Top 20 USA Universities With The Best Campus Life In 2024

While searching for the best education offered in a particular university, the reputation of the school and the social life of the academic institution.

A university with innovative research, a rigorous curriculum, and the most diverse program options is not complete without an active social community for its students.

While looking for the best colleges in the US, students tend to also look out for colleges with the best student life, colleges with the friendliest students, fun colleges with good academics, and the happiest colleges.

Study shows that students with a balanced Campus Life tend to be proactive in Society. Balanced Campus Life Involves extra curriculum activities, Leadership skills, Social life, Academic Skills, and so on.

Just take your time and review this article; the Kiiky team has arranged every detail you need to be an applicant to any USA Universities With The Best Campus Life. 

List Of The Top USA Universities With The Best Campus Life

After a rigorous study, we came up with the Top 20 USA Universities With The Best Campus Life.

  • Auburn University, Alabama
  • Spring Hill College, Alabama
  • University of Alaska Anchorage, Alaska
  • Alaska Pacific University, Anchorage
  • The University of Arizona, Tucson
  • Prescott College, Arizona
  • The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
  • Hendrix College, Conway
  • Stanford University, California
  • Harvey Mudd College, Claremont
  • University of Denver, Colorado
  • Colorado College, Colorado Springs
  • Yale University, Connecticut
  • Connecticut College, New London
  • University of Delaware, Newark
  • Wesley College, Dover
  • The University of Florida, Gainesville
  • New College of Florida, Sarasota
  • Emory University, Atlanta
  • Piedmont College, Demorest

Auburn University, Alabama

Auburn University Alabama tops our chart of USA Universities With The Best Campus Life. Established as a public university in 1856, Auburn University sits on a sprawling 1,800-acre campus with student accommodation, dining, health services, counseling, and recreational facilities.

Over 300 student-led organizations meet on campus, including the famous Auburn Tigers football team at the Jordan-Hare Stadium. Auburn University offers over 140 majors for students, with 38 in the College of Liberal Arts alone.

The university conducts cutting-edge research on nuclear science, world hunger, aerodynamics, early childhood education, and supercomputing.

With a thriving student body of over 28,000 students and 1,500 faculty members, the school maintains a 19-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio.

U.S. News & World Report ranks Auburn University #46 among public schools in the country. Auburn University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and is ranked #4 among the best online colleges in Alabama.

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Spring Hill College, Alabama

Spring Hill College is the fifth-oldest Roman Catholic university in the southeastern U.S., established in 1830. SHC is one USA Universities With The Best Campus Life. SHC offers a wide range of majors, including programs in business, communication arts, English, fine and performing arts, foreign languages, interdivisional studies, nursing, philosophy and theology, sciences, social sciences, and teacher education. Located in Mobile, the college averages 17 students per class.

Notwithstanding its size, the school hosts over 50 student-led organizations, including fraternities, sororities, academic clubs, ministries, and athletic teams.

Spring Hill College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

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University of Alaska Anchorage, Alaska

The University of Alaska Anchorage was established in 1954 as a community college, began offering upper-division courses in 1969, and became a full-fledged university in 1976. UAA is Alaska’s largest institution of higher education, with over 16,000 students and about 800 full-time faculty members.

UAA offers quality programs aligned with Alaska’s core industries, including oil, gas, aviation, education, health, social welfare, arts, sciences, business, public policy, engineering, and technical skills.

The University of Alaska Anchorage ranks #2 among the best online colleges in Alaska, and U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Alaska Anchorage #25 among the best public schools in the country. It is among the top-rated USA Universities With The Best Campus Life.

The University of Alaska Anchorage is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).

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Alaska Pacific University, Anchorage

Alaska Pacific University is a liberal arts school emphasizing applied research and experiential learning. The 174-acre campus in the U-Med District of Anchorage hosts the recently renovated Mosley Sports Center and the world-renowned Nordic Ski Club.

The school offers unconventional study programs in Alaska native governance, outdoor, and sustainability studies. And also conventional programs in education, environmental science, liberal studies, psychology, human services, literature, philosophy, pre-law, pre-med, religious studies, and writing.

