15 Beautiful College Campuses

America's most scenic colleges and universities can be destinations in their own right. Here are some of our favorites.

Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana

The arched Sample Gates, made of Indiana limestone, flank the entrance to the Old Crescent part of the IU campus.

Many of the landmark structures on campus, including the red-roofed Student Building, were constructed between 1884 and 1908.

University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia

The only campus in the country that’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the university was founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson.

He designed the landmark rotunda shown here; guided tours of the building are offered daily.

Brooklyn College, New York

The layout of the red-brick Georgian-style buildings on this campus was inspired by Thomas Jefferson's design for the University of Virginia. Built during the Great Depression, the college is currently undergoing a major capital improvement project that will add another large quadrangle.

Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles

The largest Catholic university on the West Coast, LMU is ideally situated on a bluff overlooking West L.A., giving students access to beaches and the Southern California lifestyle.

Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey

Located between New York City and Philadelphia, this scenic campus is notable for its speaker series; recent lecturers have included Jon Stewart and Colin Powell.

Elon University, Elon, North Carolina

Elon is nestled in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, between the mountains and the beach.

This photo shows the historic heart of the campus, which includes Alamance Hall and Fonville Fountain.

Pepperdine University, Malibu, California

The 830-acre hilltop campus of this Christian school offers spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean.

Rhodes College, Memphis, Tennessee

The striking stone-walled Paul J. Barret Jr. Library is the centerpiece of the 100-acre Rhodes campus,

a wooded oasis in a bustling Southern city.

University of Washington, Seattle

Each spring the university's main campus erupts with cherry blossoms that fall like snow on the green lawn below.

The campus also features a lakeside football stadium that’s accessible by boat.

Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut

The Gothic spires of Harkness Tower soar over this historic Ivy League campus.

Fans of "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" may recognize some of the buildings on campus,

which were the backdrops to a chase scene in the movie.

Wellesley College, Wellesley, Massachusetts

Just west of Boston, the 500-acre campus of this liberal arts college is worth a side trip to see Lake Waban, its open meadows, woodlands and botanical gardens.

Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee

Located less than two miles from downtown Nashville, this verdant campus was designated a botanical garden in 1988 and has a parklike feel. One tree — the Bicentennial Oak — was alive during the American Revolution.

Wagner College, Staten Island, New York

A free ride on the Staten Island ferry from Manhattan leads to the ivy-covered buildings on Wagner's hilltop campus.

Views of the Atlantic and New York Harbor and access to New York City make this a college worth visiting, even if you're not a student.

Stanford University, Stanford, California

The sandstone arches of the inner quad at Stanford are among the oldest buildings on this 8,000-plus acre campus.

Located an hour’s drive from San Francisco, Stanford was designed by legendary landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted.

Flagler College, St. Augustine, Florida

Flagler’s proximity to 40 miles of sandy beaches is one of the perks of attending this sun-drenched college.

On campus, the historic Ponce de Leon Hall, once a luxurious hotel, was decorated by Louis Comfort Tiffany.