Most/Least beautiful campuses

[Davidabb84]

Every time a discussion about why a child chooses a college comes up, campus landscaping, architecture, and surroundings always comes up. So what colleges have you seen that had very beautiful or very unappealing campuses.

My contribution for pretty campuses is Coastal Carolina University. I was there for just a couple of hours Monday to visit a friend on my way to camping on Murrell's Inlet, but in that brief time I was absolutely blown away by what I saw. The architecture and, in particular, in the landscaping. I especially loved the lake in the middle of campus.

For not so pretty campuses, I contribute Wayne State. I know alums will be quick to disagree. But the fact that towers outnumber actual "collegiate" looking buildings, the lack of green space, the freeways running around and through campus, and the surrounding blight of Detroit, are all pretty difficult to overlook. Some people prefer the urban campus environment, but for me Wayne State is an example of why I do not.

How about everyone else, thoughts?

[icedragon]

I personally think my school is pretty in general, but alas it is only.....50 or so years old?

I do however adore some of the older schools over in Europe. The architecture alone is enough for me.

[intparent]

Kenyon and Wellesley are both very beautiful, IMHO. Kenyon definitely knows how to use it with those great autumn photos they use on a lot of their mailings.

[jaylynn]

I'm a little worried BECAUSE my D seemed to choose her school based on the beauty of the campus-- but, so be it. University of San Diego-- sun-drenched, unified architecture for the buildlings, gorgeous student center-- and Mission Bay visible from the campus and five minutes away to beaches.

Least-- and it was a shame, because it is in many ways very similar to the school D chose except for the campus beauty and the people were terrific-- Gonzaga.

[icedragon]

Isn't that in washington or am i thinking of a different school?

[DrGoogle]

My daughter likes Dartmouth and Tufts campuses but not the location of Dartmouth.

[mathmom]

I think the original buildings and landscaping of Caltech are among the most beautiful in the world. Too bad they ruined it with a very ugly 1960s tower library right on axis with it.

I was also really impressed with Chicago - I'm a total sucker for collegiate Gothic and it's done very well there. It was just gorgeous in April.

George Washington is probably my candidate for ugliest, lots of concrete plazas - it looks exactly like all the medium rise lobbyist filled buildings its surrounded by.

[notrichenough]

Ugliest - RIT. Campus is in the middle of a giant field with absolutely nothing around it, and every building is built with the same ugly brown brick.

Prettiest - I really liked Cornell.

[thumper1]

Santa Clara University is gorgeous...beautiful mission style buildings and impeccable gardens and grounds. Gorgeous climate too.

U of North Texas...wins my vote for the ugliest OUTSIDES to the buildings...very drab. I will say, the insides had great facilities...but the outside campus...bleh.

[jaylynn]

icedragon-- yes, Gonzaga is in Spokane. Which is... a city. Ha.

thumper--- we loved Santa Clara til we saw Univ of San Diego. The gardens were gorgeous, though.

[Syoung2]

I second Kenyon. Absolutely gorgeous. IMO, the standard against which liberal arts schools should be visually compared to.

[parent56]

loved Indiana and Sewanee!

[Youdon'tsay]

Prettiest: Carleton, with its huge arboretum.

Ugliest: UT-Dallas

[thumper1]

Funny jaylynn, our kid liked U of
San Diego until she saw Santa Clara! Both campuses are very nice.

Oh. I forgot Pepperdine every building has breathtaking views of the Pacific ocean. Really pretty.

[QuietThinker]

Has anyone been to University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa? I have not been there. Just wondering it compares campus beauty-wise.