It’s said that your environment has major effects on your mood and happiness, so when searching for colleges, you should look for schools that will bring you peace, invigorate you, and make you happy. If you love the outdoors and being away from busy city centers, then life by the water may be your best choice for a college location. Below is a list of colleges with beautiful campuses on or near lakes and rivers to give you the best of nature and the best education. You can connect with any schools of interest quickly and easily by clicking the green “Connect me” button below each listing. Start exploring and find a dreamy lacustrine hideaway today!
Bethel University
Bethel University is a private evangelical institution situated on a scenic 247-acre suburban campus in Arden Hills, Minnesota, just minutes from the Twin Cities. Founded in 1871, the University serves approximately 3,600 students and is widely recognized for its robust academic programs in business, nursing, and education. Featuring a student-to-faculty ratio of 14 to 1, Bethel's beautiful campus borders the tranquil waters of Lake Valentine, offering students an inspiring natural setting paired with active campus life and comprehensive career preparation.
Franklin & Marshall College
Franklin & Marshall College is a premier liberal arts institution on a scenic 220-acre campus in historic Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Located near major waterways like the Susquehanna River and Clarke Lake, the College offers over 60 fields of study with a 9-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio. Around 2,000 undergraduate students engage in early research, vibrant residential living through the unique College House system, and active campus life while building strong foundations for future career success.
Grace College
Grace College is a private, Christ-centered liberal arts institution situated on a 180-acre lakeside campus in Winona Lake, Indiana. Located just steps from the vibrant Village at Winona resort town, students enjoy easy access to boating, skiing, and paddleboarding, alongside scenic greenway trails. Grace offers over 100 academic programs with an accelerated three-year bachelor’s degree option, integrating a biblical worldview with experiential learning opportunities and nearby corporate internships in orthopedic capital Warsaw.
Mercy University
Mercy University is a private nonsectarian college with a 66-acre main campus located in Dobbs Ferry, New York—25 miles from New York City—with branch campuses in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Yorktown Heights. Approximately 9,000 students are enrolled in five schools and over 90 degree and certificate programs led by faculty that include Fulbright Scholars, national best-selling authors, and leading experts. The University’s scenic, 66-acre campus is nestled along the Hudson River, just 30 minutes from Manhattan, giving students the best of both a small-town home and access to city life.
Ohio University
Ohio University is a comprehensive public university on a 1,800-acre campus in Athens, Ohio—75 miles southeast of Columbus. Named the best college town in the state, OHIO’s Athens campus—complete with its own golf course—offers a perfect combination of city life, rolling hills, flowing rivers, and a national forest, which provides access to hiking trails, camping locations, and more. The scenic Hocking River flows directly through the heart of campus, offering students picturesque views and a tranquil natural escape. The University also offers more than 250 programs and 500 student organizations to over 15,000 undergraduates.
Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma State University is a premier Carnegie R1 research university located in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Offering 300+ majors and options, OSU empowers students to tackle real-world challenges alongside top-rated faculty. Undergraduates gain valuable hands-on experience early through unique initiatives like the Freshman Research Scholars program. Beyond the classroom, students enjoy an energetic campus life with 400+ student organizations, vibrant outdoor activities at nearby Boomer Lake, and access to dynamic internship opportunities in Oklahoma City and Tulsa.
Saint John’s University
Saint John’s University is a Roman Catholic liberal arts college for men on a 2,500-acre campus in Collegeville, Minnesota—75 miles north of Minneapolis. The campus sits among the woods and by a lake—with hiking trails, a private beach, and paved biking paths—while also offering access to the St. Cloud metropolitan area only an hour away from campus. The University has a close partnership with the College of Saint Benedict, a women’s-only college, to offer more than 37 majors and 40 minors in 60 areas of study to their combined 3,218 undergraduate students.
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University is a private Jesuit, Catholic institution situated on a historic 106-acre campus in Santa Clara, California. Known for its strong programs in Engineering, Business, and the Arts and Sciences, the University provides over 9,000 students with a rigorous academic environment rooted in Jesuit values. Located at the southern tip of the San Francisco Bay, the campus offers proximity to coastal wetlands and major city centers, blending a tranquil atmosphere with access to global innovation hubs.
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University of Vermont
The University of Vermont is a public comprehensive university on a 460-acre campus in Burlington, Vermont—220 miles northwest of Boston, 300 miles north of New York City, and 90 miles south of Montreal, Quebec. Just a mile from Lake Champlain, UVM students can take advantage of a beautiful waterfront park, a 12-mile bike path along the shore, and three beaches with stunning views. The University offers over 100 bachelor’s, 57 master’s, and 26 doctoral programs to 12,790 total students.
Not sure if lake life is your thing? That’s okay! You can explore even more colleges and universities in other beautiful locations with our lists of featured colleges by landscape.
