20 Must See Movies About College Life

No matter if you’re looking to learn a bit more about life in college, looking to have a good laugh, or looking to reminisce on your past college days, there’s a college movie for you. We’ve compiled 20 of the best movies about college life. Some are comedy films, some drama and all show a well-rounded view on college from perspectives of the student.

1. Old School

Photo: IMDB

• Year: 2003
• Main Actors: Will Ferrell, Luke Wilson, Vince Vaughn
• Genre: Comedy
• Rating: R

In this hilarious comedy, former college friends decide to relive their student days by opening up a fraternity near their alma mater. They recruit a collection of other non-traditional students while trying to avoid eviction by the current student dean who holds a grudge against the friends.

Here’s what you’ll learn about: Ups and downs of post-college life, fraternity and sorority life, college politics, party culture

2. Animal House

Photo: IMDB

• Year: 1978
• Main Actors: John Belushi, Karen Allen, Tom Hulce
• Genre: Comedy
• Rating: R

National Lampoon’s Animal House is a classic movie about college life. In this comedy, two fraternities go head to head: one being a group of misfits, and other other a group of homogenous, upper-middle-class preps.

Here’s what you’ll learn about: Fraternity and sorority life, college politics, and a lot of party culture

3. House Bunny

Photo: IMDB

• Year: 2008
• Main Actors: Anna Faris, Emma Stone, Colin Hanks
• Genre: Comedy
• Rating: PG-13

A Playboy bunny is kicked out of the mansion and must find new work and a place to stay. She gets a job managing an unpopular sorority and learns the values of what makes a sisterhood in a sorority.

Here’s what you’ll learn about: Fraternity and sorority life, a bit of party culture

4. Legally Blonde

Photo: IMDB

• Year: 2001
• Main Actors: Reese Witherspoon, Selma Blair, Luke Wilson
• Genre: Comedy, Romance
• Rating: PG-13

In this cool, girl power movie about college life, an unlikely applicant gets accepted into law school at an Ivy League school. She proves that looks and gender aren’t everything and you can be successful if you work hard.

Here’s what you’ll learn about: Law school, school admissions process, internships

5. Accepted

Photo: IMDB

• Year: 2006
• Main Actors: Justin Long, Blake Lively, Jonah Hill
• Genre: Comedy
• Rating: PG-13

One of the funniest movies about college life, this comedy follows a group of high school grads who make up their own college when they get rejected from other schools. This new school is an alternative, student-led college which ends up standing up against college accreditation standards. Getting rejected from colleges you apply to can hurt, but that doesn’t mean you should give up — there will always be a right school for you. It might also be a good idea to apply to some of these colleges with the highest acceptance rates. Some might surprise you!

Here’s what you’ll learn about: College politics, college admissions process, group college dynamics, on-campus living, alternative colleges

6. Pitch Perfect

Photo: IMDB

• Year: 2012
• Main Actors: Rebel Wilson, Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow
• Genre: Comedy/Music/Romance
• Rating: PG-13

In this film, a female college singing group goes head to head with a rival male singing group. An unassuming new recruit helps the a-capella group rebrand and find a new identity.

Here’s what you’ll learn about: Student groups, student music groups

7. Monsters University

Photo: IMDB

• Year: 2013
• Main Voices: Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi
• Genre: Animation
• Rating: G

Monsters University shows the story of an unlikely pair becoming inseparable best friends in college. Mike and Sulley work together to become heroes of the on-campus sporting competition. The two met on their first day of college, which for many, is an exciting but also nerve wracking time in a college career. For tips and how to have a great first day, check out our guide on what to expect on your first day of college.

Here’s what you’ll learn about: New college friendships, first day of college, fraternity and sorority life, on-campus living

8. Good Will Hunting

Photo: IMDB

• Year: 1997
• Main Actors: Robin Williams, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon
• Genre: Drama/Romance
• Rating: R

A janitor at M.I.T turns out to be a mathematics genius. With the help of a physcologist, the young man struggles to find his identity and purpose, and creates important relationships and bonds along the way.

Here’s what you’ll learn about: Professor/student relationships, college dating, student identity

9. The Social Network

Photo: IMDB

• Year: 2010
• Main Actors: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake
• Genre: Biography/Drama
• Rating: PG-13

A Harvard student and computer genius has an idea. What starts as a small and an interesting project turns this student into a billionaire in only 6 years. But becoming a self-made billionaire and creating something the entire world uses comes with a huge set of personal and legal issues.

Here’s what you’ll learn about: Student entrepreneurship, computer programming, Ivy League school culture

10. The Social Network

Photo: IMDB

• Year: 2013
• Main Actors: Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn, Rose Byrne
• Genre: Comedy
• Rating: PG-13

Two men not-so-fresh out of college end up enrolled into an internship program where they compete with more recent graduates for a chance to work at a top company. This movie shows the intensity new grads encounter when trying to enter the workforce, but not all of the job search is full of strife — there are plenty of moments where you find how strong you can be.

Here’s what you’ll learn about: Post-grad life, internships, group work and community building, competition in the job market

11. Revenge of the Nerds

Photo: IMDB

• Year: 1984
• Main Actors: Robert Carradine, Anthony Edwards, Timothy Busfield
• Genre: Comedy
• Rating: R

Two nerdy college freshmen set off for college. When they arrive, they find a less-than-accepting atmosphere with jocks making fun of them, and difficulties getting the girls they want. But these two nerds find revenge by using their smarts and ingenuity to get back at the jocks.

