If you are a sun worshiper and love the ocean, there are plenty of colleges near the beach that have great educational programs. Whether you choose California, Florida, Texas, New England or New York, you can find a coastal college to tan while you study. Check out this list of excellent colleges located near the beach.
List of Colleges Near the Beach in The U.S.
University of California Santa Barbara
UC Santa Barbara was founded in 1891 and rests on a 1,000 acre campus on the coastline of the Pacific Ocean. You have access to Goleta State Beach that is a great beach for fishing and surfing. This school is mainly a public research facility and is the third oldest college campus in the UC system. The research facility is recognized by the Public Ivy Universities as one of the top research facilities in the U.S.
Top Majors – Anthropology, Biology, Business, Sociology, Social Science, Mechanical Engineering, Global and Legal Studies, Communication, Journalism
Location – Santa Barbara, CA
Type of College – Public
Beach Nearby – Goleta State Beach
University of California Santa Cruz
The University of California Santa Cruz is a public university founded in 1965. It sits right on top of the Monterey Bay overlooking the Pacific Ocean. They are well-known for their high rate of students that earn doctorate degrees. The school is merely 75 miles south of San Francisco, is strong in liberal arts and has a 19:1 student teacher ratio.
Top majors – Anthropology, Art, Sociology, Psychology, Film/Video, Political Science, Biology, English, and Economics
Location – Santa Cruz, CA
Type of College – Public
Beach Nearby – Natural Bridges State Beach and Cowell Beach
University of Hawaii at Manoa
The University of Hawaii at Manoa graces the hillside above Honolulu on coastal Oahu. You can reach famous beaches like Waikiki State Beach, Ala Manoa Beach Park for tanning, surfing, snorkeling and swimming. It was founded in 1907 as a college for agriculture and mechanical arts. Accredited by the Western Association for Schools and Colleges you can earn degrees in Arts and Humanities, Languages and Literature, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences.
Top majors – Oceanography, Pacific/Asian Island Studies, Astronomy, Sociology, Liberal Arts, English, Finance, and Nursing
Location – Honolulu, Hawaii
Type of College – Public
Beach Nearby – Waikiki State Beach
University of California – San Diego
University of California San Diego is one of California’s prime locations for a “beach college.” It is located on the coast of Southern California. This “Public Ivy” school is very strong in sciences and engineering. The Scripps Institute of Oceanography is nearby where students engage in studies centered on oceanography and marine biology. The athletics department competes in the NCAA division of the California Collegiate Athletic Association.
Top majors – Biology, Biochemistry, Anatomy, Psychology, Political Sciences, and Communications.
Location – La Jolla, CA
Type of College - Public
Beach nearby – La Jolla State Beach
Palm Beach Atlantic University
West Palm Beach Florida is home to some of the most favorite East Coast beaches. Palm Beach Atlantic University boasts a small class size with a student/teacher ratio of 17:1. When students are not engaged in studies there are activities such as snorkeling, hiking, and scuba diving. The school is a Christian Liberal Arts College with both undergraduate and graduate programs. It houses over 60 Student organizations and clubs and the athletics department is a member of the NCAA Division II.
Top Majors – Biology, Health Professions, Psychology, Business, Management, Visual and Performing Arts
Location – West Palm Beach, FL
Type of College – Private/Christian Liberal Arts
Beach Nearby – West Palm Beach
University of North Carolina Wilmington
University of North Carolina Wilmington is only five miles from the Atlantic Ocean and numerous beach communities rich in sunshine, surfing and beach life. This public university has 52 choices for bachelor’s degrees and studies in nursing, business, and communication. They are second in the state for the highest four-year graduation rate.
Top Majors – Nursing, Education, Accounting, Criminal Justice, Finance, and Psychology
Location – Wilmington, NC
Type of College – Public
Beach Nearby – Wrightsville Beach
Florida Institute of Technology
Florida Institute of Technology is situated right on the Atlantic Coastline very near the Sebastian Inlet, one of the most popular surfing areas on the East Coast. The 130 acre campus is home to 30 acres of botanical gardens. Those who love nature can enjoy over 200 different species of palm trees. The school hosts an ROTC program, science, and engineering, which makes is one of the best colleges near the beach.
Top Majors – Aviation and Aerospace, Marine Biology, Electrical Engineering, and Business Administration
Location – Melbourne, FL
Type of College – Private
Beach Nearby – Sebastian Inlet
Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University overlooks the Pacific Ocean in the city of Malibu. The campus spans across 830 acres and houses several schools including a law school, Graduate School of Education, School for Business and Management and a School of Public Policy. The University even has facilities in Germany, Italy, China, England, Argentina, and Switzerland. Just a few miles away from several beaches.
Top Majors – Fine Arts, Business, Journalism, Law, Biology, Chemistry, Social Sciences, and Theology
Location – Malibu, CA
Type of College – Private
Beach Nearby – Malibu State Beach, Zuma Beach， etc.
Endicott College
Endicott College is located in Beverly, Massachusetts. It sits on the North Shore of the Massachusetts Bay. The school is accredited by the New England Association of Colleges. They have programs for Masters, Bachelor’s and Associate’s degrees. The beaches of New England are some of the best places for a warm bowl of clam chowder, tanning and watersports.
Top Majors – Business, Education, Political Science, Parks, Fitness Studies, Recreation, Psychology; Visual and Performing Arts
Location – Beverly, MA
Type of College – Private
Beach Nearby – Rice’s Beach
Seattle Pacific University
You can have the best of the ocean and more when studying at Seattle Pacific University. Located in urban Seattle, nearby you can find fishing, boating, beach life, and scuba diving. There are also two island campuses, Whidbey Island and Blakely Island, where you can study and research life above and under the ocean.
Top Majors – Accounting, Psychology, Business Administration, Physiology, and Communication, Engineering
Location – Seattle, WA
Type of College – Private
Beach Nearby – Alki Beach, Madonna Beach
Mitchell College
Mitchell College is located in the quaint seaside town of New London, CT. This small liberal arts college rests near the Long Island Sound with its own private beach. There is also Ocean Beach Park nearby with attractive white sands. The school has small class student/teacher ratio 15:1 and 9 undergraduate study programs. There are also 20 different student organizations to choose from.
Top Majors – Criminal Justice, Business Administration, Liberal Studies, Sports Management, and Psychology
Location – New London, CT
Type of College – Private
Beach Nearby – Mitchell Beach
Monmouth University
Monmouth University lies very close to the “Jersey Shore” and Seven Presidents’ Oceanfront Park, one of the East Coasts popular beach spots for surfing and sunbathing. The school was founded in 1933 and sits on 156 acres a mile from the coast. There are small class sizes with a student/teacher ratio of 15:1. There are 33 degree programs and they host a strong athletics program.
Top Majors – Health Professions, Education, Business Management, Psychology, Journalism, and Communication
Location – West Long Branch, NJ
Type of College – Private
Beach Nearby – Seven Presidents’ Ocean Front Park
Oregon Coast Community College
Oregon Coast Community College is nestled up against the Pacific Ocean, students can study with the only existing Aquarium Science at the Hatfield Marine Science Center. The 28 acre campus is located in Newport, OR and is near a number of beaches. While the study areas for this school are strong for Marine Biology and Biological Sciences, there are many other liberal arts programs to choose from.
Top Majors – Aquarium Science, Marine Biology, Homeland Security, Nursing, Firefighting, Criminal Justice and Oceanography
Location – Newport, OR
Type of College – Public/Community
Beach Nearby – Agate Beach State Park, South Beach
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