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5 Most Scenic College Campuses Near Chicago

There are a number of factors to consider when choosing a college, and everyone has their own preferences. One of those factors is the campus itself. The key criteria:  location, amenities, and the physical environment (open spaces, buildings, history, etc). This is a very subjective topic, but the five most scenic college campuses near Chicago listed below do have world-class academic reputations and beautiful campuses.
University Of Chicago Shuts Down After Threat Of Gun Violence
(Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

University Of Chicago
5801 Ellis Ave.
Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 702-1234
www.uchicago.edu

The University of Chicago has some of the best architecture that you will find on any campus.  The campus is located in Hyde Park, which is approximately seven miles south of the downtown. The architecture is reminiscent of the University of Oxford in the U.K.  The campus has a number of buildings that are registered on the National Registrar of Historic Places. The university was established in 1890 and is a private research university. It is one of the world's leading universities with 89 Nobel laureates to its credit.

Northwestern University
633 Clark St.
Evanston, IL 60208
(847) 491-3741
northwestern.edu

The Northwestern campus is located in Evanston Illinois, along Lake Michigan just 12 miles north of downtown Chicago. The campus consists of 240 acres of absolute natural beauty. The architecture is both late 1800s Gothic and late 1900s modern glass and steel buildings. The school was founded in 1851 and offers over 120 undergraduate degrees and over 140 graduate degrees. Northwestern is one of the most selective universities in the country, accepting approximately 13 percent of applicants.

Northwestern Wildcats v Wisconsin Badgers
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University Of Wisconsin – Madison
1308 W. Dayton St.
Madison, WI 53715
(608) 263-2400
www.wisc.edu

The university is a public research university located in the heart of Madison, just one mile from the capitol building. The institution was founded in 1848, the same year that Wisconsin became a state.  It is the oldest and largest public university in Wisconsin. The campus sits in the middle of two large lakes, Lake Mendota and Lake Monona. The campus offers its student spectacular views, overlooking 900 acres on campus and the lakes. The university is located approximately 150 miles from downtown Chicago (roughly a three hour drive).

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University Of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN 46556
(574) 631-5000
www.nd.edu

The University of Notre Dame is Roman Catholic research university located in South Bend Indiana, approximately 95 miles from downtown Chicago (roughly a one hour and 45 min drive). The campus consists of 1,250 acres and is one of the most manicured grounds in the U.S.  The Golden Dome, perhaps the most iconic university building in the U.S., adorns the main building on campus. The prominent Virgin of Mary statue was built in 1896 and is a replica of the original in Lourdes France.

Illinois Institute Of Technology – Chicago
3300 S. Federal St.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 567-3000
www.web.iit.edu

Illinois Institute of Technology, commonly referred as IIT, is a private research university located on 120 acres in Chicago, just a few minutes south of downtown. IIT was created in 1940 by the merger of the Lewis Institute and the Armour Institute. The Armour Institute opened in 1890 and was known primarily for engineering and architecture. The 1893 sandstone and redbrick main building is a remarkable example of Romanesque architecture.

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Michelle Guilbeau is a writer, reviewer, teacher and business owner. She also has experience in school administration, literacy coaching and is proud founder of CraftKitsForKids.com and MichelleGuilbeau.com Michelle enjoys sharing her knowledge of cities, food, travel, education and parenting issues with her readers. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.
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