2017-18 Healthiest Colleges

Dietspotlight Picks - 15 Healthiest Colleges in the Nation

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Staying healthy in college is not always easy to do, and that’s why it’s so important for colleges to offer services that promote the health and wellness of their students.

Here are picks for the Top 15 Healthiest Colleges:

While there are many great colleges for healthy eating and living, some stand out for their exceptional dedication to student wellbeing. Here are the fifteen healthiest colleges in the nation.

Boston University

Boston University

Boston University has been ranked as one of the healthiest colleges in the United States for its involvement in healthy practices in colleges. Greatist named it the 19th healthiest college for its implementation of healthy college dorm food, physical education classes, and community sports programs. Their Sargent Choice label also lets students know that a dish is particularly healthy. The college not only strives to offer healthy food, but it also aims to deliver an array of diverse and delicious meal options. In addition, the Sargent Choice Nutrition Center offers nutrition counseling, health services, food addiction help, and much more.

Ithaca College

Ithaca College

Ithaca College, located in Ithaca, New York, has earned a spot among the healthiest colleges in the country for several key reasons. First, its surrounding greenery and beaches make it perfect for outdoor activities. In fact, the Ithaca College campus has numerous trails where students can take walks, bike, run, and further explore the area. The college also provides students with healthy food options to promote good health and and help young people stay healthy at college. Their fitness center is one of the best in the country, complete with a climbing wall and affordable personal training. Ithaca College’s medical and mental health care services are also expansive and comprehensive.

Colby College

Colby College

Healthy colleges initiative programs around the country have resulted in improved services on countless campuses. Colby College offers a variety of healthy college life resources including outdoor trails, a fitness center, and free on-campus medical and counseling services to support healthy college students. The student dining service centers also strive to offer healthy college cafeteria food to keep students healthy and to help them practice good eating habits as they grow into adulthood. Their menu items include vegan, vegetarian, locally crafted, gluten-free, organic, halal, and even farm to fork options. These meal options support a well-rounded, healthy college diet.

Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt University is committed to healthy college life and reflects this dedication through numerous programs and amenities. Countless on-campus and near campus dining options contribute to healthy college eating for all students. These include vegetarian cafes and a natural food store for students to make their own healthy college meals or healthy college snacks. The university also offers student health services with the help of nurse practitioners and physicians. Here, students can arrange appointments to suit their course schedules, or they can visit the walk-in clinic on short notice. Vanderbilt also provides psychological counseling services, most of which are free of charge, to support students transitioning into a healthy college lifestyle.

Lewis and Clark College

Lewis and Clark College

The Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon is one of the most impressive when it comes to health and safety in colleges. This college promotes outdoor activities with 95 on-campus forested acres complete with numerous hiking trails, a dream for every active, healthy college student. In addition to its healthy colleges initiative, Lewis and Clark College has implemented one of the country’s top sustainability programs. This encourages a healthy college lifestyle that can stay with students beyond dorm life and graduation and encourage more eco friendly living in the community. When it comes to healthy college eating, Lewis and Clark is almost unbeatable with at least 30% of its healthy college dorm food organically grown or locally sourced.

The University of Chicago

The University of Chicago

The University of Chicago is noted for its nutritious dining experience for students enrolled in all programs of study. Health experts know that healthy college meals and, more importantly, healthy college dorm snacks can help shape the habits that students keep for the rest of their lives. The University of Chicago offers healthy options on-campus such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and vegan and vegetarian options to promote healthy practices in colleges. Signing up for a healthy college meal plan ensures the student receives adequate nutrition and plenty of fuel for studies, work, and extracurricular activities.

Rice University

Rice University

Rice University wants its students to be healthy at college, and its healthy eating policy and impressive fitness centers make it one of the top healthy college campuses in the country. Rice not only offers over 20 club sports, including wrestling, baseball, sailing, and tennis, but it also offers an expansive fitness facility and various fitness classes like yoga and pilates. The university also provides students with outdoor activities and plenty of healthy college snacks and meals to choose from. Meal options include gourmet, vegetarian, and a host of dishes from around the world to keep students partial to healthy college cafeteria food.

