Mar 9, 2010

Last week, I wrote a post about Georgetown University’s process for redesigning its website. As I drafted the piece, I developed a working thesis that university websites are sort of like government sites, in that they have to do so much and serve so many audiences that the designs end up being utilitarian and bland. This lead me to spend a few hours going through the websites of the 100 best universities in the country, as ranked by U.S. News and World Reports, in an effort to prove my theory.

Turns out I was wrong. It turns out that despite all that they have to accomplish, lots and lots of universities have produced websites that are both beautiful, and immensely usable.

Following is a list of the 11 best best designed websites from the U.S. News World Reports list, as judged by me with input from some of my co-workers here at The Bivings Group. Please note that I only looked at the top 100 on the list – I’m sure there are websites from schools outside the top 100 that are equally impressive.

Take a look, and let me know what you think in your comments.

(11) Virginia Tech

I like the look and feel here a lot, as well as the use of photography. It isn’t higher on the list because it is just a little too busy for my tastes.

(10) University of Denver

Great use of photography, and the site does a good job of routing visitors to where they need to go based on their user profile.

(9) Duke University

The Duke site is clean and classy, but is just a tad bland for my tastes. Others had this one higher.

(8) Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Points to MIT for coming up with a design that is completely unique, and for a really clear and usable navigation structure. I like this one better than others here.

(7) Wake Forest University

Another elegant design. I particularly like the way they’ve judiciously used the potentially overwhelming school colors (black and gold) to evoke the school, without sacrificing aesthetics or usability (hello Brown University).

(6) Boston University

Just a confident and classic design. Love it.

(5) University of Chicago

The details throughout this site are outstanding.

(4) Rutgers University

The homepage Flash element is really well done, and if you surf a bit you’ll see a real attention to the details throughout. Great site.

(3) University of Rochester

This is similar in structure/approach to the University of Denver, except the execution of the homepage here is a bit better. Interior of the site isn’t as strong as the homepage.

(2) University of Nebraska

This is the most “Web 2.0” looking of the sites, which isn’t a bad thing given the level of execution. Also has shades of the Obama site in the use of background imagery and icons.

(1) Johns Hopkins University

The job of a designer is infinitely easier when they have great photography to work. Johns Hopkins has great photos, and does a wonderful job of using them to brand the school. Entire site is excellent.

Mark Simmons

Of these, Rochester is the best looking.
Mark Simmons

Of these, Rochester is the best looking.
http://www.cuarts.com Chad

Thanks for this post! I’m always interested in seeing what other Universities and colleges are doing in terms of guiding their user experience from the first visit to the homepage.

I’d also be interested in knowing if you’ve looked at which sites are the most Web 2.0. You mention U of Nebraska…is there a more comprehensive list that looks at these sites more closely? And do these schools have dedicated social media professionals?

Would welcome the conversation.
http://www.cuarts.com Chad

Thanks for this post! I’m always interested in seeing what other Universities and colleges are doing in terms of guiding their user experience from the first visit to the homepage.

I’d also be interested in knowing if you’ve looked at which sites are the most Web 2.0. You mention U of Nebraska…is there a more comprehensive list that looks at these sites more closely? And do these schools have dedicated social media professionals?

Would welcome the conversation.
http://www.hhmi.org Patricia Foster

I picked JHU as my favorite of this group. Visual navigation is very interesting, putting the user in the active role.
http://www.hhmi.org Patricia Foster

I picked JHU as my favorite of this group. Visual navigation is very interesting, putting the user in the active role.
http://www.bivingsreport.com Todd Zeigler

Chad,

Of the 100 sites I looked at, the only one that really stood out to me as looking Web 2.0 was Nebraska.

I also didn’t see prominent placement of things like fan pages for the school, Twitter accounts or YouTube channels. I’ll bet this stuff exists for most schools, but maybe isn’t featured prominently on the site itself due to all the other objectives these sites have to accomplish.

Todd
http://www.bivingsreport.com Todd Zeigler

Chad,

Of the 100 sites I looked at, the only one that really stood out to me as looking Web 2.0 was Nebraska.

I also didn’t see prominent placement of things like fan pages for the school, Twitter accounts or YouTube channels. I’ll bet this stuff exists for most schools, but maybe isn’t featured prominently on the site itself due to all the other objectives these sites have to accomplish.

