Rural or small town college campuses can be peaceful, but there’s something alluring about a big city. Students are drawn to urban campuses for their abundance of cultural and professional opportunities, all-encompassing amenities, and the promise of fun.
Here are 15 best urban colleges in big cities which we think live up to these expectations.
US Ranking Urban College Campuses
1. University of Minnesota
Ben Franske via Wikimedia Commons
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Population: 400,070
Located in Minneapolis’ quirky Dinkytown and connected to the rest of the Twin Cities by light rail, U of M students have access to one of the liveliest metropolitan areas in the country. The Twin Cities’ various neighborhoods all have their own personalities and their own offerings to explore, so there’s always something new to discover. Add that to the huge list of local parks, museums, the Mall of America, and coffee shops ideal for weekends spent studying.
2. University of Washington
sea turtle via flickr
Seattle, Washington
Population: 652,405
Just across the bridge from downtown, UW students have access to everything Seattle has to offer–from awesome coffee, to a lively music scene, to internships at five Fortune 500 companies headquartered in the city. Seattle is the perfect place for a university whose mission is to foster a diverse and globally connected community.
3. Boston University
Brain Chang-Yun Hsu via Wikimedia Commons
Boston, Massachusetts
Population: 645,966
Boston is beloved by sports fans, students, and artists alike. Around 60 colleges call the Boston area home, making for a bustling nightlife and music scene. Full of history and culture, there’s always something new to discover in Boston.
4. University of Denver
CW211 via Wikimedia Commons
Denver, Colorado
Population: 649,495
UDenver students receive free light rail passes, and downtown is just a 10 minute trip from campus. Denver’s 1.25 mile pedestrian mall offers tons of shopping and dining options, and there’s nearly always an arts or culture event taking place around town. An extremely active city, Denver’s great for people who like to watch and participate in sports alike.
5. George Washington University
AgnosticPreachersKid via Wikimedia Commons
Washington, District of Columbia
Population: 658,893
GWU is located in Foggy Bottom, a neighborhood known as the headquarters of the Department of State. Not only do students have access to tons of shopping and dining, but the University’s vicinity to US government agencies gives students unprecedented access to once-in-a-lifetime internship opportunities.
6. University of Pittsburgh
Cam Miller via flickr
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Population: 305,841
Located in Pittsburgh’s Oakland District, Pitt finds itself in the 3rd largest “downtown” area in Pennsylvania, surrounded by museums, parks, restaurants, and shops. The area around campus has a notably high concentration of students, making for an almost college town-like feel. The various neighborhoods in Pittsburgh contribute their own personalities to the city, and are well-connected by bus.
7. Tulane University
Tulane PR via flickr
New Orleans, Louisiana
Population: 378,715
Tulane is just a 4 mile streetcar ride from the French Quarter. A city rich in history and culture, New Orleans has nearly endless opportunities for fun, service, and discovery. Tulane students embrace a “work hard, play hard” philosophy, and when they’re not enjoying Cajun cuisine or a day at “The Fly”, they’re studying in one of NOLA’s numerous coffee shops. Also Mardi Gras. Enough said.
8. University of Texas at Austin
JR1038 via Wikimedia Commons
Austin, Texas
Population: 885,400
Austin is known as a lively and innovative city with a unique atmosphere. When students aren’t studying at one of UT Austin’s beautiful libraries, they’re enjoying the area’s numerous natural swimming holes or shopping the quirky 2nd Street District. Not to mention Austin’s notorious music and arts scene, which culminates each March in the South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival.
9. University of Pennsylvania
Bryan Y.W. Shin via flickr
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Population: 1,553,000
From history, to great food, to a vibrant arts scene, Philadelphia offers tons of culture for UPenn students to enjoy. The campus is large and isolated enough that it’s not swallowed up by the city, so a quiet afternoon studying is 100 percent doable, but a trip to Center City for its awesome local restaurants and shopping are just a short bus ride away. Not to mention Philly’s great museums and historic atmosphere.
10. Rice University
Biju0908 via Wikimedia Commons
Houston, Texas
Population: 2,196,000
Rice is located Southwest of downtown Houston, right across from one the city’s most popular parks. The neighborhood surrounding Rice is home to 18 museums of all sorts and miles of walking trails. Students interested in medicine can get firsthand experience volunteering at the world’s largest medical center right across from campus. Houston is also home to 24 Fortune 500 companies and some of the best barbecue in the country.
11. Washington University in St. Louis
Bachrach41 via Wikimedia Commons
St. Louis, Missouri
Population: 318,416
Located in a relatively quiet suburb west of Downtown, Washington University students have access to all the amenities of a big city while enjoying the easy-going attitude of the Midwest. Forest Park, directly across from campus, features a 10k bike trail, gondola boats on the lake, and several museums. Students can shop, dine, or catch a movie just north of campus in the Delmar Loop.
12. University of San Francisco
Sean G via Flickr
San Francisco, California
Population: 837,442
USF is located on the edges of San Francisco, where students can enjoy the relative quiet of campus or easily take a short trip into town. San Francisco is well-known for its unique and accepting atmosphere, as well as its breathtaking scenery and location. Students can take advantage of all the city has to offer, including the Mission District, stunning parks, beaches, and festivals.
13. Reed College
Kkmd via Wikimedia Commons
Portland, Oregon
Population: 609,456
Reed College may be located on the edge of the city, but that doesn’t stop Reed students from enjoying Portland’s characteristic uniqueness. The area features numerous parks, including Mt. Tabor, a cinder cone volcano, and countless cultural events and concerts. Restaurants in Portland are famous for perfecting brunch, and you’re never too far from a farmer’s market.
14. Columbia University
InSapphoWeTrust via Wikimedia Commons
New York City, New York
Population: 8,406,000
Columbia is located on the Hudson River in Morningside Heights, just a few blocks from Central Park. As the largest city in the US, New York has endless opportunities for students with diverse interests. The city is well-connected by public transportation which makes it easy for students to explore various neighborhoods.
15. Vanderbilt University
Dansan4444 via Wikimedia Commons
Nashville, Tennessee
Population: 609,644
Tucked away in the Southwest portion of Nashville, Vanderbilt is far enough from downtown to maintain its academic campus, but close enough for students to enjoy the city’s bustling nightlife when it’s time to unwind. Though it’s known specifically for country music, Nashville is home to artists from many other genres as well. There’s always a concert going on somewhere, and many are free and open to the public.
Interested in any of these schools? Use College Raptor’s free match tool to see if they’re a good fit for you!
Nice to have the University of San Francisco listed…but not to have Fordham University on the list with it’s bucolic campus in the Bronx is a shame. Columbia, is no where near Fordham in beauty.