APU focuses on small class sizes with a tiny community of about 550 students and an active, kinetic learning environment. Students can explore the Alaskan wilderness through kayaking, ice climbing, skiing, backpacking, and rock climbing. The Northwest Commission accredits Alaska Pacific University on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). It is also one of the colleges with the friendliest students.

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University of Arizona, Tucson

The University of Arizona, established in 1885, is a public research university. The 380-acre UA campus is home to various species of trees and a student population of over 43,000, with over 2,600 full-time faculty staff.

UA currently offers over 300 degrees through 17 different colleges and hosts over 700 active, recognized clubs that boost the students have hundreds of opportunities for campus engagement.

The University of Arizona ranks #2 among the best online colleges in Arizona and #9 among the 100 best online colleges in the U.S. The University of Arizona is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

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Prescott College, Arizona

Prescott College is a private liberal arts college established in 1966 between Phoenix and Flagstaff. The 200-acre campus sits among striking mountain ranges, flat desert plains, and abundant forests.

The school enrolls about 700 students annually and employs over 50 full-time faculty staff. Prescott’s students can research sustainability and marine science at the Kino Bay Center in Mexico or promote indigenous rights and environmental justice at the Dopoi Center in Kenya. Aspiring teachers can learn how to integrate nature into education at the Center for Nature Place-Based Early Childhood Education.

The college currently offers arts, creative writing, environmental studies, and interdisciplinary arts and letters programs. First-year students live in the Village, a new sustainable, LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) platinum-certified complex. Upperclassmen live in off-campus housing.

Prescott College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). When it comes to having a balanced campus Life, Prescott College is amongst USA Universities With The Best Campus Life.

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University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

The University of Arkansas was established in 1871 on its 412-acre campus overlooking the iconic Ozark Mountains.

The university offers degrees in over 200 areas of study and hosts 380 student organizations, including 33 fraternities and sororities, and an active student government. The Sam M. Walton College of Business, named for the founder of Walmart, boasts corporate sponsors and industry connections.

The Fulbright College of Arts and Letters encompasses 19 different departments and upwards of 30 programs. UA enrolls about 27,000 students annually.

Students can attend lectures from notable figures such as the Dalai Lama or concerts featuring acts such as the Foo Fighters.

The school’s athletic team, the Razorbacks (often called the Hogs) are major competitors in the college football and basketball scene, winning more championships than other schools in the Southeastern Conference of the NCCA.

The University of Arkansas ranks #23 among the 100 best online colleges and #1 among the best online colleges in Arkansas. 

World Scholarship Forum is rating them amongst the best USA Universities With The Best Campus Life. The University of Arkansas is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

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Hendrix College, Conway

Although affiliated with the United Methodist Church, Hendrix College teaches a secular curriculum. This contributed to its success as one of the US universities with the best campus life.

The four-year college, established in 1876, hosts a variety of sports teams and over 70 active clubs and student organizations, including the outdoor club, the culinary club, and the climbing coalition.

Hendrix practices some unusual traditions, such as a dance competition between residence halls. Considered one of the best liberal arts colleges in the country, Hendrix’s admission is highly competitive.

Hendrix enrolls around 1,300 students with a grade point average exceeding 4.0 and employs over 100 full-time faculty.

Despite the small size of the student body, diversity is an integral part of the campus dynamic, as it’s students come from all around the U.S. and represent 14 foreign countries. Hendrix College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

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Stanford University, California

Stanford University is a private research university that conducts over 6,000 externally-funded research projects in recombinant DNA, disease management, digital music, economic policy, astrophysics, and world peace. The founders of Google were graduate students of Stanford.

Other companies founded by alumni include Netflix, HP, eBay, and Tesla Motors. The 8,100-acre campus is located in Silicon Valley between San Francisco and San Jose.

The university was established in 1891 as a coeducational school with no denominational affiliations; students can associate with over 650 student groups and 35 recognized religious groups.

U.S. News & World Report ranks Stanford University #5 among the best national universities in the country, #1 among best colleges for veterans, and #2 among the 100 best universities in the world. It also is currently ranked amongst the USA Universities With The Best Campus Life.

Stanford University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).