Todd
Joan B.

Great seeing some innovative crisp updated websites! Liked the usability factors especially for students just wanting to check out a college and high school students wanting to know how to prepare for a college.
Joan B.

Great seeing some innovative crisp updated websites! Liked the usability factors especially for students just wanting to check out a college and high school students wanting to know how to prepare for a college.
http://www.onlineglobalbiz.com/white-hat-seo-techniques/ White Hat SEO Techniques

[...] Top 11 Best Designed University Websites [...]
http://www.cuarts.columbia.edu Chad

Todd,

Thanks for your feedback. I’d welcome the opportunity to have a more in-depth conversation about social media sites at universities. I’m the Events and Outreach Manager for the Arts Initiative at Columbia University (www.cuarts.columbia.edu). We’ve been one of the first organizations on campus to embrace and implement social media platforms and strategies into how we connect with Columbians.

Please feel free to reach out via our website or through Linkedin.

Best,

Chad
http://www.cuarts.columbia.edu Chad

Todd,

Thanks for your feedback. I’d welcome the opportunity to have a more in-depth conversation about social media sites at universities. I’m the Events and Outreach Manager for the Arts Initiative at Columbia University (www.cuarts.columbia.edu). We’ve been one of the first organizations on campus to embrace and implement social media platforms and strategies into how we connect with Columbians.

Please feel free to reach out via our website or through Linkedin.

Best,

Chad
http://www.jhu.edu Tim Windsor

Thanks so much for noticing the work we did here over the past year at Johns Hopkins. We put a lot of effort into making the site easy to navigate and building a big stage that we can use to tell the story of Johns Hopkins, and what makes it tick.

The only thing better than the notice for JHU is the company we’re in. Every single one of the other ten sites here is a personal favorite, and I’ve cited most over the past year as examples of how universities are becoming leaders in smart, accessible and attractive web design.
http://www.jhu.edu Tim Windsor

Thanks so much for noticing the work we did here over the past year at Johns Hopkins. We put a lot of effort into making the site easy to navigate and building a big stage that we can use to tell the story of Johns Hopkins, and what makes it tick.

The only thing better than the notice for JHU is the company we’re in. Every single one of the other ten sites here is a personal favorite, and I’ve cited most over the past year as examples of how universities are becoming leaders in smart, accessible and attractive web design.
http://www.bivingsreport.com Todd Zeigler

Tim,

Thanks for reading and great work on the Hopkins site. We love it.

Todd
http://www.bivingsreport.com Todd Zeigler

Tim,

Thanks for reading and great work on the Hopkins site. We love it.

Todd
Gordon

Since photography is obviously key to creating a unique first impression, I think that the sites that focus on real people (and especially not using stock looking photos) and real students stand the best chance of capturing an audience.
Gordon

Since photography is obviously key to creating a unique first impression, I think that the sites that focus on real people (and especially not using stock looking photos) and real students stand the best chance of capturing an audience.
RW

My personal fav is the Hopkins site.
RW

My personal fav is the Hopkins site.
Jim Johns

Your number one selection should be JohnS Hopkins. Small typo that for some reason I always notice. ; ) Thanks!
Jim Johns

Your number one selection should be JohnS Hopkins. Small typo that for some reason I always notice. ; ) Thanks!
http://www.bivingsreport.com Todd Zeigler

Jim – That typo is fixed. Count yourselves lucky that was the only typo I made. Thanks.
http://www.bivingsreport.com Todd Zeigler

Jim – That typo is fixed. Count yourselves lucky that was the only typo I made. Thanks.
http://vinestreetlincoln.wordpress.com/2010/03/16/no-2-with-a-bullet/ No. 2, with a bullet «

[...] big plans without the obligatory drama and politics. And I’m also so glad they are getting the recognition they deserve. [...]
http://www.bivingsreport.com/2010/best-u-s-think-tank-websites/ Best U.S. Think Tank Websites

[...] All and all, this was an inspiring set of websites and not nearly as extraordinary as the list of best university sites I put together recently, but there are a few that stood out. Below is a list of the five best of the ones I looked [...]
ARS

