It’s back-to-books time at college campuses across the country, but you don’t have to pass the entrance exams to enjoy an enriching visit to these brainy-but-beautiful institutions. The campuses at the head of the class combine factors like sublime natural settings, historic architecture, world-class cultural centers, and spirited sporting events – enough to justify swapping dorm rooms for hotel rooms!

Our top 10 college campuses to visit include a duo of unmissable Ivy League East Coast classics; sprawling Southern campuses rich with history; a sun-drenched California institution with a stellar location and reputation; an air force academy nestled in the Rockies; and a scenic Michigan university where college football reigns supreme. We’ve also rounded up a trio of metropolitan campuses – embedded in Seattle, New Orleans, and Providence – for city slickers looking to enhance their urban escapes.

Intellectually, culturally, and visually stimulating, these coveted academic addresses certainly make an education feel a lot like a vacation. See our College Campuses to Visit slideshow for a preview of what these winning institutions have to offer. 

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