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Harvey Mudd College, Claremont

Established in 1955, Harvey Mudd College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college focused on engineering, science, and mathematics. Its 44.5 acres campus only educates 800 students annually.

Harvey Mudd College offers degrees in biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, mathematics, and physics. It also offers several joint or double major programs; students can pair chemistry with biology, computer science with mathematics, or mathematics with biology.

Despite its technical focus, Harvey Mudd has strongly considered a liberal arts school as it offers students a stable foundation in political science, art, history, and literature. Harvey Mudd is part of the Claremont University Consortium, a group of local universities that allow students to take courses and use amenities at different campuses.

U.S. News & World Report ranks Harvey Mudd College #12 among the best national liberal arts colleges and #7 among the most innovative schools. Harvey Mudd College is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).

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University of Denver, Colorado

The University of Denver is a private university established in 1864 on a 125-acre campus is located in the Rocky Mountain region seven miles from downtown Denver.

The university offers about 100 undergraduate programs and 120 graduate programs, including international human rights, bioengineering, materials science, literary studies, forensic psychology, and educational leadership.

DU enrolls over 11,000 students, and over 70% of undergraduates study abroad, with options in 55 countries worldwide. Hundreds of students participate in DU’s distance learning programs and online courses.

U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Denver #56 among best value schools and #49 among best colleges for veterans. The University ranks #16 among the 100 best online colleges and #1 among the best online colleges in Colorado.

The University of Denver is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

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Colorado College, Colorado Springs

Established in 1874, Colorado College fosters personalized education for each student through close relationships between professors and students.

CC students take a single class every three weeks, and professors only teach one class per block, so they can fully commit to their students.

This immersive format promotes learning and long-term memory rather than learning for the sake of testing. The school enrolls over 2,000 students and offers over 40 majors in anthropology, art, biology, classics, and education.

CC offers one of the country’s best and most diverse study abroad programs, for students who hope to travel during their undergraduate career.

Natural landscapes in the heart of Colorado Springs surround the 90-acre campus. Students can participate in unique extracurricular activities such as hiking through canyons, working on the school’s farm, and learning ballroom dancing.

U.S. News & World Report ranks Colorado College #1 among the most innovative schools and #23 among the best liberal arts colleges in the country. Colorado College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

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Yale University, Connecticut

Established in 1701, Yale University hosts some of the most prestigious academic, arts and theatre programs in the nation. All Yale University Affiliates have this culture of giving value to Student Life.

Yale University, Connecticut, is another USA Universities With The Best Campus Life. Its Alumni are occupying world center stages.

As part of the ultra-exclusive Ivy League, Yale has been at the forefront of medical advancements, being the first to apply antibiotics in the U.S. and chemotherapy to treat cancer.

The 837-acre campus features an on-campus golf course, museums, and a collection of precious artifacts; Yale enrolls over 12,000 students annually.

Yale University is home to 35 varsity teams and one of the country’s most highly respected athletic programs, but it offers no athletic scholarships.

U.S. News & World Report ranks Yale University #3 among the best universities in the U.S. Yale University ranks #11 among the 100 best universities today. Yale University is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).

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Connecticut College, New London

The liberal arts college is located in the old seaport town of New London, between the Thames River and on the other by an arboretum. Connecticut College enrolls less than 2,000 full-time students, maintaining an average class size of 18.

The college currently offers 40 majors and minors, allowing students to custom-tailor their degrees to match their individual goals and interests.

Connecticut College also offers excellent financial aid packages valued at $35,000; nearly half of the students receive financial this award. Forbes ranks the college #84 in the country among private colleges and #105 overall.

U.S. News & World Report ranks Connecticut College #46 among the best liberal arts colleges in the country. Connecticut College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Currently, the University is also ranked as one of the USA Universities With The Best Campus Life.

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University of Delaware, Newark

The University of Delaware is a small private college established in 1743, with campuses all over the state, including in Dover, Wilmington, Lewes, and Georgetown. UD’s 75 research facilities are among the best in the nation, researching in political communication, diversity, fuel cells, disaster response, financial analytics, corporate governance, and cardiovascular health.

