An Illinois university (and 1 in St. Louis) named to beautiful college campuses in US list
A university in Illinois, as well as two in Missouri, are among the 54 Most Beautiful College Campuses in the United States, according to a Feb. 18 article from lifestyle magazine Condé Nast Traveler.
The list of the 54 most beautiful campuses is organized alphabetically as opposed to a numerical ranking. A private university in the Chicago area made the cut, along with an institution in St. Louis and one in central Missouri.
While no metro-east colleges made the list, Southern Illinois University Carbondale and SIU Edwardsville made the top 20 in a “Best Colleges in Illinois” ranking from Niche, a site offering data on schools and colleges.
Illinois has a slightly higher rate of residents with bachelor’s degrees than the U.S. average, but the proportion is still a minority at 37.2%.
Four-year bachelor’s degree programs could become more accessible, however, as state lawmakers consider legislation that would allow community colleges to offer four-year degrees. Community college enrollment is up across the state, with an 8.9% spike from spring 2024 to spring 2025, Capitol News Illinois reports.
Students matriculating into higher education this year may face some uncertainty regarding the process of obtaining federal financial aid, as President Donald Trump recently signed an order aiming to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education. Pell grants and student loans are expected to be administered by a much smaller version of the department, which is experiencing widespread staff cuts.
Here’s what to know about Illinois’ and Missouri’s beautiful college campuses recognized by Condé Nast Traveler.
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is located in Evanston, a suburb of Chicago. The private research institution is tied for sixth place in the U.S. News and World Report’s National Universities ranking and is known for its programs in engineering, economics and psychology.
The school’s acceptance rate is just 7%, according to U.S. News and World Report, and undergraduate enrollment is 8,846. Tuition and fees are $68,322 per academic year.
“Just off the coast of Lake Michigan, Northwestern’s 240-acre campus appeals to students, who take advantage of the chance to yacht or kayak along the waterfront in summer, and cozy up in lounges through frosty nights in the winter,” the Condé Nast Traveler list said. “Settled in the pretty town of Evanston, just a short ride from Chicago, the school also incorporates some of Chicago’s impressive architectural feats, with halls designed in Victorian Gothic styles and just enough ivy growing up the sides of each of them.”
Northwestern University officials were not immediately available for comment.
University of Missouri-Columbia
The University of Missouri-Columbia, popularly known as Mizzou, is about a 2-hour drive from the St. Louis area. Mizzou was founded in 1839, and some of its most notable fields of study are in nursing and economics.
“Mizzou, the first public university west of the Mississippi, is most widely known for its powerhouse athletics program and expansive academic options. But the main campus is also, in its entirety, a designated botanic garden,” the Condé Nast Traveler list said. “There’s a lot to take in: Neoclassic and Neo Gothic buildings (some of which are listed in the National Register of Historic Places), ornate facades and columns, a butterfly garden, and numerous pedestrian and bicycle paths. The six stone columns at the center of the quad are still standing as relics of the former portico of Academic Hall.”
Mizzou has a 77% acceptance rate, according to U.S. News and World Report, and has 23,629 undergraduate students enrolled. Yearly tuition and fees are $14,830 to $18,610 for Missouri residents and $36,040 to $39,820 for out-of-state residents.
“The University of Missouri is honored to have its iconic, historical architecture and campuswide botanic garden recognized among the most beautiful college campuses in the United States. We take great pride in our groundskeepers and facilities staff who work tirelessly to foster a brilliant and beautiful environment where students, faculty and staff can participate in our missions of teaching and learning, research, engagement and economic development,” Mizzou spokesperson Travis Zimpfer wrote in a March 19 email to the News-Democrat.
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis was recognized for its main campus, Danforth, near Forest Park. WashU was founded in 1853, and the institution tied for 21st place in the U.S. News and World Report’s National Universities ranking.
“Walking through Washington University in St. Louis’ main campus, otherwise known as Danforth, is like a stroll through a small European town. Most of the buildings, including Green Hall, are Gothic-inspired structures clad in pale bricks. Plus, several of them are listed on the National Register of Historic Places,” the Condé Nast Traveler list said. “The new campus, Danforth, was carefully planned by the prestigious landscape architecture firm Olmsted, Olmsted & Eliot (the same group behind Atlanta’s Piedmont Park), who took over nearly 200 acres west of the original campus.”
WashU has a 12% acceptance rate, according to U.S. News and World Report, with an undergraduate enrollment of 8,267. Yearly tuition and fees total $65,790.
“We are incredibly proud of our campus’ distinctive architecture and natural environment. The WashU Danforth Campus, home to 6,500 trees representing 750 species, is one of only a dozen ArbNet Level III Arboretums on a U.S. college campus. The Arboretum is undeniably beautiful, but it also serves as incredibly important learning tool, providing students the opportunity to research plant health and sustainability,” Nichol Luoma, WashU executive vice chancellor for administration and chief administrative officer, wrote in a March 19 email to the News-Democrat.
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