Lazy Rivers, Ball Pits, and Tiny Homes: These Are the Most Over-the-Top College Dorms in the US (2025)

If the word “dorm” conjures up visions of taped up posters, bean bag chairs, and rickety bunk beds, it’s time to update your mindset. Schools around the country have stepped up their residence hall game in recent years with finishings worthy of a home decor spread, esoteric amenities primed to keep students’ minds engaged and their moods boosted, and luxurious amenities that will put your old dining hall meal plan card to shame. Curious exactly how these lucky matriculators are living it up? We’ve searched the country for the most decadent, envy-inspiring, and surprising dorms that higher education has to offer. From five-star experiences to forward-thinking living arrangements, one thing’s for sure, these are far from your typical dorms.

It may be the luxuries—like a rooftop lounge with a swimming pool and hot tub, a 2,400 square foot gym, a theater room outfitted with four big-screen TVs and a projection screen, 24-hour staff, housekeeping services, plus foosball, pool, and poker tables, and arcade games—that make this UT Austin residence hall a headline-grabber, but it’s equally notable for its homier, apartment-style comforts: granite- and stainless steel-outfitted kitchenettes with full-sized fridges, hardwood flooring, leather furniture, and en suite bathrooms.

The early years of college may seem overwhelming, so this village-style community (exclusively for freshmen and sophomores) is set up to offer a cozier experience. Made up of 10 residence halls, it has a small town feel with its own shops, plus private fitness and technology centers, sports fields, basketball and sand volleyball courts, music rooms, game rooms, and more. Most of the dorms (many of which are LEED certified for sustainability and environmental impact) feature en suite bathrooms, some even complete with cleaning staff, as well as access to student-run businesses like the Wash U Wash laundry and dry cleaning service.

Fondly nicknamed “the sponge” for its (award-winning) window-speckled architectural design, this 340-person residence hall is a student favorite for its anything-but-ordinary approach to lifestyle amenities. The two-story movie theater and giant ball pit—yes, we said ball pit—are standouts, but as one might expect from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, it’s also designed to foster student’s creativity and boundary pushing with options like a crafting room, kitted-out woodshop, and electrical engineering lab. Of course there are indulgences too, like air hockey and pool tables and video games, and in-house gym, laundry, and mini library for when they need a taste of regular student life.

One thing’s for certain, you’ll never be bored at this 1,000 student housing complex. With a TV-outfitted deck for sports and movies, a gaming lounge, lap pool, a lazy river, running track, putting green, lighted tennis, volleyball, and baseball courts, the trickiest part may be finding time to study—although there’s also a 24 hour library and chill study zone on site to provide some inspiration.

Looking for a dorm that feels tailor-made? Oberlin’s housing communities offer a highly bespoke experience. Beyond the classic dorm lifestyle, the liberal arts college features housing communities based on identity (like Hebrew, Asian, Latin, and Afrikan heritage houses, as well as living communities for women, Trans students), language (Russian, French, Spanish, or German), and even themed communities (like a substance-free hall, low-noise floors, and a hall for sci-fi fans) so wherever they’re from and whatever they’re into, students can find a comfortable place to be themselves.

For an apartment-living feel, Tucson’s The Hub brings high-end amenities like a technicolor rooftop sundeck with a pool and hot tub, a fitness center packed with prime equipment like a climbing wall and yoga room, fitness classes, and a virtual trainer. Unlike the dorms of yore, these rooms are ultra-modern with smart home systems including a voice controlled thermostat, 4K TVs and sound systems in each unit, energy-efficient appliances, and a private washer and dryer for every apartment—because communal laundry is way overrated.

An apartment not enough for you? Well how about an entire tiny home? While High Point consistently rates well for its dorm experience, they also offer one of the country’s most unexpected student housing options in the form of a neighborhood full of bite-sized (we’re talking 500 square feet) single-person houses that feature a full bathroom, galley kitchen, and living and sleeping areas—all in an adorable chocolate box package that gives students a taste of life as a homeowner.