The school’s research vessel, Hugh R. Sharp, sails the Atlantic Ocean to investigate marine mammals, fisheries, and ocean chemistry.

The student population is about 23,000 students. Although it receives government funding, UD is privately governed. The university currently offers 143 bachelor’s programs, 143 master’s programs, 67 doctoral programs, a handful of associate programs, and 15 dual degree programs.

U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Delaware #33 among top public schools and #81 among the best universities in the country. The University of Delaware ranks #2 among the best online colleges in Delaware. They are among the Top 20 USA Universities With The Best Campus Life.

The University of Delaware is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).

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Wesley College, Dover

Wesley College established in 1873, is a private college affiliated with the United Methodist Church, but it offers values-based education relevant to students of all faiths. This has enlisted them among the USA Universities With The Best Campus Life. 100% of the school’s 1,500 students receive financial aid through grants, scholarships, work-study opportunities, and on-campus employment.

The cozy 50-acre main campus is located in Delaware’s state capital, it offers attractions such as pre-revolutionary buildings and Dover Downs International Speedway. Students often travel to nearby cities such as Washington, D.C., New York City, and Philadelphia.

Wesley College currently offers 30 areas of study across five different departments: arts and sciences, business, health sciences, education, and fine arts. Most students pursue a degree in the arts and sciences, with options in American studies, English, history, international studies, mathematics, media arts, music, political science, psychology, and professional studies.

The Middle States Commission accredits Wesley College on Higher Education (MSCHE).

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University of Florida, Gainesville

The University of Florida is a premier public research university established in 1853 and considered as one of the Public Ivies, UF offers rigorous programs in engineering, medical science, law, and business.

UF maintains 16 colleges and over 150 research centers, offering over 100 undergraduate majors, 123 master’s programs, and 76 doctoral programs.

The school has a massive student population of over 52,000 enrolled on its 2,000-acre campus.

Some of the most interesting buildings on campus include an art gallery, the Phillips Center for Performing Arts, the Florida Museum of Natural History, and the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, which seats 84,000 fans.

The school hosts over 10,000 active research projects including Gatorade, brain cancer research, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory, diabetes research, and Sentricon termite control.

U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Florida #9 among top public schools and #42 among the best universities in the country. The University of Florida ranks #2 among the 100 best online colleges and #1 among the best online colleges in Florida.

The University of Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

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New College of Florida, Sarasota

New College of Florida is a public liberal arts college established in 1964. The 144-acre campus located on Sarasota’s north bayfront, just a few miles from the city center, hosts an amiable blend of modern structures and historical buildings.

New College of Florida is known for individualized education for each student by providing narrative evaluations. Less than 900 students are enrolled in the college.

U.S. News & World Report ranks New College of Florida #6 among the top public schools in the country. New College of Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

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Emory University, Atlanta

This private research university was established in 1836 by the Methodist Episcopal Church and is home to one of the world’s most famous law schools.

The 631-acre campus is located in the Druid Hills neighborhood in the greater Atlanta metropolitan area.

The school is very selective, accepting fewer than 25% of applicants who graduated in the top 10% of their senior class in high school.

The school is divided into nine academic divisions and students can choose from 70 undergraduate programs and more than two dozen graduate and professional degrees. U.S. News & World Report ranks Emory University #21 among best colleges in the U.S. and #17 among best value schools.

Emory University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

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Piedmont College, Demorest

Established in 1897, Piedmont College is affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches and features small class sizes, civic engagement, career-oriented programs, and ACBSP accreditation.

Over 90% of the school’s 2,200 students receive financial aid valued at $15,294. The college operates two campuses, one in Demorest (186 acres close to the Appalachian Trail and the Chattahoochee National Forest) and another in Athens (near the Georgia Museum of Art, the Bear Hollow Zoo, and the Georgia Botanical Gardens).

Undergraduate students at Piedmont may choose from over 50 different programs in art, science, education, business, nursing, and health.

The school also hosts several clubs, organizations, and NCAA Division III Athletic teams. U.S. News & World Report ranks Piedmont College #68 among the best universities in the South and #28 among best value schools.

Piedmont College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). It is also one of the colleges with the friendliest students.

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