I’d like to point out that the University of Nebraska had an online vote for the layout of the site a year or two ago. Students, faculty, and staff voted for their favorite layout of several choices. The current was the winner.
ARS

I’d like to point out that the University of Nebraska had an online vote for the layout of the site a year or two ago. Students, faculty, and staff voted for their favorite layout of several choices. The current was the winner.
http://TRImagination.com Lee Graham

Someone forgot about: Full Sail University

Clearly better than any of the others!
http://TRImagination.com Lee Graham

http://www.fullsail.edu/
http://TRImagination.com Lee Graham

Someone forgot about: Full Sail University

Clearly better than any of the others!
http://TRImagination.com Lee Graham

http://www.fullsail.edu/
Beth

Only VT, UChicago, MIT, and UNL validate. They should get points for that. John’s Hopkins has the most errors of the list.
Beth

Only VT, UChicago, MIT, and UNL validate. They should get points for that. John’s Hopkins has the most errors of the list.
http://www1.unl.edu/iimblog/2010/03/19/on-design/ UNL | UNL.edu and You | On Design

[...] University of Nebraska-Lincoln was slotted in at No. 2 on a list of the top 11 best-designed university websites from The Bivings Report. The Bivings Report is a publication of the Bivings Group, a Washington, [...]
http://www.simra.co.uk Lashanda Yuste

I’m sure I’m not in the minority by any means, but I do intend to improve. I suppose my main problem is that I find large numbers of comments overwhelming, I can honestly say that I’ve skipped reading entries at friends’ blogs, just because there’s already ninety comments on it, and I a) don’t want to get lost in the shuffle, or worse b) don’t want to be obligated to spew out forty comments of my own.
http://www.simra.co.uk Lashanda Yuste

I’m sure I’m not in the minority by any means, but I do intend to improve. I suppose my main problem is that I find large numbers of comments overwhelming, I can honestly say that I’ve skipped reading entries at friends’ blogs, just because there’s already ninety comments on it, and I a) don’t want to get lost in the shuffle, or worse b) don’t want to be obligated to spew out forty comments of my own.
http://www.stc-access.org/2010/03/21/weekend-gazette-link-collection-for-march-21/ Weekend Gazette – Link Collection for March 21 at STC AccessAbility SIG

[...] a usable site is an ugly site – that you cannot have good design and usability together. In Top 11 Best Designed University Websites, the author looks at the top 100 university websites from a given list and names the top 11 [...]
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salu

I go to harvard and hate it…got waitlisted at johns hopkins and now this makes it even harder to digest…its okay im coming to hopkins for grad school! great website!
salu

I go to harvard and hate it…got waitlisted at johns hopkins and now this makes it even harder to digest…its okay im coming to hopkins for grad school! great website!
http://fearlessflyer.com/2010/09/25-awesome-college-websites-that-will-definitely-wow-you/ 25 Awesome College Websites that will definitely WOW you! | Fearless Flyer Web Design

[...] [...]
http://www.facebook.com/noah.guiberson Noah Guiberson

Beth, how can you comment on the website’s “errors”, when you can’t even spell the name of the University correctly?
Akashkashyap69

Good one idiot…too bad she did spell it correctly, she just messed up on punctuation. I would expect a JHU student as smart as yourself to know the difference between spelling and punctuation.
Concerned Citizen

Akashkashya69 is brilliant. Easily Harvard caliber. Picking up on that subtle technical error and completely missing the point of the post is what all non-idiots must strive to be like.

You spell something wrong when you don’t spell something right. Johns =/= John’s. Wrong is wrong. Elementary.
http://hartford.uconn.edu/ Husky

What do you guys think about http://hartford.uconn.edu/ I would love to get some feedback!

Thanks for the list.

-Husky
http://11thinking.nl/2010/top-10-dutch-university-webdesigns/ Top 10 Dutch university webdesigns

[...] the footsteps of these posts of top 25, top 10 and top 11 best university websites, I write my own post of the top 8 university websites in The [...]
Dipendra Adhikari

Great website.
Dear all,
I am Dipendra Adhikari from Nepal, running a community NGO. I would like to welcome all the volunteer for the volunteering work with our NGO. Similarly we will help you to travel diffrent parts of Nepal. thank you

http://www.greenworldconnections.com
info@greenworldconnections.com

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