College is an exciting time, but it’s also a stressful time. A lot is going on between the new classes you have to take, the parties you want to attend, and the friends you want to make. And then there are your dorms.
You’ll spend more time in them than in any other place after graduation, so your dorm room must be comfortable and cozy. Now, this article explores the colleges with the best dorms in 2024.
Luckily for all college students, we’ve researched and found some colleges with the best dorms in 2024. Keep reading to find out!
Table of contents
- What is a College Dorm?
- Is a College Dorm Free
- Does Gender Separate Dorms?
- Colleges with the Best Dorms
- #1. University of California, Berkeley
- #2. Yale University
- #3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
- #4. Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME
- #5. University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
- #6. Williams College
- #7. Marist College, Poughkeepsie, New York
- #8. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Terre Haute, Indiana
- #9. Bryn Mawr College, Pennsylvania
- #10. Scripps College, Claremont, California
- #11. Christopher Newport University, Newport News, Virginia
- #12. High Point University
- #13. Washington University in St. Louis
- #14. Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas
- #15. Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
- #16. Johnson University, Knoxville
- #17. University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA
- #18. Union University, Jackson
- #19. Saginaw Valley State University, University Center
- #20. Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee
- FAQs – Colleges with the Best Dorms
- Conclusion
- References
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What is a College Dorm?
A residence hall, sometimes known as a dormitory or simply a “dorm,” “— is a sizable structure with several rooms where college students dwell, frequently with one or more roommates. Typically, there is just enough space in a dorm room for two beds, two desks, and sometimes a few modest furniture items.
Most dorm rooms, unlike hotel rooms, lack private toilets, although some dorm rooms, referred to as “suites”, may include a shared bathroom with an adjacent room. In a typical dorm, each floor has one or two restrooms that the residents share.
The majority of dorm rooms lack kitchens, unlike flats. In the building’s or a neighboring building’s huge cafeteria, dorm occupants typically have meals together. It could include small gadgets like toasters and microwaves in dorm rooms so students can prepare snacks without leaving their spaces.
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Is a College Dorm Free
Typically, there is a fee for college housing besides the cost of the academic program. Even though they are not free, utilities and common areas like a gaming room may be included in the cost of a dorm. Two ways to save costs are living in cooperative housing or working in a dorm.
Including meals, spend between $8,000 and $13,000 annually. However, the cost will significantly vary depending on the quality of the dorm room you choose, the standing of the university you plan to attend, and the number of roommates you desire.
Does Gender Separate Dorms?
Gender influences the assignment of a student’s room and roommate(s). Students are often paired with housemates of the same gender. For instance:
- A student with the gender categorization “female” would be placed in a room with other female pupils.
- A student with the gender categorization “man” would be placed in a room with other male pupils.
- Then, a student who identifies as nonbinary or has a different gender would be placed in a room with other nonbinary or transgender pupils.
Colleges with the Best Dorms
Here are the top colleges with the best dorms on our list:
- University of California, Berkeley
- Yale University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
- Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME
- University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
- Williams College
- Marist College, Poughkeepsie, New York
- Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Terre Haute, Indiana
- Bryn Mawr College, Pennsylvania
- Scripps College, Claremont, California
- Christopher Newport University, Newport News, Virginia
- High Point University
- Washington University in St. Louis
- Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas
- Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
- Johnson University, Knoxville
- University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA
- Union University, Jackson
- Saginaw Valley State University, University Center
- Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee
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#1. University of California, Berkeley
The UC Berkeley campus is home to some of the most beautiful dormitories in the world. Berkeley is ideal for college students who want to be near the ocean and enjoy a large campus with plenty of buildings that date back over a century.
The university offers a wide range of housing options for first-year students and upper-level students, including single and double rooms in traditional dorms and apartments on campus. It is known as one college with the best dorms.
The housing website lists all available residence halls and provides pictures of each so students can get an idea of what they will live in before making their decision.
#2. Yale University
Yale University is one of the most prestigious universities in the world, so you might expect its dorms to be equally impressive — and they are.
The New Haven campus offers several housing options for students who want more privacy than a traditional dormitory offers, with private bedrooms and bathrooms rather than shared ones.
Some co-ed dormitories are also available if you’re looking for something less formal. It is also considered one college with the best dorms.
#3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is one of the most prestigious colleges in the United States. Its campus has been named one of the most beautiful in the world.
The college has two dorms, Simmons Hall and Baker House. Both are within walking distance of each other and the main academic buildings, so students can travel less between classes and more time studying or socializing with friends.
This makes it one college with the best dorms.
#4. Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME
Bowdoin College is a private liberal arts college in Brunswick, Maine, with gorgeous architecture and a beautiful campus.
The school’s dorms are coed and fully furnished with full kitchens and spacious common areas for students to enjoy their time off campus together. This makes it one college with the best dorms you can find.
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#5. University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
The University of Chicago has some of the unique housing options on this list — including single rooms available for upper-level students who want more privacy than dorm life can provide.
But if you’re looking for something more social, plenty of double rooms are available in other buildings around campus.
#6. Williams College
Williams College offers a wide range of options for housing options on campus — including suites that allow roommates to be paired up by gender or by class year; and residential colleges where students live together in themed houses.
It is also known as one college with the best dorms.
#7. Marist College, Poughkeepsie, New York
Marist College is one of the most beautiful colleges in the world. It is a private liberal arts college in the United States.
The dorms are also great. They have laundry facilities, study rooms, vending machines, and a convenience store. The building offers single rooms with shared bathrooms on each floor or double rooms with private bathrooms.
Each room has high ceilings with open windows that let in lots of natural light during the day.
