Top Beach-Town Colleges
The largest 4-year colleges within 10 miles of the ocean
Yes, you can go to college on the beach. 331 four-year colleges and universities in the United States sit within 10 miles of an ocean beach, from big state flagships to small private schools. This list ranks the 20 largest by enrollment, the places where a full-size campus experience and real beach access overlap.
The 10-mile cutoff matters. That is the difference between a beach you see on spring break and a beach that is part of your actual week: a bike ride after class, a study break at sunset, a Saturday that starts on the sand. Every school below clears that bar, and many are far closer. Check the distance badge on each row for the exact mileage.
Enrollment, admissions, and cost figures come from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS). Beach distances come from CollegeCove proximity analysis, measured from campus coordinates to the nearest ocean beach. Click through to any school for its acceptance rate, tuition, campus safety score, and the name of the beach you would actually be driving to.
Ranking methodology: Schools must be within 10 miles of the nearest ocean beach. Only 4-year degree-granting institutions are included. Ranked by total enrollment (largest first) so the most well-known beach schools appear at the top.
California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach, CA
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA
University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, CA
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL
University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA
Boston University
Boston, MA
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY
University of California-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA
Northeastern University
Boston, MA
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Honolulu, HI
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
University of Rhode Island
Kingston, RI
University of North Florida
Jacksonville, FL
California State University-Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA
University of Massachusetts-Boston
Boston, MA
College of Charleston
Charleston, SC
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are on the beach in the U.S.?
331 four-year colleges and universities are within 10 miles of an ocean beach. Counting two-year schools, the number grows to 481. This list ranks the 20 largest four-year schools; you can browse the full set in our Beach Schools collection.
Why rank beach colleges by enrollment?
Enrollment is the fairest single measure of the classic big-campus experience most students picture: more majors, more clubs, more sports, more people to meet. It also keeps the ranking objective. Every row shows the exact distance to the ocean, so you can re-rank by what matters most to you.
Are beach colleges good schools academically?
The list includes selective research universities and open-admission regional schools alike. Location says nothing about rigor on its own, so check each school's acceptance rate, graduation rate, and fields of study on its profile page before judging it either way.
Explore all Beach School Vibes
See the full collection with filters for tuition, safety, admissions, and more.
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