When you think of the perfect university, you imagine a vast campus on a wide stretch of land with the well-maintained trees and the perfectly manicured lawns. Add a few buildings of amazing style and architecture and you have the ultimate venue to enjoy your college years – which many will say are the best years of one’s life.

Based on these characteristics, Scripps College in Claremont, California is definitely one which comes close to being a perfect university. Scripps College has been repeatedly recognized as one of the most beautiful campuses in the country. One of its most stunning spots would have to be the Margaret Fowler Memorial Garden. A small serene fountain is surrounded by four olive trees from the home of the lady whom the garden was named after. This area is so enchanting and beautiful that, according to the website of the university, weddings have been held in this area. But don’t be fooled into thinking that all the sights and sounds in Scripps College are proper and without a hint of modernity, this school actually has a graffiti wall! The fact that this graffiti wall is nestled beside a rose garden makes the contrast greater and unique. I love how universities have embraced modern forms of art like graffiti in their own ways.

Another picturesque university which offers the same greenery and impressive architecture would have to be Sweet Briar College. Unfortunately for men, women are the only ones allowed to enjoy this quaint college in Sweet Briar, Virginia. With its vast property, the school has an excellent equestrian center which will no doubt please all the horse lovers who have been looking for a school which accommodates this sport. Sweet Briar College buildings were designed by the great Ralph Adams Cram, so expect nothing but well-designed buildings in the campus. This beautiful campus has the greenery, the equestrian center and the impressive buildings designed by a world-famous architect. Thus, it definitely deserves its mention on the list of the most beautiful campuses in the U.S.

Another university which also shows up regularly on lists of most beautiful campuses would have to be Wellesley College. Like Sweet Briar College, Wellesley is a women’s college. This university has a very rich history and is nestled in the Massachusetts area which is known for its long list of top notch schools. The campus of Wellesley is very picturesque, like it came straight out of a book. Wellesley has always been known for being highly selective of its students, and this high standard of quality extends to their campus. The school’s website states that its founder, Henry Fowle Durant, has been quoted to have been said that he believed that young women should be educated in the midst of beauty. The school has been successful in keeping true to this, as the campus has remained picturesque with its serene private lake, lush meadows and rows of healthy pine trees. Those who have had, or having the privilege to study at such a perfect campus with such high academic standards are indeed very fortunate.