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CollegeRank.net

Best College Rankings

Colleges With the Best Food in the United States

Edited by:   Dr. Paul Sparacio Last Updated:  10/30/2024

Quick Highlights :

• Our #1 ranked school with the best food is  Kent State University , followed by  Bowdoin College .
• The best colleges offer diverse and versatile dining options , including themed events and specialized meals.
• Many schools focus on nutrition and wellness with features like online nutrition calculators and meals from scratch using local ingredients .
• Make sure your dietary needs can be met. Ask about gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, and vegan options.

For some college prospective students, the dining experience can be a deal breaker when selecting an alma mater.

Don’t worry—we’ve got your back!

From on-campus farmers’ markets to nutrition counseling, diet-friendly options, locally-sourced produce and antibiotic-free meats, these best colleges for food have raised the bar for college dining everywhere.

See also: Top Culinary Colleges in the United States

We have evaluated the colleges with the best food based on the following criteria:

Versatility

New and versatile options enhance the dining experience, keeping students from becoming bored of the same old meals mid-semester. Many of the colleges on this list offer themed events with unique or abnormal campus food options, such as:

• Cajun-style meals
• Bread bowls
• Build-your-own ice cream sundaes

Some schools even invite parents to submit recipes for consideration in the dining hall’s rotating menu.

There are more options than just the main dining hall. Many options may be included in the dining program such as:

• multiple locations for meals

Nutrition and Wellness

Nutrition is crucial to a student’s overall health and academic performance. This list includes schools that provide:

• Online nutrition calculators
• Wellness programs
• Plenty of access to healthy meals

Some dining facilities even create each meal from scratch, often using produce and herbs from local vendors or on-campus farms and gardens!

Sustainability

The environmental impact of college dining halls can be tremendous. Many of these college food rankings have developed innovative ways to improve sustainability, such as:

• Minimizing waste
• Reducing the use of toxic cleaning products

All of these ways are efforts to help to preserve our resources and save our planet.

Accessibility

Special consideration was given to colleges that make an effort to accommodate for special dietary needs, such as:

• Gluten-free
• Food allergies and intolerances

We know you’re waiting for the part about the food here, though. With no further introduction, check out our list of best colleges for food :

See Related: Best Farming Colleges and On Campus Farms

Kent State University

Kent State University is officially a best university for food! For those on a vegetarian or vegan diet, or for those simply looking to eat less meat, Kent State University has you covered! The University offers a call-ahead vegan and vegetarian meal program, called Veggie-A-Go-Go, which makes it convenient to eat meat-free.

The Prentice Café offers a similar program for those on a gluten-free diet, and Eastway Market & Deli also offers gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan to-go meals. Kent State takes goody boxes to a new level, with packages for every occasion.

Parents and friends can send baskets containing soups, teas, and tissues to students who have fallen ill.

Other options, like the fruit basket and the healthy snack basket, are packed with nutritious treats for health-conscious students. Kent State’s carry-out containers are 100% biodegradable, and much of its produce is purchased locally.

Grind2Energy turns food scraps into energy. This innovative process was implemented at Kent State in 2020.

Bowdoin College

Brunswick, ME

Ranked number 3 by Princeton Review for best campus dining, Bowdoin College also raises the bar for college food. This includes Bowdoin’s commitment to sustainability.

The school’s eco-container program allows students to save money by re-using to-go containers, and students also save 5% on drink purchases for bringing their coffee cups to the café. A percentage of the produce served here is grown on campus in the organic garden.

Bowdoin also strives to make dining fun! The college hosts an annual Lobster Bake for students, as well as various other events throughout each academic year.

Cornell University

Another best college for food is Cornell University. Cornell houses ten all-you-can-eat dining rooms with plenty of menu options, including:

• Create-your-own pancake and omelet bars
• Ethnic and regional food
• Kosher stations

Each fall, in observance of Day of Dead, the Risley Dining Hall hosts “Night at Hogwarts,” a Harry Potter-themed dinner. Other halls host similar celebrations, such as the:

• Fall Harvest Dinner
• Diwali Festival
• A Mardi Gras celebration with Cajun-style meals and live music

Twenty-two percent of the food served at Cornell is locally and regionally-grown and produced. Cornell’s dairy processing plant is a major source of the dairy products served in the dining facilities.

