Is your student an avid surfer, swimmer, or just a fan of sunshine? While our Wisconsin and Boston offices enjoy hearty winters, some of our applicants hope to spend their next four years in warmer climates. Students searching for colleges with access to the beach for research and relaxation have many great options to discover across the country. These five beach campuses are great college tour destinations and potentially your student’s future home.
College of Charleston:
Located in South Carolina, the College of Charleston’s campus is near the Charleston harbor and bustling waterfront areas like Folly Beach and Isle of the Palms. Charleston awards elective credits for courses like “Beginner Surfing,” “Stand Up Paddleboarding,” and “Intro to Coastal Kayaking.” Students can join clubs for fishing and watersports, and those whose aquatic interests are more academic can minor in Marine Geology or research with the Grice Marine Lab.
Eckerd College:
Florida is a common destination for beach-loving college students, and Eckerd’s location on the Florida Gulf Coast and average temperature of 75°F fits the bill. Its Marine Science major is highly ranked and offers specializations in marine geophysics, marine chemistry, and more. Clubs like Save Our Seabird and the Marine Life Adventure Society, along with hands-on marine science research opportunities available as soon as freshman year, make it possible for students to take learning out of the classroom and onto the beaches. Eckerd’s graduation even takes place on South Beach.
Pepperdine University:
Pepperdine’s main campus located in Malibu Canyon has been ranked in the most beautiful campuses in the US, no doubt due to its sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean. Pepperdine values its natural environment, with projects in wastewater recycling, responsible irrigation, and other sustainability initiatives. Students can visit many local beaches or even join the “Intro to Surfing” course to learn ocean safety and ride the waves. Other ocean-related courses in marine biology, zoology, and ecology utilize nearby lagoons, tide pools, and other beach sites for field study and hands-on learning.
University of California San Diego:
With stunning ocean views and easy access to beautiful Southern California surf spots like La Jolla Shores and Black’s Beach, UC San Diego is a classic choice for the beach-loving college student. The surf team has won 7 national championships, and Surfer Magazine even named UCSD the US’s top surfing school. But UCSD has more to offer than great waves; students with environmental and marine interests will find much to explore. The Scripps Institute for Oceanography is a leading research center home to several ocean research vessels, majors in Marine Biology and Oceanic & Atmospheric Sciences, and courses like “California Coastal Oceanography” and “Marine Chemical Ecology.”
University of Hawai’i at Mānoa:
While Hawaii is better known for its beaches than its colleges, UH Mānoa offers the best of both worlds. Located on O’ahu Island near Honolulu, Hawaii’s flagship university is an R1 Sea Grant college with research initiatives including coastal adaptation and clean water. Students can join clubs like the Marine Technology Society or the Surfrider activism group and take classes including “Fish Diversity” and “Science of the Sea.” The Outdoor EDventure program hosts excursions, watersports courses, and equipment rentals, helping students connect with beaches from Waikiki and Kaimana to Black Point and Ala Moana.
Whether your student wants sun and sand or prefers snow, Galin’s college counselors can help your family build a balanced list of schools and discover best-fit colleges!
