9 Most Beautiful College Towns In New York
Ambitious, brilliant, and energetic, New York is a powerhouse when it comes to academia, with over 100 universities, 200 colleges, and the most four-year degree-granting institutions in the US. Its college towns nurture innovation and leadership, with a welcoming campus or two steeped in history and natural beauty. Plattsburgh is a sleepy lakeside town with business and marketing majors studying along the vast Lake Champlain. Between its dynamic towns and stimulating atmosphere, any time spent in these towns amounts to an unforgettable experience, like Ithaca on the longest glacial Finger Lake.
The natural beauty of these towns alone draws thousands out of the cities, shrouding small towns with waterfalls, gorges, and mountains of the Catskill and Adirondack ranges. Whether you enjoy the outdoors, culture, or an active nightlife, these post-study options enhance college life. In these beautiful towns, students don't just hang out or escape to NYC at first convenience. They stretch their legs over the Walkway Over the Hudson in Poughkeepsie, among others. Whether you're in for four years or the weekend, let us dive into the most beautiful college towns in New York.
Brockport
Brockport embodies a quaint college village with a population split almost evenly between the students and regular townies. It is home to SUNY Brockport, where many are enrolled in one of the state's best nursing and health services programs. More than just scholarly charm, Brockport is “The Victorian Village on the Erie Canal.” The Tower Fine Arts Center Mainstage is part of the welcoming campus, while the Morgan-Manning House is a well-preserved Victorian museum.
Ringing the waterfront, Brockport's collection of antique shops and restaurants can charm any tourist or visiting family from the city. At just over two square miles, everything is within walking distance, and for everything else, it is a quick drive to Rochester or one hour to Buffalo. The coffee shops and local parks provide an outlet for studies. Nature is never far, with many town greens, and Holley Canal Falls tumbles just a great bike ride away via the Erie Canalway Trail.
Cortland
At 1,130 feet above sea level, the “Crown City” is a "top" place to attend college in southern New York. SUNY Cortland offers popular majors in education and health. As stately as the university is, with its classic look and amenities, there's nothing like stepping out to the magnificent stone castle right outside the campus. The 1890 House Museum lends a romantic vibe and tours of the notable Victorian industrialist Chester F. Wickwire's home with photographs and vintage interiors.
Several bars and restaurants are within a quick walk, and bike lanes extend into the surrounding state forests, gorges, preserves, and wilderness trails. Lime Hollow Nature Center is south-adjacent for hiking and leisurely trails, including whimsical art creatures that organically fit on the forest floor. In addition to the spectacular football stadium, Cortland Repertory Theatre is one of the state's oldest. Meanwhile, Greek Peak Mountain Resort offers students and visitors the opportunity for snowboarding and skiing.
Hempstead
This Long Island gem is home to Hofstra University, praised for its beautiful campus, psychology and finance programs, and a student-to-teacher ratio of 13-to-1. The naturally flat Hempstead Plain, where Charles A. Lindbergh took off solo to Paris, translates into a high walkability score, with open spaces, golf, and tennis courts. Its prominent natural feature is Hempstead Lake State Park, centered on a tranquil lake with playgrounds, multi-use trails, and a retro carousel.
The campus is surrounded by coffee shops, restaurants, and cultural opportunities at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, home of the NHL's NY Islanders, plus concerts and expositions. Meanwhile, Hofstra University Museum of Art offers Dalí paintings and outdoor sculptures. It is a quick drive or a relaxed summer evening bike ride to the coast at sunset. Being just 40 minutes from the Big Apple, students enjoy the opportunity to let go on weekends but also networking and internships.
Hyde Park
Just north of Poughkeepsie, Hyde Park is recognized for its unique college environment in the beautiful Hudson Valley. Over 3,000 students annually begin their four-year journey here, on the eastern shore of the Hudson River. The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) graduates some of the country's best chefs and culinary artists, many of whom work at the local restaurants through college. Between the Hyde Park trail system and culture in the outdoors, it is easy to stay in shape.
Many visit to indulge in some of the best and most diverse food in the US. As the birthplace of Franklin D. Roosevelt, it is also a place of historic significance. Head up to Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site, with scenic grounds and tours of his 54-room Beaux-Arts estate. The FDR's presidential library and former home is open just south to sift through the past with exhibits and two wings dedicated to the former first lady. There is a serene spot along the shore to catch the sunset over the Hudson.