Sustainability is also important at Cornell; the university offers discounted coffee when students use reusable mugs and facilitates a trayless dining practice to save water and reduce waste.

Georgetown University

Washington D.C.

Have you thought of Georgetown University when considering the best colleges for food? Georgetown University’s dining hall is an all-you-can-eat establishment with:

• Vegan and vegetarian options
• A salad bar
• A make-your-own stations for pasta dishes, pizza, sandwiches, burritos and more

Georgetown University Dining purchases locally-sourced food and sends 25 tons of waste to be composted each month and recycles 100% of used fryer oil. Georgetown also practices trayless dining, saving millions of cups of water annually.

During finals, the dining hall offers themed midnight breakfasts where students are served a late-night meal by university staff members. Some alternative options are available for students and visitors, including Grab n’ Go stations and an on-campus grocery store run by the CORP, an entirely student-run organization.

Emory University

Atlanta, Georgia

Emory University makes eating healthy easy with the implementation of its “well-being” food rating. In the dining hall, each food selection is matched with an arrow; the fuller the arrow, the more nutritious the option is.

The dining hall features options for those with dietary restrictions:

Students and visitors can check the website for a rotating food truck schedule to see where their favorite trucks will be each day.

A farmer’s market is held on Tuesdays throughout the academic year, with vendors selling:

• Organic produce
• Gluten-free baked goods
• Artisan salsas

Much of the campus food served at Emory is sustainably or locally grown, and in addition to recycling, the university composts unused food scraps.

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA

With all-you-can-eat dining facilities, grab-and-go meals, an on-campus grocery store and an entirely kosher café, the University of Pennsylvania has thought of everything.

Students have access to free nutrition counseling for information on healthy eating and to address problems ranging from eating disorders to allergies. The university has taken many initiatives toward sustainability, including purchasing humanely raised, antibiotic-free ground beef and rBGH-free dairy.

The chefs at the University of Pennsylvania prepare all meals from scratch using local, seasonal ingredients. Food scraps are composted, and fryer oil is recycled as biofuel, which is used to run some of the catering vans on campus.

The University of California: Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA

The University of California, Los Angeles is home to one of the first health-themed dining halls in the United States. The Bruin Plate Residential Restaurant serves local, unprocessed, organic and nutritious meals to students. For those looking for heartier meals, Covel Commons offers:

• A pasta station
• A wood-fired pizza oven
• Grilled hotdogs, burgers and chicken

UCLA offers online menu containing nutrition information is available for all dining facilities.

Much progress has already been made toward sustainability; most to-go packaging is compostable or recyclable, food scraps are similarly composted, beef-less Thursdays significantly reduce the environmental impact of food consumption, and cooking oil is recycled into biodiesel.

New York University

New York, NY

Trayless dining, fryer oil recycling, and hydration stations are just a few of the ways that New York University shows its commitment to sustainability. Each semester, University employees attend training on energy and water conservation to reduce overuse of these resources.

The best college for food has a 100% kosher dining hall, open Sunday-Friday, and plenty of vegetarian options are available in most dining facilities.

The website has a nutrition calculator and full online menus for six of the dining locations. Additionally, students can check out the website for expert advice on healthy eating.

Boston University

Boston University hosts a farmers’ market each fall. Students are also invited to participate in the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program, purchasing a share of seasonal produce from a local farm during the growing season.

Boston University switches things up each semester with its visiting chef series night, during which time visiting restaurants or celebrity chefs contribute a new menu to the dining options.

The university offers nutrition counseling, covering issues such as:

• Weight management
• Iron-deficiency
• Healthy meal planning
• Nutrition for exercise

Its four dining halls all offer kosher dining; a halal meal program is also available. Students can eat late at the Late Night Kitchen, open until 11 pm Monday-Wednesday and until 1 am Thursday-Saturday, during the academic year.

