Top 10 College Tours in the United States

A college tour can be one of the biggest factors students use in deciding what college they want to attend. They allow students to see what attending a university might actually be like, where they’d be living and what kind of facilities each school has to offer. Yet some college tours are simply cooler than others, and can even be downright fun. Here are some of the best in the U.S. for the creativity, innovation, scenery and entertainment value that may have students putting these schools at the top of their lists.

1. Brigham Young, Provo, UT: At Brigham Young, you’ll get to tour the school’s campus in style, with a tour based around golf carts. These vehicles let you see more of the expansive BYU campus, which covers over 560 acres. Each family will get their own customized tour catering to their student’s needs and interests. Students will get a chance to see some of the major facilities as well as enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the surrounding Wasatch Mountains. Tour guides are groomed to be experts on everything about the campus, so you’ll not only tour the school on wheels, but get all the info you need to decide whether it’s for you or not.
2. California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA: You would expect a techie tour from a technical college and that’s just what you’ll get with the tour at California Polytechnic. Prospective students can download an iPhone app that allows them to take a self-guided stroll around campus, pointing them in the direction of the most notable buildings and facilities. Even cooler is the school’s GPS Ranger device, which shows your location on a campus map and will display short videos about buildings as you near them. Check one out at the admissions office to guide your own way through the college and learn about all they have to offer as you go.
3. Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA: Students considering attending Stanford will also find an iPhone app that they can download and use to tour the campus on their own if they don’t have time for a group one. Students can also check out one of the golf cart tours that help them to see a bit more of the 8,200 acres that make up the campus than they would be able to do on foot. They can sign up for these online and will get a chance to see some of the coolest buildings on campus, including the famous Red Barn equestrian center, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hanna House, the Hoover Tower Observatory and the art museum. The great architecture, history and scenery of the school don’t hurt the coolness factor of this college’s tour, either.
4. Alfred University, Alfred, NY: You might have been on a bicycle built for two, or hey, maybe even three, but you’ve most definitely never been on a bicycle built for 7. These fun vehicles have 14 pedals so you, your guide, family members and fellow students can pedal your way around the university’s campus. It’s a fun, innovative and green way to see what this lovely New York college has to offer – and something no other university has replicated.
5. Harvard University, Cambridge, MA: There are few colleges that have name recognition like Harvard. The school is one of the oldest in the country and has been home to numerous leaders, artists and thinkers throughout the years – and still is today. The 400-acre campus of this school is filled with amazing architecture, fascinating history and some pretty nice green spaces as well, making a tour of this school a pleasant way to spend the afternoon, whether you’re seriously considering going there or not. There are multiple museums on campus, scores of restaurants and shops, a theater, and one of the most amazing library collections in the world. When you’re done, take a seat on Harvard Yard and soak up the sun.
6. The University of the South, Sewanee, TN: Topping many a list of the "most beautiful campuses," this college tour is worth taking for the scenery alone. The huge 13,000-acre school is located in the countryside just outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and is filled with lakes, hills and scenic trails aplenty. Of course, the college itself is what you’re there to see and a tour of it won’t disappoint. Students will be able to enjoy Gothic architecture, relax on the green quad, and see amazing Ravine garden. When you’re done touring, rent a bike to explore the outer reaches of the campus and enjoy the rest of your visit.
7. Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA: Few schools have as beautiful of a setting for their campuses as Pepperdine University. Located on the bluffs of Malibu, CA, this Christian college is mere steps from the beach, which may make it hard to concentrate on class a student but is wonderful for those there touring the campus. Blessed with sun and temperate weather, students will be able to enjoy a tour of this school year round, seeing everything from campus libraries to the PU Center for the Arts. Once the tour is over, you’ll be a mere hop, skip and a jump from a relaxing walk on the beach where you can mull over your choice of college.
8. Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI: If you’re a creative type, a tour of this amazing school is not to be missed. The country’s leading arts school, the campus is full of museums, artwork and impressive modern architecture. Students can tour it on their own or with a student guide and see some of the best things the school has to offer, including the state-of-the-art library, the RSID Museum, student galleries and even take a peek at neighboring Brown University. When the tour is over, the fun doesn’t have to end, as prospective students are free to take in shows, attend art openings and even meet up with other like-minded individuals at the local coffeehouse.
9. Tulane University, New Orleans, LA: This prestigious university has been around since 1834, and its history and architecture will make even the most jaded student take an interest. On site, students can tour buildings dating back to the turn of the century, see the first women’s college, check out the art museum’s famed pottery collection or even get a taste of classic New Orleans jazz at the performing arts center. Spared from serious damage from Hurricane Katrina, the campus still maintains its historical charm through new facilities and features, like a beautiful tree-lined pedway, are worth a look as well.
10. University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA: Interested in American History? Then take a tour of this historic college, conceived and designed by one of our founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson. The layout of this campus served as the model for many other universities around the country, and students on a tour there will appreciate the classically-inspired buildings and wide, open spaces. Tours will take you around the school’s famed Lawn and Academical Village or you can explore further afoot on your own, taking in the Pavilion Gardens or the art museum.

Posted by Lindy Kahn, M.A., CEP for Kahn Educational Group, LLC