Samford University was recently named one of the nation’s most beautiful college campuses by U.S. News & World Report, placing it among the top 30 schools recognized for their scenery and design. But beyond the ranking itself, students across campus say the recognition reflects what they experience every day.
For many, the appeal of Samford begins with their first tour.
“I did not originally want to come to Samford because my mom wanted me to come here,” Avery Risner, a junior from Edmond, Oklahoma, said. “And then I came, and I toured, and I fell in love with it because the campus was so beautiful.”
Coming from what she described as the “very flat” landscape of Oklahoma, Risner said Samford’s rolling hills, lush greenery and warm, homey architecture stood out immediately.
But beyond first impressions, the campus beauty still impacts her experiences.
“I love going out in the quad on a sunny day,” she said. “I think it romanticizes the experience of doing schoolwork.”
Emma Marr, a Law, Politics and Society major from Fort Worth, Texas, notes that campus aesthetics were also an important factor in her college decision.
“I wanted a college that not only had great academics but also a beautiful campus,” Marr said. “When I am surrounded by beauty, my work is more inspired and meaningful.”
She added that Samford’s spring flowers to quiet outdoor study spots have a noticeable effect on her mood and productivity.
“In the spring when everything is blooming, my mood also tends to be more lightweight and happy,” Marr said. “It makes me appreciate and draw inspiration from nature.”
For transfer student Emme Pagelson, the contrast between Samford and other campuses made the decision clear.
“It was really down to Millsaps and Samford,” Pagelson said. “Millsaps was bleak… and Samford’s campus, how gorgeous it is, definitely contributed to me choosing to come here.”
For these students, the national title labels the campus environment that they love, and that shaped their college decision and time at Samford.
Staff Reporter
