6 California colleges ranked among ‘most beautiful’ campuses in US. Which ones made the list?
California is home to some of the most beautiful college campuses in the nation, according to Condé Nast Traveler.
The travel publication recently went in search of “America’s most magnificent architectural masterpieces,” searching out scenic universities from Alabama to Washington state.
“At these most beautiful college campuses in the United States, the scenery enhances the fruitful pursuit of learning,” Kat Chen, Timothy Latterner and Jessica Cherner wrote in a Feb. 18 article titled “54 Most Beautiful College Campuses in the United States.”
“Between historic sites as old as the country itself and modern, state-of-the-art buildings, these institutions offer far more than a place to hit the books,” they wrote. “Many of them — especially those brought to life from the blueprints of famous architects — were created to inspire.”
Condé Nast Traveler identified a total of six California colleges as worthy of praise.
Here’s which ones made the list:
California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology, also known as Caltech, stretches across 124 acres in the Pasadena area, according to the university’s website. It was founded in 1891.
Architect Bertram Goodhue designed the master plan for the campus in 1917, including a design for the physics building known as Dabney Hall, according to a 2020 article in Pasadena magazine.
Other architects have brought additional life to the campus, highlighting its famous Spanish Mission-style architecture, modern structures and lush trees.
College of the Desert
Founded in 1958 in Palm Desert, College of the Desert was designed by architect John Carl Warnecke to highlight the beauty of the local landscape, according to the school’s website.
“No, old stonework and buildings coated with ivy will not be found here,” Condé Nast Traveler wrote.
Instead, the college features “meticulously crafted palm trees, mid-century styled buildings, and expansive views of the Coachella Valley, Joshua Tree (National Park) and Mount San Jacinto State Park,” the publication said, describing it as “one of the most beautiful college campuses.”
Stanford University
Stanford University boasts one of California’s largest college campuses, with 8,180 acres of land, 49 miles of roads, two separate water systems and three dams.
Buildings on the Palo Alto campus reflect the Spanish Colonial style with classic red tile roofs and sandstone walls, while a total of 26,000 trees dot the grounds.
In keeping with its Silicon Valley setting, Stanford University relies on renewable energy to promote a “culture of conservation and innovation,” the school said.
UCLA
Condé Nast Traveler described UCLA as a “Bel Air oasis, the kind that makes you forget the Los Angeles traffic you sat in to get there.”
“Home to the enchanting Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden and adorned with palm trees, UCLA’s suburban setting teems with wildlife, from coyotes to bees and birds,” the International Business Times wrote in 2024.
Other highlights include the Romanesque Revival-style Powell Library and Royce Hall and the Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden, which has 70 works on display.
University of San Diego
Just a “short drive from the beach” in San Diego’s Linda Vista neighborhood, the University of San Diego pairs Plateresque buildings with expansive green lawns, Condé Nast Traveler said.
“Spanish design influences in everything from architecture to landscaping — all with the California-cool attitude that draws students and locals alike to San Diego in the first place,” the publication said.
University of Southern California
“With classic red-brick buildings, weeping willows and students sprawled out on grassy knolls year-round, the University of Southern California feels like everything the movies told you college would be,” Condé Nast Traveler said.
The campus, located minutes away from downtown Los Angeles, has been used as the backdrop for several movies and TV shows, including “The Graduate,” “Legally Blonde” and “How To Get Away With Murder,” according to USC Today and Trojans360.
The architecture on display ranges from American Foursquare and Art Deco to Italian Romanesque Revival.
Popular spots include Doheny Library and the courtyard of the Cinema School.
This story was originally published March 25, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "6 California colleges ranked among ‘most beautiful’ campuses in US. Which ones made the list?."
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said that the University of San Diego is in La Jolla. The Southern California university is in San Diego’s Linda Vista neighborhood. The error has been corrected.
