College life is one of the most idealized times for many adults, as depicted in numerous college TV shows. The people who lived through their college years often look back with nostalgia while the children looking forward to it idealize it as the best time in their lives. The reality is often a mix of people trying to "adult" while entertaining the more depraved aspects of their personality. Whatever your particular experience in college, odds are some of the many TV shows about college life mirror your own experiences.
While the concept of a college life is generally more associated with films like Animal House, PCU, and Old School (among other top college movies), there are dozens of great examples found on the small screen. Shows like the popular sitcom Undeclared feature the life of a college freshman who doesn't really know what he (and many of the people around him) wants. Other shows like Community are less about education and more about the interpersonal relationships of a group of friends set in a community college. Most of the choices in this list of the best shows about college are firmly set in the comedy genre, but others can be found in romance, drama, and many more.
For more recommendations on good shows about college, browse this list and feel free to add any similar shows you think are missing! Of course, if you've seen any of the series listed below, be sure to vote them up to help determine which is best.
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12738Community
Joel McHale, Gillian JacobsPremiered: 2009
Community (NBC, 2009) is an American comedy television series created by Dan Harmon. After... more
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9023Blue Mountain State
Darin Brooks, Alan RitchsonPremiered: 2010
Blue Mountain State is an American comedy series that premiered on Spike on January 11, 2010.... more3
7723GRΣΣK
Clark Duke, Jacob ZacharPremiered: 2007
Greek (ABC Family, 2007) is an American comedy-drama television series created by Patrick Sean... more4
6531How to Get Away with Murder
Viola Davis, Billy BrownPremiered: 2014
How to Get Away with Murder (ABC, 2014) is an American legal thriller television series... more5
6335Gilmore Girls
Lauren Graham, Alexis BledelPremiered: 2000
Gilmore Girls (The WB, 2000) is an American comedy-drama television series created by Amy... more6
5629Grown-ish
Yara Shahidi, Trevor JacksonPremiered: 2018
Grown-ish (Freeform, 2018) is an American sitcom series and a spin-off of Black-ish created by... more7
5327Dear White People
Logan Browning, Brandon P. BellPremiered: 2017
Dear White People (2017, Netflix) is an American satirical comedy-drama television series... more8
3922The Magicians
Jason Ralph, Stella MaevePremiered: 2015
The Magicians (Syfy, 2015) is an American fantasy television series created by Sera Gamble and... more9
3216Veronica Mars
Kristen Bell, Percy Daggs IIIPremiered: 2004
Veronica Mars (UPN, 2004) is an American teen noir mystery drama television series created by... more10
141Normal People
Daisy Edgar-Jones, Paul MescalPremiered: 2020
Normal People (Hulu, BBC, 2020) is a television drama series based on the novel of the same... more11
2414Scream Queens
Emma Roberts, Jamie Lee CurtisPremiered: 2015
Scream Queens (Fox, 2015) is an American comedy horror television series created by Ryan... more12
2113Dawson's Creek
James Van Der Beek, Katie HolmesPremiered: 1998
Dawson's Creek (The WB, 1998) is an American teen drama television series created by Kevin... more13
2114Felicity
Keri Russell, Scott SpeedmanPremiered: 1998
Felicity is an American prime time television drama series that was created by J. J. Abrams... more14
2621A Different World
Lisa Bonet, Kadeem HardisonPremiered: 1987
A Different World (NBC, 1987) is an American sitcom created by Bill Cosby, and a spin-off of... more15
1811Coach
Craig T. Nelson, Jerry Van DykePremiered: 1989
Coach is an American television sitcom that aired for nine seasons on ABC from 1989 to 1997.... more16
11Deaf U (Netflix, 2020) is an American Netflix docuseries produced by deaf activist, model and... more17
2522Boy Meets World
Ben Savage, Rider StrongPremiered: 1993
Boy Meets World (ABC, 1993) is an American television sitcom created by Michael Jacobs and... more18
159Beverly Hills, 90210
Jason Priestley, Shannen DohertyPremiered: 1990
Beverly Hills, 90210 (Fox, 1990) is an American teen drama television series created by Darren... more19
2523Undeclared
Jay Baruchel, Carla GalloPremiered: 2001
Undeclared is an American sitcom that aired on Fox during the 2001–02 season. The show has... more20
00Bridge and Tunnel
Sam Vartholomeos, Caitlin StaseyPremiered: 2021
Bridge and Tunnel (Epix, 2021) is an American comedy drama series created by Edward Burns. Set... more21
1613Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson HanniganPremiered: 1997
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (The WB, 1997) is an American supernatural drama television series... more22
127Hellcats
Aly Michalka, Ashley TisdalePremiered: 2010
Hellcats is an American cheerleading comedy-drama television series that originally aired on... more23
139Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
Melissa Joan Hart, Caroline RheaPremiered: 1996
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch is an American sitcom based on the Archie comic book series of the... more24
129Boston Common
Anthony Clark, Hedy BurressPremiered: 1996
Boston Common is an American television sitcom that ran on NBC from 1996 to 1997 and set in... more25
1820Saved by the Bell: The College Years
Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Tiffani ThiessenPremiered: 1993
Saved by the Bell: The College Years is a sequel to the Saved by the Bell series which ran... more
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