Do you love spending time near the ocean? Want to attend a school with a coastal view? Want to head to the beach during your downtime? Thankfully, there are plenty of beachside colleges in the United States! In this list, we’ve included some beachside colleges that see warm weather year round and others that get a bit chilly, but are still known for their amazing beaches!
There are plenty of states that border the ocean, and plenty of schools that are considered “beachside colleges.” Here are just a few colleges near the beach you’ll want to consider. (We’ve segmented by state)
Beachside Colleges in Florida
ELS Language Center. Source: Eckerd College on Google+
Winter barely touches Florida when it comes to cold temperatures. In the panhandle, February can see average temperatures of 50 degrees F to 64 degrees in the midst of winter. In central Florida, it ranges between 54 degrees to 75 degrees. Miami sees 64 degrees to 75 degrees. Throughout the year, you’ll really only see a couple of weeks of cold or cool weather, making spring and fall ideal for beach visits in the Sunshine State.
And even if you love a college in Central Florida, don’t worry – the beaches are never far away. For example, if you’d like to go to school in Orlando, Tampa on the west coast and Melbourne on the east coast are only an hour or two drive away.
These are a few colleges near the beach in Florida:
- University of South Florida – St. Petersburg
- Daytona State College
- University of Miami
- Eckerd College
- University of Tampa
- Florida Institute of Technology
- University of West Florida
- Keiser University
- Southeastern College
- Florida Gulf Coast University
- The University of West Florida
- Lynn University
- Flagler College
If you’re looking for other things to do in Florida if the weather is ever too cold for the beach, the state is chock full of seafood restaurants, beautiful state and national parks, aquariums, museums and historical sites, zoos, and more. And, of course, the theme parks in Orlando and Tampa aren’t too far away from a majority of the state, though it is a longer drive for those going to school in the panhandle (about 8 hours).
After you wrap up your degree in Florida, you might want to consider staying in the state and looking into the Disney College Program.
California Colleges by the Beach
UCSB campus is a beachside college in California
California also sees very high temperatures during the winter. For example, Los Angeles sees a range of 51 degrees F to 69 degrees. San Francisco is a little bit colder but not by much – with a range of 48 degrees F to 61 degrees on average. Due to the Pacific Ocean currents, however, the water does tend to be a lot colder compared to the ocean in Florida.
For colleges by the beach in California, consider:
- University of California – Santa Barbara
- Loyola Marymount University
- California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo
- University of California – San Diego
- California State University – Long Beach
- San Diego State University
- Pepperdine University
Plus, if you’re ever sick of the beach, the mountains are never far away. In Southern California, you can see a beach and mountains in the same view! The state is home to world famous national and state parks, boardwalks, theme parks, whale watching opportunities, zoos, and more.
Hawaii
Of course, Hawaii has picture perfect weather year-round and it’s an island! You’re never far from the beach. If you love surfing, Hawaii has some of the best beaches for surfing in the world. In fact, CNN named Pipeline, Oahu as their top surf spot choice around the globe.
Sadly, due to Hawaii’s size, they’re limited on college options. You might want to check out one of the University of Hawaii schools, such as the University of Hawaii at Manoa in Honolulu. Another option that should be on your radar is Brigham Young University – Hawaii (Laie).
From snorkeling to shark dives, you’ll never run out of activities to do at the beach. But Hawaii is also home to volcanos, farm tours, gardens, and so much more.
South Carolina and North Carolina
During the colder months in South Carolina and North Carolina on the coasts, you can expect to see temperatures in the mid-50’s in South Carolina and low 40’s to mid 50’s in North Carolina. You may not have many ideal swimming days at the beach in this state, but you’ll still have access to some amazing coasts and watersports. The states are also home to theme parks, national and state parks, and historical sites.
These are just a few beachside schools in South Carolina and North Carolina you might want to look at:
- The Citadel – The Military College of South Carolina
- Coastal Carolina University (Conway)
- University of North Carolina – Wilmington
Rhode Island
There is 400 miles of coastline in the smallest state, Rhode Island, and it’s even known as the Ocean State. Their beaches have been named top destinations. There are also lakes and ponds for kayaking, boating, and more that are never far away.
Two beachside schools you should look into in Rhode Island are the University of Rhode Island and Salve Regina University. The state also offers countless museums, tours, historical sites, and more. In addition, you’re not far away from major cities like New York City and Boston if you’d like to take a day trip out of the state.
And Others
Plenty of states have warmer weather during winter and amazing beachside colleges. You may want to think about
- Texas A&M – Corpus Christie
- Monmouth University (NJ)
- University of New England – Biddeford (ME)
- Endicott College (MA)
- Mary’s College of Maryland
The Benefits of Attending a Beachside College
Of course, when it comes to attending a beachside college, the major benefit is you get to visit the beach on your downtime! A few other benefits of attending one of these schools include:
- The weather tends to be fantastic year round if you opt for a warmer state.
- You’ll likely have access to other fun activities to participate in during your free time, ranging from theme parks to concerts and snorkeling to zoos.
- You can study on the beach.
- You’ll benefit if you’re studying something related to water, such as shipwreck archeology or marine biology.
- You don’t have to travel for spring break.
- They tend to have plenty of delicious food options.
- You get to wear flip-flops almost all year round.
Attending a beachside college can be a great way to make sure you get enough sun even when school work is at its height! Plus, you’ll never be bored as many beachside colleges have other fun activities, including zoos, theme parks, and delicious restaurants. Which will you be applying to?
Not sure which beachside school is best for your goals? Use College Match to uncover some schools you may not have even considered that have coastal views!
