As the newly minted mom of a high school graduate, I have been privy to the world of college campus visits for the past year or so. While there are, of course, many serious factors that go into choosing a college, I would be lying if I did not admit that part of my daughter’s criteria was “the vibes” of the school. And honestly, I get it. The overall vibe of a school can include everything from the environment created by educators and students to the physical environment, such as landscaping and architecture.
I did not attend a college I thought was particularly beautiful, and when I visited the charming, picturesque campuses of Michigan State University and Notre Dame, I felt a pang of longing for that type of college experience.
Research backs me up—beautiful natural settings reduce stress and improve cognitive abilities. It just makes sense. We can’t all study on the campus of our dreams, but we can still visit them and dream of what may be. And if you do happen to have a high school senior or upcoming grad, you can schedule tours at all of these top-ranked college campuses in Michigan.
1. Michigan State University
Where: East Lansing
Both of my parents attended Michigan State University (MSU), and we recently had the opportunity to visit their old stomping grounds. Not only was it so fun to watch them relive some of their college days (they watched the Olympic torch go through campus in 1984!), but it was a bit awe-inspiring to see how beautiful the 5,200-acre MSU campus is.
I had never been to the campus, and its beauty immediately struck me. The campus has a mix of architectural styles that range from Victorian to Gothic to Romanesque, sweeping building designs, and walking paths and trails that wind through the tree-lined (over 20,000!) campus. The school was founded in 1855, and the history of the college is definitely reflected on the campus.
“The dorms where I stayed, Mary Mayo, were very old with beautiful architecture,” my mom recalls. (Those dorms were redone in 2009, but were named after the first women’s studies founder at MSU.) While you may not get access to the Mayo dorms, you can visit MSU’s campus for an official tour if you have a prospective student or enjoy a self-guided tour around the grounds.
2. Kalamazoo College
Where: Kalamazoo
Unbeknownst to me, in 2017, Travel & Leisure named Kalamazoo College, founded in 1833, one of Michigan’s most beautiful college campuses. The prestigious publication dubbed the campus and surrounding town “picturesque,” noting the grounds are hidden within a larger metropolitan area, giving it the feel of a peaceful oasis. A virtual tour of the campus reveals colonial-esque red-brick buildings tucked among towering trees, a gold dome reminiscent of the famous tower of Notre Dame, and even a wildflower sanctuary.
Kalamazoo College has an acknowledgment statement on its website that the school was built on land owned by the Council of the Three Fires, which included the Ojibwe, the Odawa, and the Potawatomi people. Kalamazoo College itself was constructed on the land of Potawatomi tribe leader Match-e-be-nash-she-wish and his people. Match-e-be-nash-she-wish and his people were among the few Kalamazoo indigenous tribes who evaded forced westward removal, but they were never compensated for their land. The college is one of the 100 oldest educational institutions in the entire country.
3. Aquinas College
Where: Grand Rapids
Many people associate Grand Rapids with Grand Valley State University, but just a hop, skip, and a jump away is Aquinas College, also located in Grand Rapids. The school has a long history and heritage through the Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids, traced back as far as the 1200s in French convents.
Here in the States, the Sisters founded a school that would eventually become Aquinas College in 1910. Many of the original campus buildings were constructed in the early 1900s, and those historic imprints remain, along with a strong sense of the campus’s original purpose and focus on peace and spirituality. The campus spans 100 acres and features beautiful touches like trees, tucked-away walking paths, and hidden babbling brooks and creeks throughout the grounds.
My daughter attends a sports event at Aquinas every summer, and I can personally attest that I’ve spent hours wandering the beautiful grounds and have been delighted by the walking trails (which also feature plenty of lighting at night for safety). The walking trails near the creek and park are my favorite, and because the campus was once a private estate, it truly feels like a hidden oasis.
4. Calvin University
Where: Grand Rapids
The west side of Michigan clearly has something special because Calvin University in Grand Rapids also nabs a spot on our most beautiful college campus list. I have a special place for Calvin University in my heart because it also happens to be where I landed a book deal for the non-fiction book I wrote once upon a time. (Side note: I never even earned my advance back, but it was fun while it lasted.)
