Key takeaways:
- Suburban schools can offer many of the same experiences as big cities with a quieter atmosphere.
- Some of the best suburban colleges include Stanford University, University of Notre Dame, and Swarthmore College.
- Campus visits can help you decide if a school and the surrounding area is right for your college experience.
Love the idea of attending college in the city but can’t stand the noise and crowds? A suburban school might be what you’re looking for. They’re often just a few miles to a couple of hours away from major city centers but also feature green spaces, recreational activities, and a bit of peace and quiet. Below, we’ve listed 25 of the best suburban colleges you should consider.
What can you expect on a suburban campus?
A suburban college campus and the surrounding area often has plenty of the amenities that come with the big cities but with less hustle and bustle. They tend to be medium- to large-sized campuses, with plenty of green spaces and walking paths, right up next to residential neighborhoods. Major cities are just 30 minutes to two hours away so students have access to fantastic opportunities both in education and employment.
However, experiences vary from college to college and town to town. Some have easy and quick access to public transportation, while others almost require you to have a car if you want to see anything off campus.
If you’re thinking of attending a college with a suburban campus, we recommend making trips to explore the school as well as the surrounding area. These visits can give you a better idea of what to expect, what you can do during your time off, and how you need to get around town.
The 25 best suburban colleges
If a college in a city suburb sounds right for you, check out these 25 best suburban colleges that placed high on College Raptor’s 2026 Best Colleges Overall Ranking.
1. STANFORD UNIVERSITY
Flickr user Michael Estigoy
Location: Stanford, CA
Stanford University, one of the top rated colleges in the United States, is right in the center of Silicon Valley, just south of San Francisco and just north of San Jose. Stanford’s 8,180-acre campus includes a seasonal lake, Cantor Center for Visual Arts, and the Bing Concert Hall.
2. UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY
Location: Annapolis, MD
Located outside Baltimore, MD, and Washington D.C., the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, is on the north tip of the Chesapeake Bay. The location was chosen to help midshipmen avoid the temptations that come with large cities when it opened without Congressional funding in 1845.
3. UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
Location: Notre Dame, IN
The University of Notre Dame’s 1,250-acre campus is home to 170 buildings, two lakes, and a 116-acre historic district. It’s regularly named one of the most beautiful campuses in the country. Just next to South Bend, Notre Dame is also about an hour and a half from Chicago.
4. POMONA COLLEGE
Pomona
Location: Claremont, CA
You can find Pomona College in Claremont, CA, a suburb of Los Angeles. A movie theater, shops, galleries, restaurants, and more are only a walk away from the 140-acre campus. The city is also home to the seven Claremont Colleges, including Pomona.
5. UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA-MAIN CAMPUS
Location: Charlottesville, VA
Charlottesville, VA, was the former capital of Virginia and home of Thomas Jefferson, the founder of the University of Virginia. Richmond is roughly an hour drive, while Washington DC is two hours. UVA’s campus is known as the “Grounds,” and it’s often listed as one of the most beautiful campuses.
6. SWARTHMORE COLLEGE
Location: Swarthmore, PA
Swarthmore College was one of the first coeducational colleges in the country, having been founded in 1864. It’s located in Swarthmore, PA, but the town was originally known as “Westdale” – the borough changed its name for the school. In fact, the campus takes up a third of the borough’s area.
7. WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST LOUIS
Location: Saint Louis, MO
Found in the St. Louis Metropolitan area and partially in the city, Washington University in St. Louis main campus “Danforth” is 169 acres at Forest Park’s western boundary. Though the school has roots going back to 1853, Danforth had roles to play in both the 1904 World’s Fair and Summer Olympics.
8. CLAREMONT MCKENNA COLLEGE
Location: Claremont, CA
Claremont McKenna College, like Pomona College, is one of the seven Claremont Colleges. The 69-acre campus features California modernism architecture, a popular design when it was founded in 1946, and the Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum for events.
9. WELLESLEY COLLEGE
Location: Wellesley, MA
Wellesley College is in the Greater Boston metropolitan area. Originally part of Dedham and Needham, the town of Wellesley received its name in 1881 after a local benefactor’s estate. The school itself was chartered in 1870, known first as the Wellesley Female Seminary. Today, it’s part of the Seven Sisters Colleges.
10. HARVEY MUDD COLLEGE
Location: Claremont, CA
Harvey Mudd College is also a Claremont College. Founded in 1955, its first classes actually took place at Claremont McKenna College, as the school only had a dormitory. HMC’s campus features New Formalist architecture by Edward Durell Stone.
11. SOKA UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA
soka.edu
Location: Aliso Viejo, CA
Aliso Viejo, CA, home of Soka University of America, sits on the border of Laguna Beach and is just south of Irvine, Anaheim, and Los Angeles. SUA opened in 1987 in Calabasas and started moving to its current campus in 1995. The 103-acre campus is nearly surrounded by the Aliso and Woods Canyons Wilderness Park.