To encourage students to stay home when ill, the dining service offers a flu meal program. Students can purchase a package online, which is then delivered to the buyer by student volunteers.

The pork, beef, turkey and rotisserie chicken served at Boston University is humanely raised and most is sourced locally.

Washington University

St. Louis, MO

Washington University was recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2014 for converting used fryer oil into biofuel, which fuels campus delivery trucks. The university also provides reusable dishes and compostable or recyclable containers for on-the-go meals, drastically reducing the amount of waste typically generated by student dining.

Meat and produce are purchased from local vendors and meals are available diet options like:

• Allergen-free

The university offers plenty of on-campus cafes, dining halls and quick stops, such as the Paws & Go market with fresh produce and grab-and-go meals.

Warren Wilson College

Swannanoa, NC

Another ranking with best college food is Warren Wilson College. The seasonal menus at Warren Wilson College feature fresh ingredients that are often locally grown. Nutrition labels help students with dietary restrictions quickly identify foods that they can eat.

The Cowpie Café serves GMO-free ingredients and is entirely vegetarian. The café’s menu is also mostly vegan and gluten-free.

The Owl Nest café offers artesian bagels and locally roasted organic coffee, and is nearly a zero-waste facility, composting all waste and recycling 100% of recyclable materials.

Virginia Tech University

Greater Washington D.C. Area

Virginia Tech is definitely a top college for food. Rated number 8 on Princeton Review’s “Best Campus Food” list for 2024, Virginia Tech makes it convenient to eat healthily.

Each day, students can check the online menu for each dining facility to view the selections offered and track nutrition information. Results can be filtered to remove foods containing selected allergens.

Virginia Tech Dining Services also has a commitment to sustainability, using:

• Trayless dining
• Food diversion
• Composting and recycling methods to minimize waste

Many of the fruits and vegetables served at Virginia Tech are produced at the university’s 6-acre farm or purchased locally. To switch things up, the university hosts themed meals, such as a Chili Challenge and Thanksgiving Feast.

Middlebury College

Middlebury , VT

Middlebury College adds flexibility to the traditional swipe-based meal service. During a dining period, students may enjoy a meal at any all-you-can-eat location. Then, without worrying about wasting a “swipe,” students can return to the same building or gain entry into another facility.

Sustainability is also important at Middlebury College. The University composts roughly 99% of food waste and outdoor meals are served with compostable and biodegradable:

• Eating utensils

University of Washington

Seattle, WA

Check out the University of Washington, a best college for food! A percentage of the produce served at the University of Washington is grown on-campus at the UW farm.

Eggs are cage-free, and all dairy is purchased locally. Even the local pizza chain’s campus-based location serves pizza with seasonal, local produce. Those who desire to view the nutrition content of their meals may find this information on the website.

To reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills, the University of Washington composts all food scraps and utilizes compostable take-out packaging. Students are also encouraged to bring reusable mugs for a discount on each drink purchase.

Oberlin College

Oberlin, OH

Oberlin College is committed to the health of its students, with an abundance of healthy menu items and transparent nutrition information.

The online menu features icons that identify foods with certain criteria, such as:

• Heart-healthy options

There are plenty of vegan and vegetarian meals available for each dining period; think soy yogurt, vegan pizza, and hummus!

Parents who wish to send their students “Thinking of You” gifts can save a trip to the store by purchasing a boxed gift packed with healthy snacks, cards and games.

All food and paper waste is composted here, and much of the food is sourced locally. Online, Oberlin College has posted a list of local farms, along with the food items that each vendor provides.

Bates College

Lewiston, ME

Bates College is dedicated to the diversion of solid waste, with numerous methods for minimizing the school’s footprint. The college composts unwanted food waste and donates extra food to local homeless shelters. Milk products are produced hormone-free, and produce and meat are purchased locally. Bates Dining also has an incentivized reusable mug program.

Students earn points for every use of a reusable beverage container, eventually earning free guest passes to the dining facility.

