10 Most Posh University Dormitories

  1. Texas A&M’s "Callaway Villas"
    The Callaway Villas residency was created by a private developer, but with its close proximity to Texas A&M and the university’s understanding of its appeal, the resort-style residence draws in a good number of students every year looking for an alternative to the stale and bland dorm lifestyle. Callaway Villas boast townhomes and apartments for friends to share, and a beautiful pool that is lit after the sun sets for those craving a late night dip. Stressed students can soak in the residence’s hot tub, play shuffleboard, billiards, or foosball at the recreation center, or take advantage of the 24-hour fitness center. For many, the living at school may just outdo the living at home.
  2. Boston University’s "Student Village II"
    Erected in 2009, Boston University’s "Student Village II," so named because it is the second residential tower to be built on the western wing of the university’s campus, provides lucky students with an environment that is more akin to living in a hotel rather than a college dormitory. A stunning view of the Charles River, State House, and Harbor Islands greets students outside their windows, and each student gets a spacious room, complete with floor-length mirrors, a walk-in closet, and perhaps the most anti-dorm feature of all – a private bath. There’s even a soundproof room with a piano for students who wish to flex their fingers across the keys without disturbing anyone else. Now that’s good living.
  3. Washington State University’s "Olympia Avenue"
    This swanky glass and brick residence hall is home to about 230 Washington State University students enjoying the good life. High speed internet access is available throughout the building to allow students to sit down and check their Facebook messages nearly anywhere. There is a quiet study lounge on every floor, as well as a corresponding active lounge for students to gather, mingle, and cook in the lounge’s kitchen. Those not wishing to exercise their culinary prowess can choose to stroll to the nearby Southside Café instead for fresh cooked-to-order food. To top it all off, the Olympia Avenue residence hall is environmentally-friendly, featuring geothermal heating and cooling, storm water collection and reuse for irrigation, and many other green aspects.
  4. Purdue University’s "First Street Towers"
    Say goodbye to disgusting community bathrooms and annoying roommates because Purdue University has solved those problems. The college’s First Street Towers, which opened in 2009 and is the school’s newest residence hall, is filled with only single bedrooms and private baths for each student. Residents can enjoy precious privacy, free maid service and laundry, and uninterrupted baths. They only need to mingle in the dormitory’s community lounges when they feel social. The lounges are all equipped with flat-screen televisions and kitchens so that residents can eat and watch television with company before heading back for a quiet evening of studying without worry of distraction.
  5. Arizona State University’s "Vista Del Sol"
    The mod dusty red, gray, and beige rectangular buildings that make up Arizona State University’s Vista Del Sol residence hall seem to announce to passersby that they are no ordinary residence hall. Rather than the images of boring tiny jail cells for rooms and cramped communal corners that the word "dormitory" usually evokes, this residence hall boasts a luxurious lifestyle. In the heart of the complex, there is a social lounge, fitness center, game room, and movie theater for students to unwind in after classes. There are also basketball and sand volleyball courts for those craving some athletic competition. But the most splendid amenity of all has to be the heated swimming pool, which ensures that a chilly night will never get in the way of a good swim again.
  6. Smith College, all of the dorms
    At Smith College, an all-girls college tucked away in Northampton, Massachusetts, the living is easy practically no matter where students live. All of the residences are broken up into "houses" where students can get to know one another on a smaller scale than in the gigantic dormitories of most universities. Many professors also attend the weekly teas, a gathering held at the end of every week where residents mingle and enjoy tea and treats. There, they make it a point to meet and socialize with students, making each resident feel welcome and important.
  7. University of Wisconsin-Madison’s "Lucky101"
    A lakefront view and concierge service is not what most people associate with university housing, but University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Lucky101 residences boast those features and more, making the place a residence jackpot for a few fortunate students. This complex boasts a housekeeping service, beautiful community lounges equipped with televisions and wireless internet access, luxury kitchens, tiled bathrooms, and even a full-sized bed in premium single rooms. Students living at Lucky101 won’t even have to go outside except to class because the university’s student activity center, health service office and financial office are all connected to the building, as well a food court and retail stores.
  8. DePaul University’s "1237 West "
    Though created by a private developer rather than DePaul University itself, 1237 West, formerly known as Loft-Right, has attracted many DePaul students since it first opened its doors in 2006. All of the residence’s two-, three-, and four-person rooms and suites are soundproofed, which is a welcome change from the paper thin walls found in most student housing establishments. Satellite television, internet, and swanky furniture designed by Herman Miller adorn every room. Students needing to satisfy a caffeine craving need only to head to the first floor to the resident Starbucks, or walk several paces over for an impromptu tanning session at the in-house tanning center. If it weren’t for the academics, resident students would have little reason to venture out of their posh digs.
  9. Chapman University’s "Sandhu Residence Center"
    With enough room to comfortably fit 300 students into its plethora of double occupancy, single, or two or four bedroom suites, the Sandhu Residence Center offers continuing students a chance to live in absolute comfort. Whether living alone or living with friends, residents of the university’s new dormitory, which was opened in 2009, will enjoy luxurious commodities that are a far cry from the cinderblock dungeon dorms of yore. The dining hall serves up fancy eats like sushi, barbeque, and assorted mouth-watering pastries. Also, there is a 51-foot high climbing wall inside the residence for adventurous students looking for a thrill and workout, which incidentally is the tallest such university climbing wall in California.
  10. Loyola College in Maryland, all of the dorms
    Students at Loyola College in Maryland certainly don’t have to worry about moving into tiny, cramped cinderblock rooms come the beginning of every school year. All of the residences on the school’s campus are apartment-style dream dorms, complete with ample floor space for lounging, a kitchen that is either communal or private, vending machines, and laundry machines. Even the communal bathrooms are practically private, as they are only shared between four to eight people as opposed to the entire floor.