Whitman College

Whitman College

Whitman Colleges healthy food is part of what makes this college perfect for all entering and upper level students. The food served within campus dining facilities is cooked entirely from scratch and is sourced from local farms. This means that students get food that is both fresh and free of preservatives as well as higher in nutrition compared to processed foods. This can also help students eating a healthy college diet lose weight and avoid the famous freshman fifteen. In addition to offering a healthy college diet, Whitman College encourages activity by offering 24-hour free bike rentals to students as well as a ten-thousand square foot fitness center complete with a pool and expertly designed rock climbing wall.

Walla Walla, WA
Evergreen State College

Evergreen State College

Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington is one of the healthiest schools in the United States for its dedication to health and sustainability. Winding forest trails and beaches surround the campus area, offering a unique setting for physical activity. Trayless and stocked with locally sourced food, the college cafeteria is a leader in sustainability, and it also leads nutrition by offering a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole foods, and healthy options like organic tofu. Evergreen State College encourages students to be healthy and make healthy lifestyle choices including choosing healthy college care packages and healthy college dorm snacks.

The University of North Dakota

The University of North Dakota

The University of North Dakota creates healthy college students in a variety of ways. The enormous wellness center not only offers a place for students to play sports, walk, and get in shape with workout equipment, but it also offers fitness classes, a rock wall, and a lap pool. The vast expanse of space dedicated to fitness and health encourages students to incorporate fitness into their social activities and make working out a regular habit. The ample fitness amenities may also help students on a healthy college diet lose weight. Healthy options are also available at all university campus dining centers, compiling a healthy college grocery list of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Grand Forks, ND
The University of Louisville

The University of Louisville

The University of Louisville goes above and beyond when it comes to health and safety in colleges. To begin with, the campus provides a large fitness facility and a massive student recreation center where students can workout and engage in sports. The colleges healthy food also encourages students to eat nutritious, locally sourced food, and the sustainable atmosphere may even prompt students to request healthy college care packages from relatives. One of the most unique features that the University of Louisville offers is a stress relieving spot called the Calm Cafe. Here, students can get massages, drink tea, and learn about meditation and mindfulness from experts.

Butler University

Butler University

Butler University is a great place for students to learn about health, wellness, and sustainability. A Gold Level Conservation Champion and member of the United States Green Building Council, Butler is on track to be carbon neutral by 2050. In addition to its environmental efforts, Butler University offers nutritious and health-conscious dining options for every healthy college student. Each dining hall offers vegetarian options for those who prefer to abstain from meat, and themed meals encourage students to choose campus-made food over processed food. The campus also provides fair trade options to suit globally conscious students who are concerned with the welfare of farm and factory workers worldwide.

Indianapolis, IN
The University of Dayton

The University of Dayton

The University of Dayton in Ohio is a leader in many aspects, including health. Their RecPlex fitness and recreation center offers students everything from swimming to rock climbing. It also offers a healthy juice bar where students can get a boost of nutrition pre or post workout in addition to countless fun and engaging activities throughout the school year. A wide selection of on-campus dining spots offers students fresh and healthy options including vegan and vegetarian food, salads and sandwiches, sushi, and freshly baked goods. These varied dining options encourage college students to establish healthy habits during their years in school.

The University of North Florida

The University of North Florida

The University of North Florida cares about the wellbeing of its students. It offers facilities and services that contribute to the welfare and health of every single student, making the campus a healthier environment to work and study in. Student health and counseling services offer everything from flu shots to food addiction help to provide the care that college students need. Dozens of club sports also offer healthy outlets for students to engage in social activities and exercise. Finally, the health promotion department is always on hand to help students lead healthier lifestyles while adjusting to the demands of college and adult life.

Jacksonville, FL