Between the fast-paced urban campus and the isolated rural campus is another type of campus: Suburban campus.
For many students, these colleges and universities truly offer the best of both worlds. They often have access to major metropolitan areas, plenty of close shopping and dining, and nearby cultural attractions–all without having to fight traffic or leave the car at home.
They also may feel like the perfect setting for a student who is leaving home for the first time, and may well be used to the suburban setting.
Whatever it is that you’re looking for as a student, if a suburban college seems like the right fit, then you may find the right one among these ranks.
The colleges on this list are all schools located in suburban settings, and ranked based on their academic excellence. There are no factors included to rank the “quality” of the suburb.
Here are the 25 best suburban colleges in the U.S.:
25. University of Connecticut
“Campus view – University of Connecticut – DSC09948” by Daderot – Own work. Licensed under CC0 via Commons.
Storrs, CT
Undergraduate Enrollment: 18,032
Learn more about the University of Connecticut
24. Smith College
Source: Flickr user inkyhack.
Northampton, MA
Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,606
Learn more about Smifth College
23. University of Maryland-College Park
“Glenn L. Martin Institute of Technology at UMCP, 2007” by User:Axamir at the English Wikipedia. – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:5t.jpg. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons.
College Park, MD
Undergraduate Enrollment: 26,658
Learn more about the University of Maryland
22. Lafayette College
“Lafayette College Easton PA 43 building” by Tomwsulcer – Own work. Licensed under CC0 via Commons.
Easton, PA
Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,486
Learn more about Lafayette College
21. The College of New Jersey
“The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) 23” by Tomwsulcer – Own work. Licensed under CC0 via Commons.
Ewing, NJ
Undergraduate Enrollment: 6,653
Learn more about The College of New Jersey
20. Bryn Mawr College
“Entrance Bryn Mawr” by Smallbones – Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons.
Bryn Mawr, PA
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,328
Learn more about Bryn Mawr College
19. Villanova University
Source: Flickr user daveaustria.
Villanova, PA
Undergraduate Enrollment: 7,042
Learn more about Villanova University
18. Scripps College
By Lure Photography (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Claremont, CA
Undergraduate Enrollment: 990
Learn more about Scripps College
17. Davidson College
Source: Flickr user melystu.
Davidson, NC
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,788
Learn more about Davidson College
16. Emory University
“Woodruff Library” by Brett Weinstein – http://www.flickr.com/photos/nrbelex/433090606/. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Commons.
Atlanta, GA
Undergraduate Enrollment: 7,836
Learn more about Emory University
15. Harvey Mudd College
By The original uploader was Imagine at English Wikipedia (Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons.) [CC BY 2.5], via Wikimedia Commons
Claremont, CA
Undergraduate Enrollment: 807
Learn more about Harvey Mudd College
14. Soka University of America
By Beyond My Ken (Own work) [GFDL or CC BY-SA 4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Aliso Viejo, CA
Undergraduate Enrollment: 412
Learn more about Soka University of America
13. Tufts University
“Tufts Tisch library entrance” by HereToHelp – Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons.
Medford, MA
Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,180
Learn more about Tufts University
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12. Vassar College
“Thompson Library (Vassar College)” by Noteremote. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons.
Poughkeepsie, NY
Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,477
Learn more about Vassar College
11. Haverford College
Haverford, PA
Undergradaute Enrollment: 1,187
Learn more about Haverford College
10. College of William and Mary
By Pascal Auricht [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Williamsburg, VA
Undergraduate Enrollment: 6,271
Learn more about the College of William and Mary
9. Claremont McKenna College
Source: Flickr user campusgrotto.
Claremont, CA
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,316
Learn more about Claremont McKenna College
8. Wellesley College
“Wellesley College Tower Court” by Jared and Corin – Tower Court. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Commons.
Wellesley, MA
Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,474
Learn more about Wellesley College
7. Washington University in St Louis
St Louis, MO
Undergraduate Enrollment: 7,336
Learn more about Washington University in St Louis
6. University of Notre Dame
“Main Building at the University of Notre Dame” by Matthew Rice – Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Commons.
Notre Dame, IN
Undergraduate Enrollment: 8,477
5. Amherst College
Source: Flickr user David Brooks.
Amherst, MA
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,785
Learn more about Amherst College
4. Swarthmore College
Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Swarthmore, PA
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,534
Learn more about Swarthmore College
3. Pomona College
Source: Flickr user wlcarchitectsphotography.
Claremont, CA
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,610
Learn more about Pomona College
2. Stanford University
Source: Flickr user ahockley.
Stanford, CA
Undergraduate Enrollment: 7,274
1. Princeton University
“Princeton (6035183309)” by popejon2 from Paddington, Australia – PrincetonUploaded by russavia. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Commons.
Princeton, NJ
Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,323
About our methodology
Colleges are ranked based on a combination of factors, including graduation rates, campus diversity, endowment per student, and other data as reported via the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) for the most recently-available enrollment year. Some colleges may have been excluded from rankings based on certain criteria, including specialization and classification. Learn about our full methodology
View all of the 2016 Best Colleges rankings from College Raptor
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