Top 10 Most Beautiful Campuses

Sweet Briar College (SBC), a private liberal arts institution located in Virginia, has garnered significant recognition for both its stunning campus and exceptional academic and career services. In the Princeton Review's annual college guidebook for 2008, SBC was ranked No. 1 among the most beautiful college campuses in the United States, a testament to the college's picturesque setting and commitment to creating an inspiring learning environment. However, the college's strengths extend beyond its natural beauty, as it was also ranked highly in several key categories that highlight the quality of its academic programs and student support services.

SBC was ranked 5th for "Best Career/Job Placement Services," reflecting the college’s effective and personalized approach to helping students transition from academia to the workforce. This ranking underscores the institution's dedication to equipping its graduates with the tools and resources needed for professional success. The college also received high marks in faculty engagement, with rankings of 8th for "Professors Make Themselves Available" and 10th for "Professors Get High Marks." These rankings reflect Sweet Briar's commitment to fostering close relationships between professors and students, ensuring that faculty are accessible, supportive, and deeply invested in the academic success of their students.

Together, these accolades reflect Sweet Briar College's exceptional blend of beauty, academic excellence, and student support, making it a standout institution for students seeking both a nurturing environment and the tools for success.


Princeton University is known to have a very beautiful campus in the town.

Princeton University, one of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning in the United States, is also renowned for the beauty of its campus, which has long been admired for its stunning architecture and picturesque surroundings. In the 2008 edition of The Princeton Review’s Best 366 Colleges, a survey conducted among 120,000 college students, Princeton earned a place among the top contenders for having one of the most beautiful campuses in the country. Known for its iconic Gothic architecture, expansive green spaces, and tranquil, wooded areas, Princeton's campus is a perfect blend of natural beauty and academic grandeur.

Princeton University ranked second in the survey, following Sweet Briar College, which claimed the top spot for its exceptional beauty. The Princeton Review’s survey highlighted the importance of campus aesthetics to students, and the rankings reflect the diverse range of campuses that students find particularly inspiring and visually appealing.

Here is the list of the Top 10 Most Beautiful Campuses in the U.S. as ranked by The Princeton Review:

1. Sweet Briar College (Sweet Briar, Virginia)
2. Princeton University (Princeton, New Jersey)
3. Pepperdine University (Malibu, California)
4. Wellesley College (Wellesley, Massachusetts)
5. Mount Holyoke College (South Hadley, Massachusetts)
6. Wagner College (Staten Island, New York)
7. Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles, California)
8. University of California-Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz, California)
9. Elon University (Elon, North Carolina)
10. Sewanee: The University of the South (Sewanee, Tennessee)

These institutions, including Princeton University, offer students not only a strong academic environment but also a campus experience that fosters inspiration and engagement through their natural beauty. From the serene landscapes of Sweet Briar College to the coastal views of Pepperdine University, these campuses stand out as exceptional settings for higher education.