SC has 2 of most beautiful US college campuses in 2026, US News & World Report says
Academics are important, sure, but a college campuses’ beauty is one of the leading factors in a student’s college decision.
That’s why colleges and universities take pride in their lush and well-kept grounds, to lure in hesitant students.
U.S. News & World Report released the 35 Most Beautiful College Campuses, and two schools from SC landed on the national ranking.
Even though beauty is based of the eye of the beholder, the rankings were based on the campuses’ attributes, such as “stunning architecture, picturesque settings or spectacular landscaping.”
Here are the two SC universities that ranked for its college campus’ beauty:
2 most beautiful SC campuses
#16 Furman University, Greenville
Frequently ranked as one of the top three universities in SC, besides Clemson and USC, Greenville-based Furman University is known for its academics, innovation and strong undergraduate teaching. But its beautiful campus gives a great first impression to those who visit, and is why it’s ranked so high on the list.
Furman University has been beautiful for a long time, as it’s celebrating its bicentennial this year. Over its history, the university has been noted by the American Society of Landscape Architects, Architectural Digest and Travel + Leisure.
The 940-acre campus sits at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains features woods, rolling green space and 13 miles of trails.
One of the most striking features on the campus is its replica of the bell tower that was built on campus in 1854. Rising 88 feet high from a peninsula on the 40-acre Furman Lake, which is framed by gardens and gathering spots, the tower makes a trip to Furman University unforgettable.
Other prominent features include the following:
- Old College: a replica of writer Henry David Thoreau’s Walden Pond cabin
- Buildings designed by a Massachusetts firm that planned restoration of Colonial Williamsburg
- Janie Earle Furman Rose Garden
- Asia Garden, which features a koi pond and Japanese flowers, plants and trees
#33 College of Charleston, Charleston
The College of Charleston, which ranks #4 in Top Public Schools, sits in the heart of Charleston’s beloved downtown. Not only do students get to enjoy the surrounding shops and restaurants in area, but the campus features some incredibly beautiful sights.
When you first walk onto the College of Charleston’s campus, you’ll see The Porter’s Lodge stone gatehouse built in the early 1850s, which features abundant trees and shrubs on manicured lawns.
The college has been around for a long time, since 1770. Randolph Hall, the campus’ most iconic building and a National Historic Landmark, was designed in 1828 by famed architect William Strickland and has survived an earthquake, hurricanes and the Civil War.
Other features include the:
- Harbor Walk, a contemporary complex that is home to the computer science department
- Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum
- Ravenel Bridge and Charleston Harbor
- Abiel Bolles House
#1 most beautiful campus in US
Lewis & Clark College, Portland, Oregon
Filled with lush gardens, majestic brick buildings, gorgeous gardens and hiking trails, Lewis & Clark College has been attracting college students with its beauty since 1867. While cost of attendance can be upwards of $88,000 a year, students stay to view the nearby Willamette River and snow-capped Mount Hood, and do schoolwork on the 137-acre forested campus.
There is also the Experimental Arts Research forest, an outdoor lab with a programmable audio system featuring speakers set up along a rugged path for acoustic research, soundwalks and live performances.