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, VA

Another best university for food is James Madison University.  James Madison students have access to 28 dining facilities, including:

• All-you-can-eat dining halls
• Food courts
• A smoothie bar

Students can view online menus for the three dining halls to see which diet-specific options will be available that day. The website also features a nutritional calculator and educational brochures on:

• Healthy eating
• Wellness tips
• Nutrition information
• Handy recipes

The university has implemented a number of sustainability initiatives, including trayless dining, composting, donating unused food, recycling 100% of fryer oil, and purchasing produce locally.

Wheaton College

Wheaton, IL

Themed events like the New Orleans-style lunch and Chinese New Year dinner add excitement to the college dining experience and Wheaton College know this.

Transparency is abundant at the Chase dining hall. Meals are prepared in front of students, and the menu and nutritional information is available on the website. The university is home to some other dining halls, like the Emerson retail location with:

• Tossed-to-order salads
• Fresh sandwiches
• Baked goods

Wheaton College purchases its produce from local farms, which are all listed on the website, and has recycling stations in every dining facility. 100% of fryer oil is recycled and, to save water and reduce cleaning chemical usage, trays are not used in the dining areas.

College of William & Mary

Williamsburg, VA

The College of William & Mary is among the best colleges for food. The William & Mary campus features:

• Two all-you-can-eat facilities
• Five coffee shops
• Four convenience stores
• A bake shop
• A food court

The dining service website is equipped with a nutrition calculator, which students can use before or after a meal to track the percentages of calories, sodium, etc., contained in their meals.

The university participates in composting, recycling and trayless dining. Dairy and produce are purchased locally and a portion of the produce and spices used in cooking are grown in the campus garden and herb gardens.

William & Mary also tracks uneaten food to raise awareness of wasteful dining and its impact on the environment.

Evergreen State College

Much of the produce served at Evergreen State College is grown on the on-campus organic farm or produced locally. The hormone-free dairy offered here is also purchased from a nearby vendor.

Unwanted food scraps are composted, and reusable dishware is utilized to reduce waste. To-go containers are compostable and reusable. Evergreen College offers:

• A POD Market with fresh grocery items
• A farm stand with local and organic produce
• A student-run café
• A  cafeteria with meals that cater to gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan diets The herbs used for cooking are often freshly picked from Evergreen’s community garden.

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN

Vanderbilt is known for its prestige but also as for its superb dining hall food. Vanderbilt students are invited to attend themed dining events year-round, such as Comfort Food Night and Prime Rib Night.

The university website features a nutrition calculator, where students can view this information on computers or download the mobile app to keep track of their nutrition intake.

The Commons dining facility was constructed using environmentally friendly methods and materials, making it the first gold-certified building in Nashville.

Brown University

Providence, RI

From the salad and vegan bars at Verney-Wooley (V-Dub) to the Ivy Room’s exclusively vegetarian evening menu, there are plenty of options to choose from for vegans and vegetarians alike.

Brown University students with kosher and halal diets can purchase diet-specific meal plans. Menu ingredients are listed on the website, and students can use the online meal planner to view information like:

Brown Dining actively purchases from local farms and hosts a farmers’ market on campus. The to-go program uses compostable containers, and cups and Brown offers discounted beverage prices to students who bring reusable mugs.

Brown Dining actively purchases from local farms and hosts a farmers’ market on campus. The to-go program uses compostable containers and cups, and Brown offers discounted beverage prices to students who bring reusable mugs.

Duke University

Known for its top academics, Duke University has a lot to offer, including its campus food selections. To help students make healthy choices, Duke University provides a wealth of information on its website, including informational videos and dietary advice for the university’s “Balance Your Plate” educational campaign.

Dietitians are also on staff to answer any questions that a student may have about healthy eating. Duke is also committed to sustainability. In addition to recycling and composting waste, Duke has completely banned bleached napkins and Styrofoam from all dining locations.

Some of the produce served in the dining facilities are grown on the one-acre Duke Campus Farm. Additionally, to reduce the environmental impact of meat consumption, Duke hosts Meatless Mondays with plenty of meat-free choices.

