10 Fictional Film & Television Colleges, Ranked From Worst To Best

As far as on-screen colleges go there are some that one should never consider ever applying. They have a poor repertoire and not so great academics. Throughout film and television, there have been many fake universities or colleges created for storylines. Some are used as a setting for the main characters or used as the basis for the storyline.

Some of these colleges might sound familiar and even help recall some reason why they’re not exactly the best in the country. But there are some that are held to high standards and wouldn’t be a bad idea applying if they were real. When looking a what schools to add to your imaginary must-apply list, here are the ones that are a definite and those that are a flop.

10 Hudson University (Law & Order)

It’s more than adequate to say that it’s best to steer clear of Hudson University. It’s a fictional institution that is regarded throughout the Law & Order franchise shows. Especially in Law & Order: SVU. Despite the school consistently being regarded as one of the best in New York City and even Stabler’s daughters attending, it has a bad history.

In more than one episode, the school was tagged with withholding or failing to report on-campus sexual assaults. The school had many victims and perpetrators. There was even a serial killer by the name of Nicole Wallace who was hired as a visiting professor. She just so happened to have murdered the school’s Dean.

9 South Harmon Institute of Technology (Accepted)

The acronym the school’s name creates says a lot about it. The South Harmon Institute of Technology isn’t a real school in the film Accepted. It stems from a student with a knack for creating fake IDs and pranks not getting accepted into any college. His father’s insistence leads him to fabricate a university.

SHIT university accepts rejects who don’t make the cut for scholarships or prestigious universities. It makes it one of the worst on-screen colleges because it’s not real at all. The main characters fabricate a dean and revamp a psych ward to make it look like a school. Their plan backfires when students actually apply and get admitted. By the end, the school is given one-year probation to see if they can make it work and give the rejects a place to go.

8 Blue Mountain State

The show’s name also happens to be the name of the fictional college it depicts. Blue Mountain State was a sitcom show that showcased certain aspects of American college life. It showcased it in the most heightened way possible. It followed the school’s football team and their partying, jokes, and sex escapades.

The individuals even relish in the idea of hazing the school freshmen. From what’s seen of the school, it may not be the best seeing as they let a lot of things slide. Seeing as the show mostly focuses on the main characters a lot can be guessed on how the school is run.

7 South Central Louisiana State University (The Waterboy)

From what’s known of South Central Louisiana State University, it’s not exactly the best school in the state. Adam Sandler’s character, Bobby Bouchard attends the school in secret from his mother. His acute rage makes him a successful and powerful linebacker to the school’s football team.

RELATED: Hubie Halloween: 10 References To Other Adam Sandler Movies

In regards to the school as an academic facility it’s barely passable. Audiences do see Bobby attend a few classes but the students mock and ridicule him, even the professor. In terms of the football team, they need help. The cheerleading squad is always intoxicated as well as the mascot. Not to mention the players aren’t so forthcoming at the beginning towards Bobby. It’s clear that the school doesn’t have the best reputation.

6 Faber College (National Lampoon’s Animal House)

Animal House is a cult classic film and created one of the more recognized fake colleges in film. It centers around Lawrence “Larry” Kroger (Tom Hulce) and Kent Dorfman (Stephen Furst) looking to join a fraternity but feeling out of place at the prestigious Omega Theta Pi. They make their way next door to Delta Tau Chi.

Looking at the school as a whole, it has its flaws. One of them is that the school’s Dean will do anything to get rid of the Delta fraternity. He even has their rivals try to get them kicked out while being in “double-secret probation.” Not to mention a Delta member woo’s the Dean’s wife. In retaliation, the Dean expels them and makes it aware they’re viable for military service.

5 UC Sunnydale (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)

UC Sunnydale might be a fun university to attend because it’s a front for something else. UC Sunnydale is the university that Buffy and Willow decide to attend. In reality, the school is a hub for the active members of the Initiative who meet in facilities underneath the school. If looking at the school’s campus there a couple of locations that don’t have a good history. Residents of the Lowell House was once subject to physical and psychological abuse in the mid to late 1900s.

Despite the supernatural occurrences on campus that Buffy and the Scooby Gang took care of, the school wasn’t bad. It had a good level of academics and even a big library full of books. There were also lab rooms and a much-needed coffee shop. But the school did have its fair share of traumatic experiences like death and demonic presence.

4 Coolidge College (National Lampoon’s Van Wilder)

The name of this college gives it away from the start. The film depicts Ryan Reynold’s character, Van Wilder as being the type of guy that peaked in college. He has no plans to ever leave and has so far spent seven years at college. The college itself isn’t as bad as the film portrays it. The school does avid fundraising and charity events.

There’s even a newspaper program. In the film, multiple clubs are even willing to help out Wilder from disenrollment. The only downside to the university is the steeped rivalry between fraternities and Wilder. There’s also the fair share of stuck up jocks and students. One has to get past the gross pranks Wilder plays on students and faculty.

3 Brakebills University (The Magicians)

As far as college go, Brakbills doesn’t sound that bad if putting aside all the rule-breaking of magic. Brakebills is a fictional university in the fantasy show, The Magicians. It’s an exclusive school that only admits those with a natural ability to learn magic. What makes the school not a bad choice is the fact that they don’t let just anyone perform magic. They see their potential to use it properly unlike the character Julia (Stella Maeve).

RELATED: The Magicians: 10 Differences Between The SyFy Show And The Book Series

Brakebills also does a good job as adequately trying to educate and prepare students in magic. Above all, they do give warning on how magic shouldn’t be used and the natural laws of the universe that shouldn’t be meddled with. The school also aids in honing a student’s natural gifts.

2 University Of Los Angeles (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)

The University of Los Angeles, or ULA, was the school that Will and Carlton attended later on in the show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The school was a good fit and overall ranks high on being a worthy applicable school. It must be good to some degree for Carlton to attend seeing as he is always concerned with grades and academia.

Audiences did get to see them attend a few classes but a majority of the time we saw them hang out in the lounge area that was also a school store. ULA is a good bet when applying for a fake university in sunny Los Angeles.

1 Barden University (Pitch Perfect)

Barden University would be a top choice if applying for more music prone academics. Throughout the Pitch Perfect films, Barden University proved to be a worthwhile school. It allowed students to explore multiple clubs and interests. They even backed their top attraction, Acapella. 

The school seemed to have good academics as well, as the Bella’s always kept their grades up. The main character, Becca was even able to work in the school’s radio station to get some experience in her dream of being a producer. Barden has everything a sociable and academic student is looking for.

About The Author

Gabriela Silva
(477 Articles Published)

Gabriela Silva is a List writer for Screen Rant with experience in all things television, film and pop culture. A graduate of Fordham University with previous years experience interning for Cliché Magazine.

With her passion for movies, television and entertainment, she’s interviewed some great actors from Cress Williams of ‘Black Lightning’ to Tati Gabrielle from ‘Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.’

Her love for entertainment reaches a broad range of interests from 90s thriller movies, guilty pleasure teen dramas, action-packed MCU movies to popular K-dramas. You’ll most likely find her binge-watching a new television show or movies on Netflix into the early morning.

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