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Stanford University (Stanford, California) -

The main quad at Stanford University overlooks Memorial Church, a Romanesque revival structure from 1903, designed by Charles Allerton Coolidge.

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Stanford University (Stanford, California) -

The quad represents the oldest part of the school and is at the heart of the campus.

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Yale University (New Haven, Connecticut) -

Founded in 1701, Yale University is one of the oldest and most prestigious colleges in the US. 

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Yale University (New Haven, Connecticut) -

The university features several picturesque quads, including Memorial Quadrangle, which was constructed during World War I.

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University of Washington (Seattle, Washington) -

Constructed between 1916 and 1939, the University of Washington stands as one of the finest examples of collegiate Gothic architecture in the United States.

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University of Washington (Seattle, Washington) -

The quad is especially stunning in the spring when the cherry trees burst into bloom.

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Harvard University (Cambridge, Massachusetts) -

Harvard Yard, the heart of the Ivy League campus, is surrounded by freshman dormitories, historic libraries, and various academic buildings.

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Harvard University (Cambridge, Massachusetts) -

The center of the quad, called Tercentenary Theatre, is where commencement is held each year.

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Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Boston, Massachusetts) -

MIT's central quad, Killian Court, is surrounded by a series of buildings designed by architect William Welles Bosworth in the early 1900s.

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Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Boston, Massachusetts) -

The domed building, known as Building 10, features a striking columned portico, while the open side of the quad provides a scenic view of Boston.

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University of Georgia (Athens, Georgia) -

The University of Georgia's North Campus is the oldest part of the school, adorned with beautiful Greek Revival architecture and lush gardens.

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University of Georgia (Athens, Georgia) -

This corner of the North Campus Quad overlooks Lustrat House, a historic faculty residence from 1847.

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University of Chicago (Chicago, Illinois) -

The main quadrangle at the University of Chicago, designed by Henry Ives Cobb, was recognized as a botanic garden by the American Public Garden Association.

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University of Chicago (Chicago, Illinois) -

The stunning space is adorned with flowers and plants, complementing the Gothic architecture that defines the university.

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Rice University (Houston, Texas) -

Rice University's Academic Quad is a central gathering space framed by historic architecture and lush green lawns.

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Rice University (Houston, Texas) -

The quad is also home to some of Rice's most beloved traditions, like the annual Beer Bike event, combining a bike race and a beer festival.

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Cornell University (Ithaca, New York) -

Library Slope at Cornell University overlooks the Ivy League's campus in Ithaca, New York.

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Cornell University (Ithaca, New York) -

The hill, situated between the West Campus and the Arts Quad, offers stunning views of the surrounding campus and beyond.

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Florida Southern College (Lakeland, Florida) -

The Esplanade at Florida Southern College is a covered walkway spanning over a mile (over 1.6 km) across the campus quad.

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Florida Southern College (Lakeland, Florida) -

The campus features the largest number of Frank Lloyd Wright–designed buildings at a single location. The covered walkway, also designed by Wright, links all of his architectural creations throughout the campus.

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College of William & Mary (Williamsburg, Virginia) -

Built in 1700, the Wren Building on the William & Mary campus is the oldest still-standing academic building in the country.

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College of William & Mary (Williamsburg, Virginia) -

The surrounding quad is inspired by 18th-century English gardens, which favored grassy lawns over formal parterres.

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University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, Michigan) -

The Law Quad at the University of Michigan is one of the most picturesque settings on campus.

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University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, Michigan) -

Originally designed by architects Edward Sawyer and Philip York, the quad and its surrounding buildings were inspired by the architectural styles of Oxford and Cambridge in England.

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University of Virginia (Charlottesville, Virginia) -

The lawn at the University of Virginia is the vibrant heart of campus, where students come together to socialize and relax.

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University of Virginia (Charlottesville, Virginia) -

The grassy field and surrounding buildings, including the pictured Rotunda (inspired by the Pantheon), were all designed by Founding Father Thomas Jefferson.

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Syracuse University (Syracuse, New York) -

The quad at Syracuse University was named after former school chancellor Kenneth A. Shaw.

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Syracuse University (Syracuse, New York) -

The university describes the green space as "part of a centuries-old tradition in higher education: the provision of a peaceful, open-air area for both thoughtful contemplation and social interaction."

Sources: (Architectural Digest) (Business Insider) 

See also: The hardest colleges to get into in the US

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