College of the Atlantic

Bar Harbor, ME

Every single meal at College of the Atlantic is prepared from scratch, often with local and organic ingredients. Meat and seafood served at this best food college is humanely raised and sustainably sourced.

At the Blair Dining Hall, students are served three meals Monday-Friday, each of which includes a vegetarian and vegan option. During weekends and evenings, the Sea Urchin Café offers a 24-hour vending machine with:

Discarded food scraps are composted either on-site at the community garden, or at a local farm. Much of the produce served in the kitchen is grown at the university-owned, 73-acre Beech Hill Farm.

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD

John Hopkins University is among the best universities for food in the U.S. The dining locations at Johns Hopkins use organic ingredients like:

• Cage-free eggs
• Hormone-free milk
• Locally-grown, seasonal produce

Paper products used at John Hopkins are biodegradable, and students with dietary restrictions can enjoy vegetarian, vegan and kosher meals. Parents are invited to participate in the Better Than Mail program, which allows them to choose freshly-made care package treats for students.

Parents can also submit a recipe to the Fresh Food Café’s rotating menu so that students can enjoy a meal that reminds them of home.

College Food FAQs

The topic of college food and dining has broader impact and relevance than you might think! Check out these questions that students frequently ask about college dining options.

1. What are the top college dining halls known for unique options?

Many universities now feature farm-to-table options, international cuisine stations, and student-run food programs. Colleges like Bowdoin and UCLA are often noted for their high-quality food programs that focus on freshness and sustainability.

2. How important is sustainable food sourcing in college dining?

Sustainability is increasingly a focus, with about 60% of college dining programs sourcing local or organic ingredients. Many schools also participate in food waste reduction initiatives and even have campus farms.

3. Do college dining halls cater to dietary restrictions?

Many colleges offer gluten-free, vegan, and allergen-free options, with dedicated dining stations and policies to prevent cross-contamination. Some colleges are recognized for their comprehensive allergen-free kitchens.

4. What’s the average cost of a college meal plan, and is it worth it?

Meal plans vary but can range from $3,000 to $6,000 per academic year. While plans are convenient, some students save by cooking off-campus, especially when kitchens are accessible.

5. How are colleges integrating wellness programs into dining?

Colleges are adding nutrition programs, workshops, and even dietitian support to help students make informed dietary choices, which can be particularly helpful for first-year students adjusting to college life.

6. How do students feel about college dining?

Surveyed students often rate dining quality, convenience, and variety as top priorities. Schools with higher satisfaction scores tend to offer diverse options, extended dining hours, and relaxed spaces for socializing.

7. What surprising foods or services do top dining programs offer?

Some universities offer late-night “comfort food” options, food trucks on campus, and even weekly themed dining events. A few schools provide custom smoothie bars, hibachi stations, or plant-based dessert options.

8. How do campus dining options impact student health?

Colleges increasingly provide healthier options, contributing to better mental focus and energy levels. Studies suggest that access to balanced meals can positively impact academic performance and overall well-being.

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Katie is a freelance writer based out of Kansas City. She is an avid traveler and loves discovering new places to explore. Katie believes that the experience is the most important aspect of travel. She enjoys running around new cities, exploring nature and meeting new people. She has written for a number of companies, including Elite Daily, and College Rank and Theology Degrees on a number of topics including food and travel.

School Dining Hall Design Trends

Universities and colleges pull out all the stops to attract top students, offering residential and social amenities in addition to outstanding academic programs making campus life more fulfilling. This is especially true when it comes to dining services because food isn’t just part of a student’s meal plan, it’s also an extremely important social mechanism: Food naturally fosters social interaction, study, and relaxation.

Large, boxy dining halls that once offered only traditional American food staples have been replaced by beautiful spaces that resemble trendy restaurants and offer a variety of meal options.

Today’s students want fresh, organic, local, and ethically produced foods that they can enjoy in a comfortable environment that brings them together and cultivates success. Architects, therefore, must utilize a variety of school dining hall design trends and techniques to create dining spaces in which students not only eat, but also gather to mingle, apply themselves, and debate.

What are Students Looking for in School Dining Hall Design?

