top of page
Search

Best Schools for "Foodie" Students

  • 4 days ago
  • 2 min read

Forget about mystery meat and soggy tater tots. Some colleges prioritize their kitchens as much as their classrooms. If you care about farm-to-table ingredients, local seafood, or world-class city food scenes, these schools should be on your list.


University of Massachusetts Amherst

UMass Amherst has held the top spot for campus food for nine years in a row. They run the largest collegiate dining program in the country, but they focus on quality over quantity. The university uses local ingredients and hosts special events with celebrity chefs. Students can grab sushi, authentic gelato, or a meal from one of the two campus food trucks.



Bowdoin College

Located in Maine, Bowdoin is famous for its fresh seafood. The college even hosts a massive lobster bake during orientation. Most of the vegetables come from the college’s own organic garden. The staff makes almost everything from scratch, including the bread and pasta. It feels more like a local bistro than a school cafeteria.


High Point University

This campus feels like a resort. High Point features a formal, five-course dining restaurant called 1924 Prime where students learn professional etiquette while eating steak and lobster. If you want something more casual, you can visit their silver line diner or a sports grille with a 15-foot television. They even have a dedicated nut-free kitchen for students with allergies.


Cornell University

Cornell is a dream for students who want variety. They operate over 30 different eateries across campus. You can find everything from dim sum to kosher and halal options. The Cornell Dairy Bar is a highlight, serving ice cream and milk produced right on campus. Every Sunday, students flock to the brunch at North Star for fresh pancakes and custom omelets.


Best Schools in Foodie Cities

Sometimes the best food is found just outside the campus gates. If you want endless restaurant options, look at these locations:

  • New Orleans (Tulane University): You are steps away from the best creole food and beignets in the world.

  • New York City (NYU or Columbia): You have access to every global cuisine imaginable at any hour of the night.

  • Charleston (College of Charleston): This city is a hub for high-end Southern cooking and fresh Atlantic shrimp.

  • Washington, D.C. (Georgetown or GW): The city is famous for its "half-smoke" sausages and a massive farm-to-table movement.



Sources:

bottom of page