The 10 colleges ranked here are among the most beautiful campuses in the country. If you're going to earn a bachelor's degree, why not choose one of these beautiful colleges in the southwest? These colleges in the southwest are considered the most beautiful in the American Southwest. The southwestern region of the U.S. includes Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. There are surely more than 10 beautiful Southwestern colleges. It's a region famed for its rugged landscapes. The colleges in the southwest featured in this ranking, however, really stand out. The following schools were chosen and ranked based on the following criteria. These schools hold their own with the most beautiful across the world map. Keep in mind that unlike our other college rankings, this ranking is a great deal more subjective. Any of these schools, though, would be a beautiful place to earn your bachelor's degree.
1 for appearing on the National Register of Historic Places
National awards and honors bestowed by groups or organizations devoted to this subject were awarded points. Any recognition a campus has received played a large part in the inclusion of the ranked schools.
Student Enjoyment (1 point per notable feature):
Most of the features described in this article can be appreciated visually by both students and visitors. However campuses with features that can be physically enjoyed by the school's student body (such as botanical gardens or hiking trails) were awarded additional points.
Number of Notable Features (1 point for each notable feature): Celebrated architecture, campus design, landscaping, natural landscapes. All of these and similar features were awarded points.
Other (1 point each): Historical significance and environmental friendliness, were also awarded points.
In the event of a tie, the higher-ranking campus was chosen by the author based on characteristics such as natural terrain and climate, historical significance, or academic reputation.
Ranking the Best Colleges in the Southwest for Campus Beauty
10. Baylor University
(10 points)
Waco, Texas
The 1,000-acres comprising Baylor University are dotted with beautiful sights both natural and man-made. The centerpiece of the campus is Burleson Quadrangle. Created in 1886, the Quad is hugely popular among students and visitors alike. Sitting in the Quad gives one spectacular views of some of the campus’ most beautiful buildings. The most notable of these is Old Main. Constructed in 1887, Old Main combines Italianate and American Victorian features. Certainly one of the most beautiful colleges in the southwest.
9. University of Arizona
(11 points)
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona is known for its rugged vistas. Something it shares in common with New Mexico. The University of Arizona campus accentuates the mountainous Southwestern landscape. It's one of the most beautiful colleges in the southwest. Many of the campus’ 179 buildings are from the early 20th century. This includes the main library, the Arizona State Museum, and Centennial Hall. The latter of which was designed by prominent Tucson architect Roy Place. Like most of the more modern buildings, these originals have been built using red brick. Giving a decidedly collegiate air to the desert location. The campus is divided into four quadrants. The north and south sides of which are delineated by a massive grassy expanse known as The Mall. A beautiful setting for a bachelor's degree.
8. Texas A&M, Corpus Christi
(12 points)
Corpus Christi, Texas
This Texas A&M campus is known as “The Island University”. It is situated on South Texas’s Oso Island near the Gulf of Mexico. This makes Texas A&M--Corpus Christi perfect for anyone in love with water-based recreation or athletics. Much of the campus is on part of Padre Island. A location well-known for its white-sand beaches and nature preserve. The location offers 223 days of sunshine throughout the year. High wind speeds are very common in the Corpus Christi area. Perfect for anyone who loves wind surfing, sailing, or kite boarding. Popular community activities. The campus’s myriad nearby beaches are also perfect for surfing, swimming, boating, or just hanging out in the sunshine. Most students would agree it's a pretty big upgrade from a swimming pool.
7. University of Houston
(14 points)
Houston, Texas
University of Houston’s 667-acre campus has been impressing students and visitors since its founding in 1927. The campus is full of verdant trees and sculptures. The gem of the campus is the Ezekiel W. Cullen Building, which was completed in 1950 in the Art Deco style. Nearby sits the Cullen Family Plaza. This is a beautiful outdoor space designed by Texas architect Alfred C. Finn. Also worth mentioning is the bronze and copper sculpture AA. Jim Sanborn’s gorgeous sculpture which features fragments of literature in various languages. Appropriately, the sculpture sits adjacent to the impressive M.D. Anderson Library. The urban setting of the University of Houston makes it a great choice for students who plan to earn a bachelor's degree in business administration.
6. Southern Methodist University
(17 points)
Dallas, Texas
Dallas’s Southern Methodist University is 164 acres of suburban tranquility. The campus features Neo-Georgian architecture, spacious lawns, and tree-lined walkways. The campus’s most magnificent building is arguably Dallas Hall. The building was constructed in 1915. The same year the University received its charter. Dallas Hall was designed by Boston-based architects Shepley, Rutan, and Coolidge. It is a beautiful example of historic grand Georgian style and remains one of the school’s most significant landmarks.
5. LeTourneau University
(17 points)
Longview, Texas
LeTourneau University was originally a World War II-era military hospital. The 162-acre campus that makes up the university is full of historical significance. LeTourneau gained official university status in 1989 and has retained many of the original buildings. This includes the Speer Chapel. The picturesque chapel opened in 1943. It still has its original wooden sash windows, gabled roof, and towering steeple. The centerpiece of the campus, the Jeanette S. Belcher Memorial Bell Tower, is much newer. Completed in 1990, the bell tower towers over the lawns and walkways of the pretty main quad area.
4. Howard Payne University
(19 points)
Brownwood, Texas
The 80-acre campus of Howard Payne University is full of vibrant green spaces on which students can study and socialize. The most beautiful building on campus is the Douglas MacArthur Academy of Freedom. The Academy of Freedom was constructed in 1890 and extensively renovated in the 1960s. It looks like something out of a fairy tale. The sandstone building is topped with a spire. It's graced with a shining glass frontage unlike anything else on this list. The building houses a library, classrooms, and some faculty offices.
3. Houston Baptist College
(21 points)
Houston, Texas
Houston Baptist College is of the most picturesque college campuses in Texas. Houston Baptist offers students and visitors a peaceful escape from the busy city. Tree-lined walking paths, shady copses, peaceful fountains and gardens, and multiple greens. All these and more provide students with plenty of options for studying or socializing. Academic buildings on campus are a fine mix of traditional and modern. This includes the popular Dunham Bible Museum. The museum houses one of the world’s largest collections of rare bibles. Houston Baptist College is a Christian university and a great place to earn a bachelor's degree if your religious beliefs align with the school's.
2. Arizona State University
(22 points)
Tempe, Arizona
Arizona State University’s main Tempe campus is a beautiful location. The campus is a pedestrian’s paradise. The school's campus is approximately 640 acres in size. It features myriad walkways and grassy areas, surrounded by an impressive arboretum. Though the University has multiple campuses, Tempe is its original. Old Main, the inaugural building, still stands today as the focal point. Other iconic buildings include the Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium. This was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The Palm Walk, which is lined with over 100 palm trees. And don't miss University Bridge, the Margaret Gisolo Dance Theatre, and the University Club Building. The campus also has an extensive collection of public art displays. The public art at ASU has been called one of the 10 best of its kind by Public Art Review.
1. Rice University
(24 points)
Houston, Texas
Rice University has long prided itself on being an environmentally responsible campus. And it hasn’t sacrificed any of its beauty to achieve that. Located in downtown Houston’s Museum District, the campus provides plenty of green space for students. Two of the newer residential dorms, McMurtry College and Duncan College, are LEED Gold certified. Duncan Hall, the Math and Science Center, is high tech and one of the most popular buildings on campus. The Rice campus is proof you don't have to sacrifice beauty for environmental friendliness. Nearly every building on campus was designed in the Byzantine style. Beige brick buildings, large archways, and colonnade walkways. In addition to the beautiful setting, Rice is also one of the top colleges in the southwest.
