The 30 colleges with the best dorms

"Dorms are absolutely superb at Bryn Mawr," noted one student at the all-girls' school. "Even the smallest dorms are more roomy than average dorms at most colleges. In the average dorm, a student will have a walk-in closet either to themselves or with a roommate, a fireplace, and a window seat. Heating is excellent, and each dorm is clean and well-kept. All dorms are right on campus except for one. This year, my furthest class has been a five-minute walk from my dorm."

Room and board: $13,860

"The housing at the University of Mobile is very nice and fairly new," said a U of Mobile student. "It is rather expensive, mainly because it is a private school, but it is very spacious and clean. They provide us with laundry rooms and toilet tissue."

Room and board: $8,830

"The dorms are cleaned every week and taken care of," said one student. "Although expensive, it is completely worth it to live on campus."

"Though on-campus living is expensive, it really is nice," said another student. "Once you are a junior or senior, you have the chance to live in gorgeous new apartments that are also taken care of by housekeeping. Basically, we are spoiled."

Room and board: $13,186

"The facilities are top notch and have all gold leaf dorm buildings. The school is very sustainable," said one student. "It is easy to find housing and very convenient."

Another raved: "Great heating and air conditioning, great bathroom facilities. They have drawers and closets for all of your items, which was very convenient and unlike any other colleges I have visited."

Room and board: $9,500

"The campus is great and the dorm life is wonderful," a student said. "The people who surround you in your dorm are people who will recognize you and ask you how you are doing. True community can be found in the dorms."

Room and board: $7,560

"There are two newer dorms that have very modern furnishings, A+ security and amenities. The three other dorms are a bit older but are still kept up very nicely," one student said. "Many of the senior housing apartments have been modernized and refurbished and are very nice."

Room and board: $6,944

"When more than 95% of undergraduates at Harvard prefer to live on campus, you know there must be something attractive about the housing opportunities," a student argued. "From its rich history and beautiful architecture to the close-knit house communities and central location, Harvard campus housing is matched by few, if any, universities in the country."

Room and board: $14,115

"The campus is just the right size," said a recent alum. "You can walk to all your classes within 10 minutes or less, and everybody on campus is so friendly. It feels like we are a family and you always have a chance to get together with friends."

"There's a high level of camaraderie among students in the various residence halls," said another alum.

Room and board: $7,485

"Honestly, ALL the dorms at Santa Clara are amazing," one student raved. "Most are new, and the older ones are being renovated. Each hall has its own personality and uniqueness to it so there will be a place for everyone to be at home. Living in Graham this year, it was unfortunately not as social as I had expected, but I can't complain, with the GIANT room I have and private bathroom."

Room and board: $12,546

"All Wheaton freshmen are required to live in dorms, and nearly 90% of the student body lives on campus all four years," noted a student. "While most college students would do anything to get off campus, housing at Wheaton is highly promoted and has profound effects on the social scene."

Room and board: $8,770

"Senior year housing is pretty great, and the co-op/Greek/row housing is awesome, with nice chefs, a massive variety of options, and good community," one student said.

"Freshman dorms are such an incredible experience your first year. All housing is relatively close in proximity to the library, classes, etc.," said another student. "The dorm is always kept clean by a daily cleaning person who is always really sweet. Doing laundry is also free."

Room and board: $13,166

"These dorms are apartment style, so they come with a bathroom and a kitchen and living room," one student explained. "They are expensive, but they are so worth it."

"CCU has the BEST on campus living of any university," said another student. "Everyone is really nice and friendly. A++ because everything is in walking distance, so if you are from out of town or just don't have a car, you are set."

Room and board: $9,640

"Living arrangements in the dorms range from a double to a quad, and the quality of room depends on which dorm the student chooses," said a student. "Changing rooms or dorms if dissatisfaction does occur is quick, easy, and painless."

Room and board: $9,240

"Campus housing is seriously great! I have no problems with it at all," one student commented. "They are constantly clean and allow for great individual privacy."

"The dorms are comfortable and dorm life is relaxed," said another student. "I honestly have no complaints. Life is good."

Room and board: $5,962

This student had nothing but good things to say: "Housing on campus at times seems like living in an hotel for a whole school year. Our environmental service personnel are great with keeping the dorms clean as well as students living up to cleanliness in respect to how beautiful they found the living spaces upon arrival."

