NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) -- The quality of education certainly is a key factor when deciding which college or university to attend, but the quality of the campus itself can also play a role.
With this knowledge in mind, digital media company Yardbarker released a ranking of the 20 most beautiful higher education institutions in the country, including two located in the same Middle Tennessee city:
1. Yale University
Yale University, one of the world's most famous and most beautiful higher education institutions, is nestled in New Haven, Connecticut. Its gorgeous yet formidable gothic buildings create a very prestigious atmosphere for students and visitors.
2. Harvard University
Another example of an Ivy League school with a beautiful campus is Harvard University, located just outside of Boston in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Not only do the buildings largely follow the same color scheme, but all the landscaping is very well-manicured.
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3. University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame -- located in Notre Dame, Indiana, adjacent to the city of South Bend -- also has a lovely campus. With buildings featuring architecture that looks like it was plucked straight from the Old World, the school takes on new beauty each season, especially in the fall.
4. Vassar College
Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, has stunningly spooky vibes. On top of its beautifully constructed buildings, the campus has tons of character.
5. Stanford University
Fun fact: Not all lovely higher learning institutions are located on the East Coast. Over in Stanford, California, lies the stunning Stanford University. When you combine the gorgeous palm trees featured in the landscaping with the mixture building styles, the campus screams West Coast.
6. Princeton University
If you want to feel like royalty, take a trip to Princeton, New Jersey, to visit the school that shares the town's name. Princeton University's campus is beautiful on its own, but it also makes a gorgeous backdrop for engagement photos.
7. Washington University in St. Louis
The buildings at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, reflect multiple styles of architecture. In addition, its location next to the site of the 1904 World’s Fair tacks on an extra historic element.
8. Brown University
If you need more proof that Ivy League schools are gorgeous, Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island is home to numerous beautiful buildings. The campus also has a particularly breathtaking library.
9. Columbia University
Columbia University is an Ivy League school in New York City, so it had no choice but to be beautiful. The campus has elements that feel quintessentially collegiate mixed with elements that remind you you’re in America's biggest city.
10. Duke University
If you need a reminder that a school doesn't need to be in the Ivy League in order to be stunning, take a look at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. Its gothic architecture is brilliant, with the Duke Chapel serving as a particularly unforgettable example of that.
11. Vanderbilt University
The Vanderbilt University campus in Nashville, Tennessee, has evolved over the past 150 years, but it continues to astonish both students and visitors. Vanderbilt has numerous stately buildings that, when combined with its high academic standards, promote the school's unofficial nickname as "the Harvard of the South."
12. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
When you imagine a college campus, the vision that comes to mind likely resembles the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It has formidable buildings and brick pathways bearing its crest, as well as well-manicured lawns and a gazebo.
13. University of Hawaii at Manoa
You might think the University of Hawaii at Manoa is only beautiful because it’s in the Aloha State, but the campus is lovely on its own. This school -- located in Honolulu's rainbow-filled Manoa Valley -- is the largest and oldest of the 10 University of Hawaii campuses, according to its website.
14. Belmont University
Nashville really knows how to build a college campus. We already discussed Vanderbilt University, but another stunning school -- Belmont University -- is located less than a mile away. In addition to being one of the most innovative colleges in the country, according to its website, Belmont has beautiful buildings and gorgeous grounds to match.
15. Indiana University Bloomington
The campus of Indiana University Bloomington looks like it was the backdrop for every college pamphlet in history. While that's obviously not the case, the school is still the ultimate location for students whose main priority for a higher learning institution is a beautiful campus all year round.
16. University of Washington
The University of Washington in Seattle serves as a haven for those who love trees, even going so far as to offer a tree tour on campus. The school is also "renowned for its beauty in the midst of a vibrant, multicultural city," according to its website.
17. University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia is frequently in the news, causing some people to wonder why students continue to attend it. One reason might be the stunning campus, which has several unique buildings that serve as cornerstones to the beautiful grounds.
18. Cornell University
The main campus of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, provides the traditional college experience, but its natural beauty -- including the nearby lake, waterfalls, and gardens -- sets it apart from others in the Ivy League, according to the school's website. If you've ever wanted to explore New York beyond the Big Apple, add Cornell to your itinerary.
19. Georgetown University
Despite its location in Washington, D.C., Georgetown University has a different feel from the nation's capital, reminiscent of what America once looked like. After all, the school has more than 200 years to expand and evolve while still holding onto historic roots.
20. Flagler College
Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida, provides the best of what the Sunshine State has to offer. When you have a campus that looks like a resort and beaches just a few miles away, it makes you feel like every week is spring break!