12. FRANKLIN W OLIN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Location: Needham, MA
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering is in a suburb of Boston, Needham, which dates back to 1680. The school opened more than 300 years later, in 1997. Olin College’s campus features the postmodern style and shares campus services with nearby Babson College.
13. WILLIAM & MARY
Location: Williamsburg, VA
William & Mary is located in Williamsburg, VA, part of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area and just southeast of Richmond on the James River. The city was founded in 1632, and the college opened in 1693. One of the most beautiful campuses in the US, it’s home to the Wren Building, which was constructed before 1700.
14. TUFTS UNIVERSITY
Location: Medford, MA
Tufts University is located just outside of Boston, though the school does have facilities within Boston itself. The main portion of the campus, “Uphill,” is in Medford on Walnut Hill, while “Downhill” is in Somerville. Some buildings, such as Ballou Hall, date back to the mid-1800’s.
15. HAMILTON COLLEGE
Source: Flickr user chuckthewriter.
Location: Clinton, NY
Although Hamilton College has a Clinton postal address, it’s actually located in the western part of Kirkland, NY. Syracuse is less than an hour’s drive west. The 1,350-campus features an ice rink, golf facility, climbing wall, boathouse, 80,000-square-ft library, and historical chapel.
16. VASSAR COLLEGE
Location: Poughkeepsie, NY
Poughkeepsie, NY, is on the Hudson River and is home to Vassar College. Its 1,000-acre campus is also an arboretum and has over 100 buildings, including the expansive library system that hosts one of the largest collections in the United States.
17. DAVIDSON COLLEGE
Location: Davidson, NC
Davidson, NC, and Davidson College were named after Brigadier General William Lee Davidson, who served in the Revolutionary War. The college is actually located on his former estate. The city itself is a suburb of the Charlotte metropolitan area.
18. BABSON COLLEGE
Location: Wellesley, MA
Babson College’s 370-acre campus is located 14 miles west of Boston in Wellesley, MA. The school opened as Babson Institute in 1919, though it features buildings from 1904. Babson works closely with Olin College and Wellesley College.
19. HAVERFORD COLLEGE
Flickr user Roger W
Location: Haverford, PA
Haverford College is just outside of Philadelphia and is connected to the city’s commuter rail system. Nearby, students can find one of the oldest country clubs in the country, restaurants, farmer’s market, and more. The school was founded in 1833, and the campus features Quaker and colonial designs.
20. UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND-COLLEGE PARK
Location: College Park, MD
College Park, MD, is just four miles from Washington D.C. It’s home to the main University of Maryland campus, as well as the National Archives at College Park, Weather Prediction Center, and the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. UMD’s campus also features 7,500 trees and garden plantings.
21. UNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY
Location: Kings Point, NY
New York City isn’t far from the United States Merchant Marine Academy, which is located in Kings Point on the North Shore of Long Island. The school also operates the American Merchant Marine Museum and the Kings Point Light.
22. VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY
Location: Villanova, PA
In a suburb of Philadelphia, Villanova University dates back to 1842, making it the oldest Catholic university in the state. The 430-acre campus features the St. Thomas of Villanova Church, Falvey Library, and Alumni Hall, which opened in 1848.
23. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-SANTA BARBARA
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
University of California-Santa Barbara sits on cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean and even features its own beach and lagoon. While its mailing address states “Santa Barbara,” the campus is not part of the city, though it is within Santa Barbara County.
24. LAFAYETTE COLLEGE
Location: Easton, PA
Lafayette College is named after Marquis de Lafayette, a hero of the Revolutionary War. Not far from New York City and Philadelphia, the main 110-acre campus overlooks the Delaware River. Easton was originally known as Lechauwitank, or “the Place at the Forks” by the Lenape Native Americans.
25. BRYN MAWR COLLEGE
“Entrance Bryn Mawr” by Smallbones – Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons.
Location: Bryn Mawr, PA
Bryn Mawr, or “big hill” in Welsh, is just outside Philadelphia. The name originated from an estate granted by William Penn. Bryn Mawr College is a Seven Sisters College and the undergraduate school is still women-only. The campus features the Blanca Noel Taft Memorial Garden, Marjorie Walter Goodhart Theater, and Rhys Carpenter Art and Archaeology Library.
Suburban colleges can be an excellent place for students who don’t want to give up all of the benefits that come with big cities but also would like a quieter experience for their education. With major urban centers within 30 minutes to a few hours, these colleges can provide students with unique experiences and opportunities in research, employment, and more.
Are you interested in attending one of these suburban schools, or want to explore other areas? Our College Match can pair you up with the colleges that meet what you’re looking for. Start here today for free.
