21 College Campuses That Look Like They Belong in Europe

17. University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA): Romanesque Revival Power

While showcasing various styles, USC's older core prominently features impressive Romanesque Revival architecture, a style drawing from early medieval European forms. Buildings like the Bovard Administration Building boast grand arches, sturdy columns, and intricate brick and terracotta detailing reminiscent of Italian Romanesque cathedrals and civic structures. This distinct architectural choice, blended with later Mediterranean influences across campus, gives USC a powerful, historic presence that feels different from the more common Gothic or Neoclassical styles, rooting it in Southern California with European echoes.