College websites need to reflect the essence of the institution and guide prospective students and parents through the school’s offering. A well-designed site is dynamic and trustworthy from the outset, telling the viewer why they should apply to a particular college over another.

Find inspiration from the best college websites made in Webflow and learn how to build customer-centric education sites.

The 9 best university websites and why they work

A successful college website combines aesthetics, usability, and storytelling to leave a lasting impression and spark interest. Here are nine academic website examples and why they're effective.

1. Wells College Virtual Tour

Wells College's Virtual Tour website, designed by Assulin Webflow Services, welcomes visitors with an image-centric layout and bold headline of the school name to familiarize people with the campus’s charm. Interactive cards on the homepage, paired with hover-activated calls to action (CTAs) like "Take the Tour" and “Explore the Map” encourage you to explore and learn more.

Clicking these cards unlocks customizable tour options, letting you choose to learn about school traditions or wander campus facilities. Meanwhile, the site continuously presents you with bite-sized information that makes the experience feel like a personal tour guide.

2. Bayside College

Bayside College’s website, created by Bayside Creative, uses immersive design elements to showcase its vibrant campus life. The homepage carousel video immediately grabs attention by highlighting various aspects of student life — classes, events, and community activities — making the college experience feel welcoming for prospective students. 

Prominent CTAs like “Apply Now” and “Visit Us” ensure visitors know exactly how to take the next step. Videos and stats, such as leadership participation and graduate outcomes, build credibility while offering prospective attendees valuable information.

3. University of Hertfordshire’s Global Academic Foundation

Made by admonk creative studio, The University of Hertfordshire’s Global Academic Foundation website has a colorful yet minimalistic layout that blends eye-catching visuals with modern design trends. In addition to the bold heading and images scrolling by, visitors can view all the courses within the header section and navigate to them with one click.

Each course has an overview with further information about supplementary courses or higher ed. The overviews are all color-coded for visual recall, making it easier to switch between courses when comparing without forgetting key tidbits.

A “Why University of Hertfordshire” section details how the college provides a global degree, is internationally accredited, and allows students to study in the U.K. A “How to apply” section logically follows, with testimonials from current students and alumni at the end to reinforce credibility.

4. UTEP

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) website makes a powerful first impression with a video carousel header showcasing its bustling campus life and activities. This visual instantly immerses visitors in the UTEP experience, creating a sense of excitement at new experiences.

Below the header, a bold paragraph highlights UTEP’s value as America’s leading Hispanic-serving university, emphasizing accessibility and academic excellence. A neatly tucked-away hamburger menu simplifies the site navigation, giving users quick access to key areas like admissions, financial aid, and faculty.

5. Emory University’s Neil Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing

Emory University's School of Nursing website header establishes the school’s purpose with an image of a nurse and a compelling value proposition: "Preparing Visionary Nurse Leaders." Ticker-style badges on the award-winning school’s website showcase the institution's accolades. These elements build credibility and inspire confidence in future students.

Clear CTAs like "Apply" and "Give Back" encourage interaction, while a dedicated section for program options allows people to explore paths like bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degrees. Including statistics like 100% job placement rates reinforces the school's reputation and demonstrates tangible outcomes for graduates.

6. Colorado State University’s Office of Inclusive Excellence

Colorado State University’s Office of Inclusive Excellence website embodies its educational mission with messaging like “Shaping Tomorrow’s Inclusive Leaders” and sections on its Principles of Community, including respect, service, and social justice. The homepage has an engaging scroll animation where the left side of the screen remains static while the right side moves. This design keeps the main message in sight while showing newer, complementary information.

The "Cultural Resource Centers" section highlights the university’s dedication to diversity by showcasing groups like the Pride, Disability, and Black/African American centers. Each group’s overview emphasizes their unique contributions, creating a sense of belonging for prospective students and parents. A detailed footer offers quick access to a wide range of resources, making it easy for visitors to find specific programs or initiatives.

7. Republicana

Republicana's website opens with a moving carousel to engage visitors with visuals and text-based value propositions. The second section breaks down the institution's strengths using colorful icons and short, focused descriptions, making complex information easier to digest.

The "Programs" section adds a personal touch with a smiling image of a person and insightful descriptions, helping potential students find the right fit for their needs. At the bottom, the blog highlights the university's recent achievements and events so applicants feel confident about joining.

8. Faculdade Arnaldo

The top half of Faculdade Arnaldo's website, made by Lucas Cabral, is similar to Republicana's, with a structured layout describing the college's offering and programs. However, it sends readers to pages that go into more detail via a "Quick Access" section that offers direct routes to essential actions, such as registration and program descriptions, saving time for prospective students. 

Services open to the public, like veterinary and legal assistance, show the university's community involvement — something attendees might value putting on their resumes. An events section notifies people of upcoming activities so they can stay involved, while the contact page makes it easy for prospective students to get in touch.

9. Brooklyn College

Suyash Shrivastava created Brooklyn College's Forging Career Paths in Healthcare website, which shows vibrant, captivating illustrations and caricatures to evoke emotions that encourage people to learn more. The heart symbol, for instance, emphasizes the school's commitment to community and collaboration.

Brooklyn College highlights the many job opportunities in America and encourages students to apply for access to a bright professional future. Beneath the headline "Your Path to a Healthcare Career" are compelling statistics about how higher education helps students find jobs in the healthcare industry.

Attract clients and showcase their programs with Webflow

Whether you're describing courses, promoting campus events, or simplifying the admissions process for your clients, building an impressive college website demands the best tools on the market.

With Webflow, you can design and launch educational sites (and really any other industry) without relying on developers. Browse the Made in Webflow marketplace to find inspiration for your next project, and use Webflow’s SEO features to make your site highly discoverable for prospective students far and wide. 

Try Webflow today and start building college websites that impress.