The university is a small, private one, but the campus spans 400 acres, and the space feels intentional and nature-focused. I’m not an expert, but I would describe it as a modernist design, with clean lines that blend purposefully into nature. I loved the walking paths, the covered bridge, and the way the buildings seemed to meld into the surrounding trees and landscape. It’s also very Michigan-centric, with a focus on Michigan native plants, nature features, and flowers.
5. University of Michigan
Time and time again, the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor pops up as one of the most stunning examples of a beautiful college campus in Michigan. Conde Nast Traveler named the U of M as one of the 54 most beautiful campuses in the entire country, and Michiganders would have to agree. The campus is iconic, and just looking at pictures of the law buildings and library made me feel smarter.
The law quad and library are similar in design to English universities like Cambridge or Oxford and feature sweeping, vaulted ceilings, stained glass, stone medallions that evoke magic, and even chandeliers. Outside, the campus continues to inspire, with tucked-away trails, Tudor-Gothic architecture, and even a full botanical garden.
6. Hope College
Where: Holland
Hope College in Holland is also nationally ranked as one of the most beautiful college campuses in the entire country. It is especially known for its dedication to being environmentally conscious, peaceful, and, of course, located near the shores of Lake Michigan.
Not only is the campus itself very picturesque, with historic buildings dating back to the 1800s, including a gorgeous chapel that is really more of a cathedral and the college’s original 1857 hall, but the college is located near downtown Holland, which is charming in its own right. And don’t forget the tulip festival held every spring in Holland—it’s one of the most beautiful events in Michigan, and Hope College is close enough to enjoy all the beauty the tulips have to offer.
7. Albion College
Where: Albion
As a high school senior, I had my heart set on attending Albion College—that is, until my mom and I toured it, and I realized that one year of tuition alone was $27,000. That was in 2004, so I am afraid to even check the price now.
Regardless, the 140-acre campus is gorgeous, and even the college website calls it a “beautiful campus,” complete with farmland, forests, trails, and even a full nature center. If you are a horse lover, you’ll be pleased to hear that the campus houses a full equestrian center, where riders can board, care for, and ride their horses as part of the school’s equestrian team. The campus also houses the Prentiss M. Brown Honors Center & Astronomical Observatory, a Michigan Historic Site that takes its beauty to the skies. Overall, Albion’s student population is just over 1,500, making it a small, peaceful, and historic campus environment.
8. Northern Michigan University
Where: Marquette
Let’s be honest: Even the street that Northern Michigan University (NMU) is located on, Presque Isle, is beautiful. The Upper Peninsula school may get a lot of snow in the winter, but the beautiful scenery makes it worthwhile. The campus is unique, just like the U.P., with features like the world’s largest wooden dome, an underground tunnel to get to class in the colder months, and endless spots for students to hang hammocks (no, really, it’s a common sight).
The harboring town of Marquette is also world-renowned for its beauty, and the campus, located right on the shoreline, offers glimpses of the water as well as frequent glimpses of the Northern Lights. Around 7,000 students call NMU home and enjoy the school’s 360-acre campus that offers access to even more “up north” Michigan beauty.
9. Michigan Technological University
Where: Houghton
Speaking of stunning water views, Michigan Technological University is another Michigan campus on the shores of Lake Superior. Originally founded as a mining school in 1885, the school has evolved into a world-renowned technological institution of higher education. Despite being an educational powerhouse, you can see the water from campus, and that is obviously the most important thing.
The school is in a small town, but as part of the Keweenaw Peninsula, nature lovers will appreciate the seclusion and privacy that smaller crowds offer, along with the year-round outdoor activities that abound, from boating and fishing to hiking and snowmobiling. I mean, where else could you find a college with its own ski hill? Houghton is also a charming and historic town, ranked one of the 10 Best Small Towns in America by Architectural Digest.
10. Lake Superior State University
Where: Sault Ste. Marie
Lake Superior State University (LSSU) is historic and unique, offering views of the world’s most active look system (I was today years old to learn this, by the way) and an education in none other than an actual retired military fort. Once the site of Fort Brady, LSSU still utilizes many of the fort’s original buildings, such as the officers’ headquarters, which now houses the Fine Arts department, and the soldier barracks, which now serve as a men’s hall.
In addition to a rich history, LSSU has a walkable campus that provides easy access to the natural beauty of Michigan, whether that means walking or biking on a trail, spending an afternoon by the water, or enjoying the freighters and international views of the Canada-Michigan waterways.
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
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