2 Pennsylvania Colleges on List of Most Beautiful Campuses
Swarthmore College and Villanova University in Pennsylvania landed on U.S. News & World Report’s list of “30 Beautiful College Campuses” in January. Both Pennsylvania institutions sit less than twelve miles…
Swarthmore College and Villanova University in Pennsylvania landed on U.S. News & World Report's list of "30 Beautiful College Campuses" in January. Both Pennsylvania institutions sit less than twelve miles apart off Interstate 476 in Delaware County.
Swarthmore, a small liberal arts institution, received recognition for Parrish Hall, its Reconstruction-era administration building. This Victorian-style structure of granite and slate was constructed in 1869. It serves as the campus centerpiece, overlooking a quad students call "the beach." Inside, the building has two floors of student housing with more modern design.
The Scott Arboretum covers three-quarters of Swarthmore's acreage. It holds more than 4,000 plant species. Guided tours run on weekdays. U.S. News described an amphitheater with lawn-covered stone tiers shaded by tulip trees, plus numerous wooded areas scattered across 425 acres.
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The campus shows architecture that spans from Tudor-style dorms to glass structures. It occupies a residential area thick with greenery and narrow streets. Condé Nast Traveler placed the institution among those with the most beautiful campuses in the U.S. last year.
Villanova, a research university with larger enrollment, drew praise for its Gothic architecture and landscaping. St. Thomas of Villanova Church stands as the most iconic structure. Clean exterior stone and tall white ceilings define it.
Last year, the church's bells rang for hours after Robert Francis Prevost, a 1977 Villanova alumnus, became Pope Leo XIV. U.S. News pointed to the native plants that dot the grounds.
"Campus planners hold the ideal of 'a beautiful, amenable, and sustainable campus to support the Augustinian ideal of living and studying amongst friends,'" U.S. News wrote, per Centre Daily Times.
A busy highway cuts the campus. But areas like the Rowen Campus Green resemble a small suburban park. Villanova plans to expand in 2028 through its acquisition of Rosemont College, a school within walking distance.