Today’s campus dining halls have dual purposes—they provide meals as well as foster social and academic activity . But in order for dining spaces to meet those expectations, they must be designed in ways that address student needs,

Attitudes toward healthy food consumption have evolved over the years. Many students have grown up in environments that prioritized healthy eating and sustainable food practices. Social media habits have also influenced their attitudes toward food. Articles and videos that speak to food issues on Facebook, for example, not only bring concerns such as accessibility and sustainability to the forefront, but also allow users to easily share their thoughts and opinions on them. Sharing photos of food on Instagram provides creative evidence of the joys of great meal experiences and exposes food presentation as an art. Today, food is savored in more ways than one. As a result, architects and school planners consider the following when making decisions about dining halls on campus:

• Healthy and varied food options. Many students are purposeful, healthy eaters and others have adventurous palates. So, vegan, vegetarian, ethnic and traditional cuisine menu options are in demand on campuses, To address these wants, we often design dining halls using the Marché concept. This strategy not only offers students various market-style dining options, but does so in an atmosphere of comfort that allows them to order from individual food ‘stations’ that mimic small restaurants. This concept will be featured in the dining hall of California State Polytechnic (Cal Poly) University–Pomona in tandem with our design of the school’s new freshman residence hall, which is currently under construction.
• Demonstration cooking . Hand in hand with the Marché concept is demonstration cooking, which purports good health and meal freshness because students can see the mix of ingredients being cooked live. Students also tacitly learn to cook by watching how a meal is prepared.
• Sustainable food practices. Students are more aware than ever of sustainable food harvesting practices and the harmful effects of food packaging on the planet. So, they care where their food comes from, how vegetables are grown and harvested, and how meats and produce are delivered. Seasonal local foods help reduce waste and are environmentally friendly
• Customization. In addition to personal preferences, some students have dietary restrictions, which speak to the need for a la carte menus. When students can pick and choose their meal components, their enjoyment and comfort levels increase.
• Late dining and socialization. Heavy class schedules and late-night study sessions and social gatherings create the need for student access to a “fourth meal,” usually around 11 p.m. At Cal Poly Pomona, the fourth-meal space will be a first for the school. The building design allows a portion of the dining hall to be reconfigured depending on the flow of people. Two dining stations will be kept open, along with a large, comfortable seating area.

School Dining Hall Design Solutions for Student Success

When planning a school dining hall, architects must provide students with all they need to achieve their goals. This means creating environments that are comfortable, convenient, and speak to differences in campus population. For example, a school with a large resident population will have different dining hall needs than schools with a large commuter student body.

Pleasant acoustics and lighting design

Large spaces, such as dining halls, can be noisy, and poor acoustics can hinder student focus. Background noise can interrupt concentration and prevent students from clearly communicating with one another, which can lead to poor performance and behavior. In critical listening spaces, implementing acoustics panels on interior walls and in the ceilings will absorb excess noise, best manage sounds of HVAC and other systems, and improve intercommunication.

Lighting is also a crucial factor in educational facilities. We know that students communicate and learn better in spaces with more natural light or with artificial lighting that mimics natural light. Designing a dining hall with plenty of windows will also connect students to nature , which can improve productivity and creativity. Current dining hall design trends include the use of more light fixtures that are intimate and specific to a table versus lighting with a broad brush stroke. Skylights also allow for natural light to penetrate deep into a large dining hall space.

Accommodating sitting and features

As a large campus amenity, a dining hall must offer students easy accessibility. At Cal Poly Pomona, students will enjoy meals in a new 650-seat dining commons located at the gateway to the school’s new first-year residential buildings, along a major circulation spine of the campus. The design includes a variety of intimate and large, open seating areas, as well as a grab-and-go service for students with busy schedules.

Responsive, welcoming design

When we built the Los Angeles Harbor College Student Union , one goal was to design it in a way that incentivizes the large commuter student population to stay on campus for longer periods of time on weekdays and to come back on weekends for events. Because studies show that students who spend more time on campus are more likely to succeed, we included a multipurpose hall in the design of the dining space. The hall is now a hub of social activity used by study groups and as a place to hold events for both commuter and residential students.

