117 schools meet this page’s criteria: four-year colleges within 10 miles of an ocean beach.
CollegeCove features four-year colleges and universities that primarily award bachelor's degrees or higher. Community colleges, vocational and certificate schools, graduate-only institutions, seminaries and other single-subject schools, and institutions that are primarily online are not included. Search all schools to reach community colleges and specialized institutions too.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a beach college?
A campus within 10 miles of an ocean beach. We measure straight-line distance from the campus to the nearest coastline, so every one of these 117 schools is a realistic drive or bike ride from the water, not a two-hour trip that technically counts as coastal. Saltwater only: campuses on lakes and reservoirs are a different experience and have their own Lake Life collection.
Are beach colleges more expensive?
Being near the ocean does not set tuition. This list mixes public and private schools across a wide price range. What coastal location can raise is cost of living, especially off-campus housing. Cross-reference with the Budget Friendly collection to see which beach schools stay under $15,000 out-of-state tuition.
Which beach colleges are the safest?
Campus safety varies widely among coastal schools and does not track with how nice the beach is. Every school profile here carries a campus safety score built from federal Clery Act reporting, and we have ranked the safest beach-town campuses separately.
Can I find a school near both a beach and a ski hill?
Yes, though it is rarer than most students assume. A small number of campuses sit within reach of both ocean and mountains, concentrated heavily in California. Apply the ski filter on top of this collection to see them.