Here’s what you’ll learn about: Life as a freshman, fraternities and sororities, college cliques, college dating and college friendships

12. Rudy

Photo: IMDB

• Year: 1993
• Main Actors: Sean Astin, Jon Favreau, Ned Betty
• Genre: Biography, Sport
• Rating: PG

This inspiring college film is all about achieving your dreams, in spite of what other people say can’t be done. Rudy comes from a small town where people tend to stay put. He has always wanted to play college sports but was told he is too small, and not athletic or smart enough. Nonetheless, he sets out to prove everyone wrong.

Here’s what you’ll learn about: College sports, achieving goals, application processes

13. Real Genius

Photo: IMDB

• Year: 1985
• Main Actors: Val Kilmer, Gabriel Jarret, Michelle Meyrink
• Genre: Comedy
• Rating: PG

A teenage genius enters college early and goes to a school that is well known for its science programs. This student, along with his roomate, develop a high-powered laser for a class project but soon realize that their college professor plans to steal their idea.

Here’s what you’ll learn about: College science, group projects, on-campus living, early college attendance

14. Waterboy

Photo: IMDB

• Year: 1998
• Main Actors: Adam Sandler, Kathy Bates, Henry Winkler
• Genre: Comedy
• Rating: PG-13

The Waterboy starts out as just that — a college football waterboy, who is very attached and close with his mother. But through help from his couch and other teammates, he discovers he has talent for football. But this waterboy must navigate the struggles of trying to please yourself, your teammates, and your family while in college.

Here’s what you’ll learn about: College sports, family relationships during college, disabilities in college

15. Van Wilder

Photo: IMDB

• Year: 2002
• Main Actors: Ryan Reynolds, Tara Reid, Tim Matheson
• Genre: Comedy
• Rating: R

Van Wilder is living a great life in college — he is popular, hosts amazing parties, even has an exchange student as a personal assistant. So why should he graduate? He doesn’t. Instead, he becomes a professional student partier until his father finds out he’s been paying for these seven years of college and Van Wilder must figure out another way to keep on partying.

Here’s what you’ll learn about: College dating, college parties, fraternities and sororities

16. Mona Lisa Smile

Photo: IMDB

• Year: 2003
• Main Actors: Julia Roberts, Kirsten Dunst, Julia Stiles, Maggie Gyllenhaal
• Genre: Drama
• Rating: PG-13

Set in a 1950s prestigious all-girls school, a group of young women in an art history class are challenged by their professor. The female art professor recognizes great potential in her students and encourages them to see life through new, progressive eyes. In this historical movie, you’ll learn quite a bit about college life and women’s struggles in college during the 1950s.

Here’s what you’ll learn about: College in the 1950s, women’s roles in the 1950s, art history, women in college, student-professor relationships

17. Save the Last Dance 2

Photo: IMDB

• Year: 2006
• Main Actors: Izabella Miko, Columbus Short, Jacqueline Bisset
• Genre: Drama, Music
• Rating: PG-13

Sara continues her dreams of dancing and being a ballerina star, but this time she joins Juilliard — a prestigious performing arts school in New York. She sets off to achieve high goals against all odds, and with the help of friends, she finds herself, despite being in an entirely new environment.

Here’s what you’ll learn about: College dancing, college dating, college cliques, performing arts colleges

18. Life of the Party

Photo: IMDB

• Year: 2018
• Main Actors: Melissa McCarthy, Ben Falone
• Genre: Comedy
• Rating: PG-13

A middle-aged mother finds out she is being divorced and decides to go back to school. She ends up at the same college as her daughter. You will laugh and find inspiration in this funny movie that proves that you can find yourself at any age. If you’re thinking about going back to school later on, you are not alone! Many adults are finding that the next best step for them is to get a college degree. Check out tips here on going back to school.

Here’s what you’ll learn about: Family relationships while in college, going back to school, on-campus living

19. Syndey White

Photo: IMDB

• Year: 2007
• Main Actors: Amanda Bynes, Sara Paxton, Matt Long
• Genre: Comedy/Drama/Romance
• Rating: PG-13

In this charming tale, a remake of the classic Snow White, a freshman attempts to pledge her mother’s sorority. But when she finds out that sorority life isn’t the sisterhood she had in mind, she goes off to live with seven misfits who live outside the greek community.

Here’s what you’ll learn about: Fraternity and sorority life, college politics, off-campus living, college dating

20. Drumline

Photo: IMDB

• Year: 2002
• Main Actors: Nick Cannon, Zoe Saldana, Orlando Jones
• Genre: Romantic Comedy
• Rating: PG-13

A Harlem drummer gets recruited to play for a big southern university. In this funny and creative storyline, you’ll also get to know a bit more about cultural differences between the northern U.S. and the southern U.

Here’s what you’ll learn about: College bands, college dance teams, college sports, college dating

Conclusion

Whether you are looking forward to college soon, looking to reminisce about your college days or you’re currently in college and looking to let some steam off with these movies, you’ll be sure to find something funny and inspirational in these 20 movies about college life.