Creating Spaces that can Adapt to the Future

School dining hall design will continue to evolve. So, in anticipation of future needs and desires, architects today design with a focus on flexibility. Strategies used to create flexible spaces include the following:

• Moveable walls. Wheeled partitions in large halls allow for the creation of microenvironments—smaller areas and comfortable nooks interspersed in the space to meet the specific demands of students today and in the years to come.
• Modular furnishings. Rather than designing a dining hall with an abundance of fixed furniture, such as booths, utilize tables, chairs, and sofas that can be easily moved. Students can then arrange seating in a variety of ways to suit their purposes.
• Digital signage. Food options will always change. By implementing digital signage, menus and other information shared with students on screens can change as often as needed.

University and college administrators know that students choose a school based on a number of factors, including amenities. Because they want every student to succeed, administrators also realize that the choices they make in building design can either help or hinder achievement goals. Focusing on the amenities that help stimulate high performance can help one school stand out from the rest in a highly competitive field, and dining halls are no exception.

HMC has decades of experience designing higher educational facilities and we always focus on timeless design solutions that most help students thrive. To learn more about school dining hall design and how it can help attract students to your school, contact HMC Architects today. For specific questions about current dining halls strategies and features, email James Sink, Design Principal , or Kristina Singiser, Principal in Charge , directly. Both will be happy to discuss your project with you.

At HMC Architects, we believe that designing to meet the unique needs of all students will not only benefit their academic and personal experiences, but also shape their world and enrich their lives.

To learn more or become part of our story, contact us today.

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Campus & Student Life at Presentation College

Home to about 598 undergraduates in 2020, Presentation College is a very small, private college located in Aberdeen, South Dakota. This is a great opportunity for those who would thrive in a charming, small-town atmosphere. Please note, some classes/degrees offered by Presentation College can be taken “online” so keep that in mind when reviewing this report. For more context, you might also check out our Presentation College Guide to Distance and Online Learning.

Presentation College is Affiliated With the Roman Catholic Faith.

Some, but not all, schools with a religious affiliation may require a statement of faith or religious studies component. Contact the school to see what their requirements are. If an affinity with the Roman Catholic faith interests you, check out our ranking of The Best Roman Catholic Colleges and Universities .

Presentation College Has a Disability Services Site

Individuals with disabilities make up 5.0% of the student population at Presentation College. For more information on policies and accommodations that the college provides to ensure all students get the opportunity to participate, you can visit Presentation College Disability Services .

Presentation College for the Military

While not a "service academy", Presentation College does offer support for veterans and those seeking a career in the armed forces. For more information on policies related to veterans, you can visit Presentation College Veteran Services . For more information, check out our Presentation College for Veterans Guide .

Freshmen Living Arrangements at Presentation College

Presentation College offers on-campus housing, but freshmen are not required to take advantage of it. In the end though, most do choose to live in the dorms.

* Data compiled from students who received financial aid, including loans.

Full-time vs. Part-time Studies at Presentation College

Presentation College has a comparatively very small, student body. There were 598 undergraduates in 2020. Full-time attendance was 393 (65.7%). Part-time attendance was 205 (34.3%).

Presentation College is Ranked #346 for Overall Diversity

Compared to other colleges and universities across the nation, Presentation College receives top marks for overall diversity. We rank Presentation College  #346 out of 3,451.

The chart below shows each element that we looked at to determine this ranking, and how that metric compares to the national average. 100 would indicate excellent diversity in each category, and 1 would mean poor diversity.

You can learn more about the diversity of the student body at Presentation College by looking closer at the ethnic,   gender ,  age , and geographic diversity metrics from the Presentation College Diversity Guide .

Presentation College Competes in the NIAA

Presentation College has a total of 172 student athletes, 120 men and 52 women who compete in inter-collegiate athletics.

Athletics Financing

For more information about athletics including per-team sizes, coaching and scholarships check out our Guide to Presentation College Athletics

Popular Reports

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