In a state with as much natural beauty as Colorado, it’s not too surprising that a local university is said to have one of the most beautiful campuses in the country.

According to a recent report from Travel + Leisure, the most beautiful college campus nationwide is Sewanee – a Tennessee school that also goes by “The University of the South.” Bloomington’s Indiana University ranked second overall, but right behind that was University of Colorado Boulder, ranking third. CU Boulder was the only Centennial State spot included on the list of 49 places around the country.

Known for its dramatic backdrop of Front Range peaks, CU Boulder’s main campus covers about 600 acres and consists of about 200 buildings. Many of its buildings are constructed with rough-cut sandstone and easy-to-recognize red tile roofs.

According to the university, the master plan for the campus was first designed by Philadelphia architect Charles Klauder in 1919. The “rural Italian” architectural style is said to have evolved from that.

While the general design of the campus is undoubtedly stunning, the mountainous backdrop – which includes the Boulder Flatirons – tends to steal the show. Not only do these peaks mean a great view while heading to class, their presence also makes it easy for students to get outside in their free time. Couple that with the nearby Eldora Mountain Resort in the Nederland area and outdoor recreation goes year-round in Boulder.

With a student population of about 38,000 in a city of about 102,000 residents, the presence of CU Boulder plays an important role in the local community, and it’s safe to say that it belongs on any list of the country’s most beautiful places to learn.

The Travel + Leisure report on America’s ‘most beautiful’ universities utilizes data from the University of Melbourne Online that examined TripAdvisor reviews of various college campuses around the U.S. When it came to CU Boulder, 55.5 percent of all reviews described the campus as beautiful.

Find the full breakdown here.

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