16 Colleges Near The Beach For Sun-Seeking Students
If you want to work hard and play even harder, check out these colleges near the beach.
We’re all our best selves during a vacation, right? So surely going to a college by the beach will maximize your inner peace and productivity (aka: ace your college assignments).
If you want to step outside of your college dorm and feel like you’re on vacation every day, then looking at colleges near the beach is a step in the right direction. Vitamin D to the max, a place to clear your head, somewhere to cool off if college work gets too stressful — the beach is basically free therapy.
If you’re a water sign or just fancy yourself a tan, check out the best colleges near the beach (the education is also pretty good, FYI).
Can’t go to a college near the beach? Check out our guide to traveling on a budget and save it for your vacation instead.
Jump to:
- Best colleges near the beach
- Colleges near the beach East Coast
- Colleges by the beach in California
- Colleges in Florida near the beach
16 colleges near the beach
Let’s go to the beach, beach, let’s go get a wave.
Best colleges near the beach
Coastal Carolina University
- Distance to nearest beach: Myrtle Beach — approximately 11 miles
- US Rank 2024 (out of 1726): 489
- Known for majors: business, marine, biology, psychology, marketing and exercise science
Unsure what to major in college? We’ve got the hardest and easiest college majors to help you make your decision.
University of Hawaii at Manoa
- Distance to nearest beach: Ala Moana Beach — approximately 2 miles
- US Rank 2024 (out of 1726): 445
- Known for majors: oceanography, astronomy, earth science, and marine biology
St. Mary’s College of Maryland
- Distance to nearest beach: Elm’s Beach Park — approximately 4 miles
- US Rank 2024 (out of 1726): 710
- Known for majors: social sciences, biological and biomedical sciences, psychology, and natural resources
Texas A&M University — Corpus Christi
- Distance to nearest beach: Opposite campus
- US Rank 2024 (out of 1726): 471
- Known for majors: nursing, psychology, biomedical sciences, business administration, exercise science, and biology
Colleges near the beach East Coast
University of Rhode Island
- Distance to nearest beach: Narragansett Beach — approximately 6 miles
- US Rank 2024 (out of 1726): 156
- Known for majors: nursing, business, and engineering
Monmouth University
- Distance to nearest beach: Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park — approximately 4 miles
- US Rank 2024 (out of 1726): 263
- Known for majors: business, education, health sciences, and the arts and humanities
University of North Carolina — Wilmington
- Distance to nearest beach: Wrightsville Beach 5 miles
- US Rank 2024 (out of 1726): 277
- Known for majors: nursing, business, communications, psychology, and biology
Salve Regina University
- Distance to nearest beach: Easton’s Beach 2 miles
- US Rank 2024 (out of 1726): 842
- Known for majors: business, education, and nursing
Colleges by the beach in California
California and living by the beach doesn’t come cheap, so make sure you’re in-the-know about student grants for college to help with your finances.
Pepperdine University
- Distance to nearest beach: Malibu Lagoon State Beach 2 miles
- US Rank 2024 (out of 1726): 223
- Known for majors: psychology, business, and communications
University of California — Santa Barbara
- Distance to nearest beach: Campus Point Beach — less than 1 mile
- US Rank 2024 (out of 1726): 44
- Known for majors: computer science, economics, psychology, social sciences, history, neuroscience, philosophy, mathematics
Loyola Marymount University
- Distance to nearest beach: Playa Del Rey beach — approximately 6 miles
- US Rank 2024 (out of 1726): 252
- Known for majors: psychology, marketing, finance, and film and television production
California State University — Long Beach
- Distance to nearest beach: Long Beach City Beach — approximately 3 miles
- US Rank 2024 (out of 1726): 185
- Known for majors: business, visual and performing arts, engineering, and social sciences
Colleges in Florida near the beach
Eckerd College
- Distance to nearest beach: On campus
- US Rank 2024 (out of 1726): 779
- Known for majors: biological sciences, environmental sciences, and psychology
Lynn University
- Distance to nearest beach: Spanish River Beach — 4 miles
- US Rank 2024 (out of 1726): 885
- Known for majors: business, visual and performing arts, psychology, journalism
Florida Gulf Coast University
- Distance to nearest beach: Fort Myers Beach — 19 miles
- US Rank 2024 (out of 1726): 377
- Known for majors: business, psychology, health professions, and communications
If you’re eager to study psychology as your major, check out the best colleges for psychology.
Florida Atlantic University
- Distance to nearest beach: Spanish River Beach — approximately 3 miles
- US Rank 2024 (out of 1726): 146
- Known for majors: engineering, business, nursing, and criminal justice
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