Sewanee Named No. 1 College for Getting Outdoors

Aug. 19, 2026

Sewanee has been named the No. 1 college in the nation for getting outdoors in The Princeton Review’s inaugural “Great Outdoors: Students Get Outside” ranking. The recognition highlights the extraordinary ways students engage with the University’s 13,000-acre Domain, through one of the nation’s most active collegiate outdoor programs, the Sewanee Outing Program, as well as hands-on environmental research, sustainability initiatives, and more.

The ranking is part of The Princeton Review’s  2027 edition of its “The Best 392 Colleges” guidebook, which again recognizes Sewanee among the nation’s best colleges. Only about 14% of four-year colleges in the United States were included on the list, which now marks 35 years of publication.

The education services company also named Sewanee as one of its 209 Best Value Colleges. Colleges and universities were selected for this recognition based on a combination of institutional data and student survey responses that identified three main factors: stellar academics, affordable cost as demonstrated via sticker price and/or generous financial aid, and strong career prospects for students.

A fixture on lists celebrating the most beautiful college campuses in the country (and the world), Sewanee again landed near the top of the “Most Beautiful Campus” list with the No. 2 ranking.

Across other categories, Sewanee also earned recognition for the quality of its student support services, for the caliber and accessibility of its faculty, for the strength of its alumni network, and for the amiability and engagement of the student population. Read Sewanee’s full Princeton Review entry here.

Selected Princeton Review Rankings

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