Pair of RI Colleges Named in Most Beautiful Coastal Campuses List

Two Rhode Island colleges were recognized this week for their beautiful campuses in a ranking of the top 30 Most Beautiful Coastal College Campuses compiled by BestValueSchools.com.

The article, penned by Kelsey Fox, uses a set of defined criteria to identify the most beautiful coastal campuses across the country, and identifies both Salve Regina University and University of Rhode Island among the best coastal colleges. In all, 5 New England colleges and Universities made the list. 

Their Methodology

• Location: Each campus on this list is located on the coast and within easy access to beaches.
• Awards & Recognition: (2 points for an international accolade; 1 point for an American accolade; 1 point for appearing on the National Register of Historic Places): Whether a national award or an honor bestowed by a group or organization, any recognition a campus has received played a large part in its placement on this list. Generally speaking, the larger and more recent the honor, the higher the college was placed.
• Student Enjoyment (1 point per notable feature): While most of the on-campus features described in this article can be appreciated visually by both students and visitors, those campuses with features that can be physically enjoyed by the school’s student body (such as botanical gardens) were given higher priority.
• Number of Notable Features (1 point per feature): Campuses with more than one significant or celebrated building or feature were ranked higher than those with a single notable feature. Local and privately owned beaches were included in this category.
• Other (1 point each): Those campuses with other notable characteristics, such as historical significance or environmental friendliness, were also considered.

See the full list!

From BestValueSchools.com:

7. SALVE REGINA UNIVERSITY
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND
(18 points)

Founded in 1947 by the Sisters of Mercy, Salve Regina University is a beautiful 80-acre waterfront campus located in Newport, Rhode Island’s Ochre Point-Cliffs National Historic District. As if “waterfront” and “National Historic District” weren’t charmingly cool enough, the university also boasts a surprisingly large (if not chilly) surf scene. But the true gems of Salve Regina are certainly on its 80-acre campus, and include the impressive chateau that is Ochre Court, the Romanesque Revival McAuley Hall, and the mock-Elizabethan Wakehurst manor house.


3. UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND
KINGSTON, RHODE ISLAND
(25 points)

Located within easy reach of Providence, Newport, Boston, and New York City, University of Rhode Island combines the best of New England tradition and coastal charm. The 1,200-acre campus is dotted with both ivy-covered buildings and contemporary architecture. Best of all, the campus overlooks the West Passage of Narragansett Bay, offering students stellar natural views. Not surprisingly, the university is home to the highly respected Graduate School of Oceanography, which consistently ranks as one of the top five oceanographic institutions in the country. A 2,300-acre second campus is located 30 minutes from Providence, and boasts pristine forests, streams, ponds, and a 75-acre lake. Mostly used as the National Center for Environmental Education, it is also a popular locale for conferences, retreats, school field trips, and camps.