Ithaca
Named after the Greek island from Homer’s “Odyssey,” Ithaca's prestigious geography in the southern Finger Lakes Region encompasses over 150 waterfalls within a 10-mile radius, including Cascadilla Gorge and Falls via downtown trailheads. The waterfront Allan H. Treman State Marine Park provides a year-round boat launch and picnic area, plus a seasonal marina with slips and rentals. This town on Lake Cayuga's southern shore is home to Cornell University, one of NY's two Ivy League campuses.
The lakefront campus on Bebee Lake boasts the defining Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, an I.M. Pei-designed tower with ancient Roman sculptures and 21st-century photography. It is just a hike from campus to the serene Sunset Park for a lake overlook, while the iconic Buttermilk Falls State Park is a stroll from Ithaca College. Driving culture and economy, students enjoy flavorful options, including a farmers market to cook fresh in-dorm, while theaters and local cinemas are as popular as bars.
Plattsburgh
Picturesquely framed by waters in the nook of Cumberland Bay, this college beach town across Lake Champlain from Vermont is one enviable place to attain higher education. SUNY Plattsburgh offers popular majors in business management and marketing. Several hiking and biking trails start right on campus, like the easy Saranac River Trail, which connects to others along the river's length. The surrounding wilderness enhances a remote feel despite proximity to a big city.
Just an hour away from both Montreal and Lake Placid, Plattsburgh is a perfect pit stop, embracing students and visitors with a walkable downtown and riverfront amenities. Just north, the sprawling city beach is perfect for a stroll along the nature trail and a refreshing swim, plus picnic tables and a dog park. It provides easy access to the six-million-acre Adirondack Park, which offers epic hiking, with gorges and waterfalls, as well as summits to conquer and mountain biking paths.
Poughkeepsie
Nature, youth, and history unite in Poughkeepsie on the Hudson's eastern shore. It is home to Vassar College, a liberal school, and the larger Marist University, with undergraduate and graduate degrees in business, communications, computer science, and the arts. The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center at Vassar College displays paintings, ceramics, and photography with a gallery and exhibit space. Meanwhile, Marist University is a sponsor of the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area.
Famously home to the world’s longest elevated pedestrian footbridge, Walkway Over the Hudson State Park dates its origins to 1889. Cycle in scenic views across or loiter by the rails. The historic College Hill Park is perfect to escape from studies amongst a columned, Parthenonesque pavilion, a rock garden, a fish-teeming lake, and trails. Samuel Morse owned the Tuscan-style villa here, now a museum. Students today enjoy diverse cuisine options and local brewing craft.
Saratoga Springs
Just south of the Adirondacks, Saratoga Springs is an ideal place to attend college, and its love for spas and horse racing is just a start. With NYC, Boston, and Montreal within four hours away, its remote feel and unique lifestyle promise memorable college years. Considered one of the “Hidden Ivies,” Skidmore College leads the Empire in liberal arts education with the motto “creative thought matters” and over 40 undergraduate degrees, including arts, biology, and economics.
Home to the only naturally carbonated mineral springs east of the Rockies, hence its nickname “the Queen of the Spas,” this Hudson River Valley town offers plenty of ways to relax and stay active. At its heart, Saratoga Spa State Park is a beautiful historic space with art and culture exhibits, a pool complex, and golf. Students enjoy diverse recreational opportunities within walking distance from the campus, like horseback riding, hiking, and ziplines, plus the nearby Saratoga County Kalabus Perry Trails.
Stony Brook
Stony Brook unites historic charm and convenience on Eastern Long Island. Its quaint allure encompasses cobblestoned streets and the beautiful campus of Stony Brook University. Not just another SUNY, New York's flagship and the top-rated public research university offers a wide range of academic programs. In 2025, it was ranked in the top 100 universities in the world for the physical sciences by Times Higher Education.
Still just a hamlet at its heart, Stony Brook promises a boatload of memories through college, with a treasure-strewn downtown and the Stony Brook Grist Mill, a preserved 18th-century relic. Browse quaint shops, boutiques, and local artisans for crafts, then dive into gourmet and casual dining. Consider the serene Avalon Park & Preserve for intimate strolls, studying, and picnics in lush greenery.
College towns are some of the most fun places to visit in the U.S. for a taste of creative spirit, new-age cafes, and beautiful nature where students blow off their steam. There's a hidden Ivy in the Hudson Valley among other beautiful campuses with natural beauty, entertainment, and outdoor activities. Home to under 60,000 residents, these nine college towns are idyllic to study and relax away from the books, essentially in a nature wrap. More than college towns or tourist destinations alone, each offers diversity and affordability, with culture driven by students to soak in unique flavor, relive youth, or attain a degree.