#8. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Terre Haute, Indiana
As one of the few coed colleges with dorms on our list, Rose-Hulman offers its male and female students the same amenities and living spaces.
Students live in suites with four double rooms connected to one common area with a kitchenette and bathroom. Each suite has a balcony or patio area where residents can enjoy the fresh air while studying or relaxing with friends before bedtime.
The school is known for its cooperative education program, which allows students to combine classroom study with paid work experience through internships or co-ops in their chosen field before graduation.
#9. Bryn Mawr College, Pennsylvania
The dorms at Bryn Mawr College are known for their spaciousness — each suite has plenty of floor space for studying or lounging around when you’re not in class.
And if you ever get bored with your room, there are plenty of other spaces on campus that you can explore with your friends or yourself.
The Campus Center features a library, computer lab, fitness center, and more. The dining hall serves delicious meals. There’s a theater where guest speakers often speak and a gymnasium where intramural sports take place.
Also, see: 20 Colleges with Greek Life on the Campus
#10. Scripps College, Claremont, California
The dorms at Scripps College are all single-sex, except for one co-ed floor per residence hall building.
Each dorm has its unique character with various options for study space and recreational areas such as game rooms and lounges.
Some dorms also have kitchens or kitchenettes where students can cook their meals if they choose not to go out for dinner or lunch every day on campus.
#11. Christopher Newport University, Newport News, Virginia
This excellent school in Virginia is known for its high-quality academics, but it also has some of the best dorms in the country.
The university offers a variety of housing options, including traditional dorms and apartment-style living. The campus is near a residential area and includes many amenities, including dining halls and fitness centers.
#12. High Point University
This university has some of the best student housing options.
There are ten residence options for first-year students, each with a unique focus. One provides full-time academic support, while another focuses on after-school activities and houses a cinema and an upscale restaurant.
Older students have fifteen residence-hall options, like the Greek Village for sororities and fraternities and several buildings with public pools.
#13. Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis has some of the best dorms in the country.
The school’s residence halls are modern and comfortable, with spacious rooms and common areas. Dorms at this university come equipped with laundry facilities, wireless internet access, and computer labs.
The campus even has an outdoor pool for students who want to dip during warmer months.
#14. Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas
The dorms at Texas Christian University can feel like a home away from home, with many of them having kitchens and living rooms. The university also offers a free shuttle service that travels between campus, downtown Fort Worth and TCU’s sister campus in Arlington, Texas.
The campus is located in Fort Worth, home to several museums and theaters and the famous Texas Motor Speedway.
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#15. Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
Students who attend this college get to live in on-campus housing. Their dorms are modern and functional, with many amenities that make living on campus even more comfortable.
The rooms are spacious and have all the necessities to make you feel at home. There is also a common area where students can hang out and socialize with their friends during their free time.
Housing at Emory is prevalent among students because it offers superb value for money and provides them with an excellent learning environment.
#16. Johnson University, Knoxville
Johnson University is known for having some of the best dorms on campus because they offer students a comfortable living space close to everything they need while still feeling like a home away from home.
If you’re looking for a fun college experience but don’t want to stay within reach of home, consider applying to Johnson University.
#17. University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA
The dorms in this school are set up with large study areas, common lounges, and kitchens.
They offer single and double-occupancy rooms with shared bathrooms, laundry facilities, and computer labs.
#18. Union University, Jackson
Union University has a reputation as one of the most beautiful campuses in the country. It’s also home to one of the best dorms in the nation.
The school offers five different housing options for students, including an all-male hall, an all-female hall, and co-ed halls with both men and women living together.
Some amenities include air conditioning, private bathrooms, and large windows that allow natural light into each room. Students have access to common areas such as kitchens and laundry rooms.
#19. Saginaw Valley State University, University Center
The dorms at SVSU are all air-conditioned and include utilities such as WiFi internet access, cable television service, and telephone service, as well as private bathrooms with showers or bathtubs and individual climate controls for each room.
Each room has a desk, chair, dresser, and closet space for each resident’s belongings. However, each resident shares a common kitchenette area with others on their floor or wing.
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#20. Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee
This school’s dorms are just as stunning as its surroundings, with modern rooms and plenty of natural light. Students have access to a fitness center and laundry facilities.
They offer students various dormitory options, from traditional residence halls and apartment suite-style living, or “on-campus” apartments.
FAQs – Colleges with the Best Dorms
Dorm living is a fertile ground for tales to tell at dinner parties years after you leave college, from eccentric roommates and football in the halls to dining hall meals and shared restrooms. Even though it’s much fun, college living in a dorm is a defining characteristic of the experience.
Apartments are less expensive than college dorms, which may come as a surprise. Students living in dorms must pay room and board costs each semester. These fees cover the price of utilities, laundry, and other services.
Cigarettes, incense, torches, halogen lamps, string lights, extension cables, and devices with open heating components, such as hot plates, toasters, toaster ovens, irons, electric heaters, and, in certain situations, coffee machines, are all prohibited fire risks.
Conclusion
This list of 20 colleges with the best dorms will help you make the right choice when applying. The list includes public and private schools and covers various colleges.
Each school has unique perks and benefits, but we have tried to highlight the most important ones in our ranking.
The best dorms for you will depend on your personal preferences and priorities. Research and visit the campus to get a sense of the dorm options and determine which ones are the best fit for you.
References
- insider.com – College Dorms in America
- niche.com/colleges – Best College Dorms
- collegeconsensus.com – Ranking College Dorms
- princetonreview.com – Best College Dorms
- housing.ucsc.edu – Gender and Student Housing
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