Flickr user myke lyons
Water has a way of luring us in, whether we’re going on a beach vacation or taking relaxing laps in the gym pool. If you want to spend your four college years near the water, and all that it has to offer—from fishing to rowing—taking a closer look at these 10 universities and colleges, each of which offers their own unique water sports and experiences.
USC Columbia – Bass Fishing
The University of South Carolina is located in Columbia, the heart and capital of South Carolina. USC is a beautiful, historically preserved campus with more than 400 student organizations that include intramural sports, clubs, fraternities, and sororities in addition to athletics.
The Anglers are USC’s official competitive bass fishing team and they offer an extra-curricular learning experience in the field of competitive bass fishing. If you grew up enjoying angling, and have are familiar with the sport of bass fishing, this may be a perfect fit for you.
Georgetown University – Sailing
Georgetown University is located in the thriving capital of our country; Washington D.C. Georgetown is a private university and one of the world’s leading academic and research institutions, offering a unique educational experience.
In addition to notable academics, Georgetown is home to an award-winning sailing team with 14 national championships and three-match racing national titles to their name.
Texas A&M – Swimming
Texas A&M was the first public institution of higher learning in Texas and is located in College Station. While Texas A&M is a research-intensive university, they also have more than 1,000 student organizations. Swimming is just one of the many sports at Texas A&M ad the swimming and diving team here is one of the best in the SEC. Members in the past have broken countless swimming records, offering you a chance to be part of collegiate swimming history.
Rutgers University – Rowing
New Brunswick, NJ is home to Rutgers University. Rutgers is the eighth oldest higher education institution in the nation and still stands as a leading national research university. More than 1,000 Rutgers students participate in sports, whether competitive or simply intramural.
The Rutgers Scarlett Knights Rowing team is one of the most competitive in the nation and offers a variety of athletic scholarships if rowing is the way you’d like to enhance your college experience.
Pensacola State College – Charter Fishing
Located in sunny, Pensacola, FL, Pensacola State College has an award-winning faculty who aggressively strive for student success. The college ranks in the top one hundred in the nation for the number of associate degrees awarded and also provides a variety of athletics and student organizations.
It’s also a short drive from Destin, a popular charter-fishing destination. If you’re interested in fishing and want to know what it’s like to reel in an ocean-sized catch, there are many places available that run intro charters for student anglers at all levels.
Montana State University – Kayaking
Bozeman, MT is home to five mountain ranges as well as Montana State University. With more than 225 academic programs and a variety of rivers and rapids surrounding the campus, this college is a kayakers dream. If you’ve paid your activity fee for the semester, you have access to rentals such as kayaks, paddleboards, canoes and more.
Kayak the rapids of the Gallatin and Yellowstone rivers after classes or take advantage of the MSU outdoor recreation program, where you can take whitewater rafting trips.
University of Hawaii at Manoa – Surfing
If you’re a surfer looking to get away from your hometown, then check out the University of Hawaii at Manoa, located just outside of downtown Honolulu. Founded in 1907, UH is the flagship university of Hawaii. Students attend the not only for the amazing surf, but also for its Division I athletics and research opportunities.
University of Alaska Anchorage – Fly Fishing
Surrounded by more than 1,000 acres of forest, UA is perfect for skiing, snowboarding, or fly fishing. You can take two different fishing classes to fulfill the Physical Ed and Recreation requirement, including Fishing Academy and Fly Fishing. Both give you hands-on experience with fishing in the Alaskan wilderness.
University of Utah – Water Polo
Salt Lake City is home to the University of Utah and is the perfect place for those who want to take part in a variety of water recreation opportunities. From snow skiing to climbing and bowling—there’s something for everyone.
For water enthusiasts, the men and women’s water polo team at “The U” are a great opportunity to meet friends and compete in the world of water polo. The women’s team went undefeated last year, winning the Rocky Mountain Division and placing ninth in the nation.
Arizona State University — Wakeboarding
Located in Tempe, AZ, Arizona State University is a public metropolitan research university with five campuses. This past year, ASU ranked number one in the U.S. for innovation. In addition to their stellar research, they also offer numerous competitive and recreational sports teams.
The competitive wakeboard team, known as the Wake Devils, is among the best in the country. The Wake Devils are sponsored by big names including Red Bull and Hyperlite Wakeboards so if you like wakeboarding, this is a school to check out.
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Interested in any of these colleges? Use College Raptor’s free match tool to discover if they’re a good fit for you!
