Drop the Doritos. Cue the kale chip. At these universities, “health” is more than just a motto; it’s a mantra. Students question the very humanity behind instant Mac & Cheese. Instead of late-night snacking, you’ll find them gardening, surfing or preaching the healing virtues of downward facing dog. It’s not just a campus; it’s a health haven.
1. UCLA – Los Angeles, California
UCLA has got it all: state-of-the-art fitness facilities, exceptional sports teams (the most decorated athletic program in NCAA history with 109 championships), a winning health center and healthy dining options. Best of all, you don’t have to be a gym rat to get fit. In fact, you don’t have to go to the gym at all. The campus sponsors nearly 80 club and intramural sports, including Quidditch (Harry Potter, anyone?), surfing, juggling and sailing, just to name a few. Not to mention the southern California climate gives students a no-brainer alternative to the treadmill. UCLA junior Ashley McQuerter was blown away at the options. “Freshman year, my friend and I would go to rock climb Thursdays, and that's something I never expected,” she said.
Photo credit: Asya Tabdili, The Daily Bruin
2. Rice University – Houston, Texas
Princeton Review recently named Rice University as the campus with the highest quality of life and the second happiest students in the nation. There has to be a reason for that. Maybe it’s because their Outdoor Adventure Center plans extraordinary backpacking, canoeing, surfing, skiing/snowboarding and rock-climbing trips every weekend. Or maybe it’s because veggies picked straight from the campus garden are used at campus dining halls. They’re also hooked on intramurals. More than 75% of the Rice student body will participate in an intramural sport over a four-year span, according to Justin Stafford, assistant director for intramural and club sports. Stafford said, “The idea that health and wellness are combined with emphasis on all areas—physical, mental, social, emotional, spiritual—gives the Rice community many different opportunities to be as healthy as possible.”
3. Bowdoin College – Brunswick, Maine
4. Brown University – Providence, Rhode Island
Brown’s exceptional health center is partially responsible for the university’s place on this list. These ivy leaguers don’t joke about their grades … or safe sex, receiving one of the top spots on Trojan’s Health Report Card (based on contraceptive/condom availability, health center hours, student opinions, STI testing and cost and methods of assistance, and more). Also, they’ve got a rad campus garden and recently won the Real Food Challenge, a contest in which universities nationwide opted to replace at least 20% of campus food with local, ecologically sound and safe sources. “The student body's mindset is particularly salubrious I would say,” said Nicholas Schamp, 2012 grad. “I know a lot of it [the food] is local and they do strive to be as ‘locally friendly’ as possible.”
5. Yale University – New Haven, Connecticut
Yale blew us away with their top-notch facilities. I mean really, a campus golf course? Sailing center? A private rink? How about this 1,500 acre outdoor education center nestled along the shore of a pristine mile-long lake. There are cabins and campsites for students to rent for hiking, picnics, canoeing, fishing or swiming. Surprise, Yale also has a sustainable food farm they’ve been working on since 2002. Their teaching garden produces hundreds of varieties of vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers and is home to free-ranging chickens and even honeybees. “The dining hall food is amazing,” said Lauren Oyler, recent graduate of Yale. “Most students—even those who move off campus (not very many people do that)—have a meal plan and it's very easy to eat healthily on it … All the food (well, almost) was clearly labeled with ingredients, calorie counts, nutrition facts, etcetera, which made it easy to know what you were eating.” Oh, and it hosts the world’s leading and largest global health conference.
6. Wheaton College – Wheaton, Illinois
We know all the exercise in the world doesn’t matter if you down McDonald’s post workout; that’s why Wheaton is dedicated to an impressively fresh dining program. Weekly, Wheaton chefs whip up 120 gallons of fat-free plain and assorted flavored yogurts using milk sourced from a local farm. The cheese used on pizzas is local and grated by hand, and dining hall burgers are made with local beef and turkey. If you’re feeling under the weather, Wheaton offers a free shuttle for students to get to and from off-campus medical appointments. Plus, in 2000, Wheaton spent $15 million on a new rec facility (and man, is it nice) in hopes of balancing the school’s academic demands with healthy living.
7. Boston University – Boston, Massachusetts
Boston’s health education classes are unique in that the university offers more than 100 per semester, including all types of dance, beginner’s rowing and even classes for cooking healthy on a budget. They also have an impressive list of club sports, including unique options such as kendo (a martial art similar to Japanese fencing), Kung Fu, synchronized swimming and ski racing. BU is the first university to receive four-star ratings from the Green Restaurant Association for its attention to purchasing decisions, smart food choices, waste reduction and diversion in dining halls. They have a “Make a Difference Monday” day set aside across campus for local, organic and sustainable foods with a low carbon footprint.
8. Virginia Tech – Blacksburg, Virginia
The large military population may play a part in this university’s overall health score, but their civilian students know how to get their heart rate up too. Hokies compete against other universities at the club level in roller hockey, wakeboarding, skiing, bowling, crew, fencing, equestrian, cricket, cycling and cheerleading to name a few. Want to join an intramurals team but regular water polo isn’t quite tickling your fancy? VT has an inner tube water polo team. They’re also committed to healthy dining, with an entire program dedicated to healthier grab-and-go options. According to VT’s website, all “Yes to Go” items have less than 600 calories and contain heart healthy fats. Said Kailyn Reid, former Virginia Tech student, “The dining halls always have a lot of healthy options – from smoothie bars to salad bars and one place that only served local, organic foods.”
9. Columbia University – New York, New York
(Photo by Wikimedia Commons InSapphoWeTrust)
Undoubtedly the most impressive thing about Columbia’s overall healthiness is its popular program “Go Ask Alice,” created in 1993 as an online Q&A service. It involves a team of CU health promotion specialists, health care providers and other health professionals answering difficult health questions. In the past 10 years, the program has grown tremendously, receiving nationwide attention including MTV features, two published books and syndication in campus newspapers across the country. Also, their free program, “CU Move,” gives students resources and tools to set fitness goals and monitor progress. The initiative promotes healthy living with motivational email updates, incentives like fitness gear and free or low-cost events such as walks, runs, ice-skating and kayaking.
10. Oberlin College – Oberlin, Ohio
According to Oberlin’s website, “The dining halls at Oberlin College do more than feed students, faculty, and staff.” Campus meals are provided by nearby farms, dairies, ranches and aquaculture ops. Oberlin’s Farm-to-Fork program uses five local farms to supply food for students, promoting fresh ingredients and supporting the local economy. The dining hall staff is also dedicated to using animal proteins free of hormones, cage-free eggs and socially aligned coffee choices. Foods are labeled for students with icons indicating low carbon, certified organic, gluten-free, house-made and farm-to-fork. Not to mention the student-run Johnson House Garden gives students the chance to grow crops that go straight to students’ plates.
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For more on staying healthy in college:
7 Ways to Eat Vegetarian in College
In a Relationship? Flirting With Others is Healthy
Read This When You're Stressed Out
Want more college rankings? Check out:
The 10 Colleges with the Best Career Services
Top 10 Colleges with the Hottest Girls
Main photo by Asya Tabdili
*Updated September 8, 2014 with new photos, health links and university rankings.
