I’d like to place a vote for my own old Alma Mater, the University of the South at Sewanee. It deems itself “the Oxford of the South,” with limestone buildings conscientiously modeled on its British sister, situated in the middle of a 10000-acre domain. It’s a very special place; it’s included in Dewey Finn’s Princeton list on the previous page.
Also second University of Colorado at Boulder for its spectacular setting, even if I didn’t find the actual campus itself particularly pleasing.
The OP’s expectations for Edinburgh are perhaps best replaced with Durham University, whose buildings include the city’s castle.
Answering not for Antonius, but there’s strong and enduring debate about which is better. Generally, Cambridge has a better popular rep for sciences (“Silicon Fen” is nearby, taking on Cambridge grads galore) and Oxford supposedly for arts and politics (e.g. Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair - even Bill Clinton), but the distinction is tiny. That said, Cambridge’s performing arts output is ridiculously strong - the whole of UK comedy is dominated by the alumni of the extracurricular Cambridge Footlights, from Jonathan Miller, David Frost, Monty Python, through Fry and Laurie, etc. I saw Oxford’s Footlights equivalent on stage a few weeks ago and it was weak as squid piss.
I have no idea if there are any statistics to back these reputations up.
As for beauty: I’m being very disloyal here when I say that I think Cambridge has the edge. More “gown” and less “town” - sweeping lawns down to picturesque bridges over the river, with soaring stained-glass windows in vast gothic frames. That said, Oxford is heartbreakingly beautiful in parts. Walking through the grounds of Christchurch College at dawn earlier this month absolutely blew me away. I am very lucky to live where I do. Scratch that - it’s choice, not luck. 
University of San Diego
http://www.sandiego.edu/administration/financeadmin/facilities/gallery.php
http://www.residenceinnsd.com/images/apg_1164409343.jpg
http://www.sdskate.org/images/usd.jpg
Another vote for Ole Miss, but I wish their website had photos of the campus in full spring bloom. From dogwoods to tulips to azaleas (big as a house!), in the spring the campus erupts in a showy display of flowers. Although I’ve had my differences with the University itself, on a warm spring day it’s still one of the prettiest places on Earth. 
Some pics of Uni. of Cambridge - I love some of these.
These are some more which also capture its beauty.
My college never gets much publicity, but it has one of the nicest little gardens in Cambridge (IMO!).
I’m partial to University of Maryland, College Park, my alma mater.
Thanks jjimm! One day (probably in the next life, as I’m broke in this one) I’d love to go there and tour both places.
After viewing e-logic’s photos of Cambridge University (not University of Cambridge, right?) I gotta think that it’s by far the most beautiful University in the world. Those photos are amazing! Thanks for providing them!
Either. ‘University of Cambridge’ is the true title of the institution, but geographical names of British universities are mostly interchangeable in this way. There’s a few exceptions - nobody ever refers to ‘London University’ but always ‘University of London’.
Thank you GorillaMan for the clarification.
Boston College is world famous for it’s gothic architecture and beautiful flora.
Rollins College near Orlando, FL is also very pretty, but in a much different Floridian/Spanish style.
You must have been an English major. All the stone buildings on campus are sandstone as limestone melts away in the moist and humid climate in the Southeast. Other than that slight nitpick, I agree that Sewanee is just about heaven on Earth with regards to the beauty of the campus architecture and of the 10,000 acres of forest.
And slight hijack - I’m class of '88, Natural Resources major, of course. When were you there?
The two I would have said have been mentioned, Swarthmore and Wellesley. The College Gothic sections of Princeton and the main green there are beautiful, but they are putting up boxy modern buildings all around lately.
http://www.upenn.edu/admissions/tour/tourstop.php?stop=4
Penn, while not having the advantages that those institutions outside cities enjoy, has some beautiful parts of campus. Particularly the Quad where freshman live, and some of the other older campus buildings, ie College Hall. Walking down Locust Walk isnt half bad either.
That’s a nice pic, SailBunny.
Don’t know why … but I think a few people mentioned (on this thread) that Penn wasn’t all that lovely. But that picture tells a different story, I’d say.
Tough noogies. As the saying goes (at least, it goes amongst Cal grads): There’s only one University of California, and it’s in Berkeley.
FWIW, the Regents tend to agree with you, and append the city name to all 10 campuses. Even the original, flagship. The athletic department, though, has a different viewpoint.
