Hood, to be exact. The campus really does look like something out of a travel brochure for the Pacific Northwest: water trickling down rocks, pink flowers growing beside stone walls, stone steps leading down to a reflecting pool, green lawns, white cherry blossoms on the trees, fountain statues, gardens… There are trails to hike, hills to climb, waters to swim in. The campus connects with 658 acres of Tryon State Park, which offers 10 miles of trails. Walk across the covered bridge straddling the Ravine, a wood-covered valley right in the middle of campus. Flanagan Chapel is pretty and also unique — it’s home to the only circular pipe organ in the world. And, of course, nearby Portland — just 15 minutes from the Lewis & Clark campus- has plenty to offer, from food to fun. The city is constantly making the ranks of best places to live and most popular travel destinations.
University of Washington
Seattle, WA
Way up north in Seattle sits the University of Washington. Its gorgeous campus is sprinkled with Gothic architecture, including the Suzzallo Library, which looks like someone took an ancient cathedral and filled it with books. Interspersed between the old historic buildings are flagstone walkways, cherry trees, the green lawns of the Quad, the Blocked Out art installation, the Sylvan Grove columns and the Red Square’s brick plaza. The magnificent Drumheller Fountain sits in an area of campus known as Rainier Vista, featuring trees and roses and the backdrop of Mount Rainier far behind. The lovely fountain, which seems like it belongs in a park in Europe, holds a million gallons of water — enough to fill two Olympic-sized swimming pools. It’s frequented not only by students but also by a regular population of ducks. Like the other campuses on this list, UW also offers plenty of nature, including 10,000 trees and Lake Washington. And beyond that, what better city for the great outdoors, entertainment, food and endless activities than Seattle? UW has it all.