Room and board: $12,888

"Campus housing is amazing," one student said. "It is really easy to talk to the RAs about things and they will help you as much as they can or give you advice. The bathrooms are kept clean and the dorms are so spacious; it's nice."

Room and board: $9,814

"The dorms are extremely nice — much better than the majority of colleges," one student noted. "Private bathrooms. Sophomore year and up you get a private room and you share a common room and bathroom with one roommate. Living rooms, computer rooms, free laundry, pantries with fridges, TVs."

Room and board: $10,916

"The housing is so great here," said a transfer student. "The dorms look like mini-palaces and have so much character like fireplaces and crown tiling. There are a lot of suite-style and two-room doubles, and housekeeping does an incredible job keeping the bathrooms and hall clean. There are some beautiful courtyards and great lounges too. I transferred from Brown to here and the dorms are SO much better."

Room and board: $14,100

According to one student, campus housing at Liberty "has any style you might be looking for. There are brand new, modern-style dorms. [Or] apartment style dorms with a kitchen and living room. Then there are the classic three-person bunk bed dorms with community bathrooms. Each dorm has a different community aspect, and I'm sure you will be able to to find what fits you best."

Room and board: $7,976

"Campus housing at Johnson University is the best that I have come across," one student noted.

"How many universities have full bathrooms in each dorm room?!" said another.

Room and board: $6,902

"Great freshman dorms, clean and spacious," said a student. "Each person gets their own room."

"Apart from the cost, on-campus housing at FGCU is extraordinary," another said. "It's very convenient and has modern amenities to make you comfortable."

Room and board: $8,384

"The dorms are very nice, almost like apartments — even for the freshmen," one student wrote. "They have plenty of living options as you advance in years, and the dorms get better and better. By junior year, each student has their own room (if they want), a dining/kitchen area, a living room, full bathroom, and washers and dryers. It is a little costly, but students are getting their money's worth."

Room and board: $9,959

"The housing is what drew me to Union," one student admitted. "I didn't want community bathrooms, and Union definitely doesn't have that. All dorms are apartment-style, meaning there is a bathroom, four bedrooms, a kitchen, and a living room. The freshman/older dorms only have one bathroom, while the quads/newer dorms have two bathrooms and include a washer and dryer."

Room and board: $9,990

"I love living on campus," said a student. "It gives a whole new aspect to the college experience. Coming from out of state, it is nice to have a clean, spacious living area, even as a freshman. The community is so welcoming and there are a lot of events offered to get yourself involved in."

Room and board: $9,220

"Rice uses a college housing system similar to the house system in Harry Potter," said one student. "You matriculate with a certain college and usually stay with the same college until you graduate. This system generates really friendly and close-knit college communities. Each college has a slightly different culture, government, dormitory style, and housing process."

Room and board: $13,000

One student breaks down campus housing at Yale: "One of my favorite things about Yale is the housing system. When you enter Yale your freshman year you are randomly assigned to one of 12 'residential colleges' which are basically just different dorms you are associated with for the next four years. Each residential college has its own dining hall, common room, and basement with various amenities (your college may have a gym, a theater, a music room, or more!)."

Room and board: $13,500

"On-campus housing at High Point is incredible! All of the dorms have either been recently renovated or are brand-new," boasted one student. "The college housing is beautifully maintained, spacious, and upgraded. Even the standard dorms on campus are nicer than what most college students live in during all four years of school."

Room and board: $11,480

"Our rooms are so spacious!" raved a student. "Each room has its own kitchen and bathroom along with living room and bedroom; it's practically an apartment. It's the greatest thing in the world. It's such a great place to retreat at the end of the day."

Room and board: $8,430

"Bowdoin first-years live in rooms that are nicer than many upperclassmen get at competing schools," wrote one student. "[Freshman] dorms are equipped with laundry and bike storage in the basements, and the rooms are either quads (a common room and two bedrooms) or doubles (a common room and a bedroom)."

"There is a definite reason why nearly all students choose to live on-campus all four years," wrote another.

Room and board: $12,388

"The modern dorms are like castles," said a student.

"The dorms here are wonderful; they are spacious, with nice carpeting and Tempur-Pedic mattresses," another said. "Most dorms have personal bathrooms shared among 4-6 others, and the school provides cleaning staff to clean the showers, sinks, and bathroom stalls. The dorms are pretty expensive, but they are luxurious compared to many other universities."

Room and board: $13,502