Top Colleges in the US for Surfing Enthusiasts

News Summary

SURFER magazine has unveiled a list of the top 10 colleges in the US that combine strong academic programs with access to prime surfing locations. Leading the list is the University of California San Diego (UCSD), renowned for its unique course on the physics of surfing and proximity to famous surf spots. Other notable institutions include the University of California Santa Cruz and Point Loma Nazarene University. The article emphasizes the educational and career opportunities that come with pursuing a degree while enjoying the surf lifestyle.

San Diego – SURFER magazine has released an exciting list of the top 10 colleges in the United States that provide excellent access to prominent surfing locations while offering strong academic programs. The list highlights colleges where students can pursue their educational goals while enjoying the surf lifestyle, illustrating the unique combination of education and surfing that certain institutions are able to provide.

Leading the list is the University of California San Diego (UCSD), situated close to Black’s Beach, a renowned spot for surf enthusiasts. UCSD not only boasts an impressive coastal location but also offers a unique course titled “The Physics of Surfing,” which merges academic inquiry with the sport. The university is ranked as the No. 6 public university in the country and is home to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, a respected center for research in ocean and earth sciences.

Located along a vast 70 miles of the San Diego coastline, UCSD presents an abundance of surfing opportunities, making it an ideal choice for aspiring surfers. For those considering enrollment, the annual tuition and fees are set at $16,815 for in-state students, while out-of-state students face a fee of $51,015. The total student enrollment at UCSD stands at approximately 33,792 undergraduates and 8,584 graduates, with incoming freshmen boasting an impressive GPA range between 4.11 and 4.29. Furthermore, the student body maintains a balanced gender ratio of about 48% male to 52% female.

Other institutions featured on the list include:

• No. 2: University of California Santa Cruz
• No. 3: Point Loma Nazarene University
• No. 4: University of California Santa Barbara
• No. 5: University of Hawaii at Manoa
• No. 6: California Polytechnic State University
• No. 7: San Francisco State University
• No. 8: San Diego State University
• No. 9: University of North Carolina Wilmington
• No. 10: Monmouth University

This ranking is particularly relevant considering the significant economic and career advantages associated with obtaining a college degree. Research shows that degree holders experience a 90% employment rate, while those with only a high school diploma see a rate of just 74%. In attending college, students not only gain qualifications that can lead to improved job prospects but also have the potential to explore career paths related to their personal interests, such as environmental science, surf tourism management, or surfboard engineering.

For college students seeking to combine their academic pursuits with the surfing lifestyle, San Diego’s beach towns, like Pacific Beach and Mission Beach, continue to offer affordable rental options. These areas are brimming with amenities catered to the millennial demographic, including a growing number of gastropubs, cocktail lounges, and coffee shops, all of which reflect the vibrant surfing culture that pervades the region.

Overall, the combination of strong academic offerings, access to premier surf spots, and a lively coastal culture makes these top colleges particularly appealing to students with a passion for both education and surfing.

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Additional Resources

• SURFER: Best Surf Colleges University of California San Diego
• Wikipedia: Surfing
• Red Bull: Best Surfing Spots in California
• Google Search: Surf colleges
• National Geographic: Santa Cruz California Surfing
• Google Scholar: Surfing education
• OC Register: Surf Legend Encounter
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Surfing