You can generally just go there. Colleges near me have a lot of open to the public events and all.
It’s still illegal to do things that are illegal there – which a lot of pranks are vandalism and stuff. So you could be banned. I expect they’re more tolerant if it’s students doing that, not wanting to expel students and having their own punishment system internally for students. But for civilians, they might not be forgiving.
Yes. If you start annoying people or causing a disturbance campus security or police can be called and they could tell you to leave and not come back. Otherwise you are mostly free to wander onto campuses if you want, they tend to be pretty open in nature.
Generally, yeah. Most of them aren’t walled in with controlled access or anything.
Stuff like dorms, labs or other sensitive/private areas are generally locked and tied to your student/employee ID for access but the general campus is open.
Yes. I travel for work and will often go to the bookstore or student center at major universities to buy gifts for friends and family. Most also have food courts and coffee shops that are open to the public.
In my experience, the bigger the school the easier it is to visit since they tend to host a lot of events involving non-students. The biggest hassles I’ve had are typically when visiting small private universities or community colleges.
Yes, if you “fit in”, and don’t do anything too out of place. But if you draw too much attention for whatever reason it could be a problem. Someone might see you as out of place and alert security.
Yea I’m not a student but I go to my local college campus pretty often to play Pokémon Go, there’s lots of pokéstops and gyms there. We’ve even gone in a group of ~30 to do raids together. I’ve also gone inside the building to warm up during the winter/cool down during summer or to use the bathroom and water fountain.
Though, if you wanna be careful I’d suggest calling them to see what they say and their rules.
My current school actually is a closed campus entirely, or at least was the last time I had to stop by. I’m fully remote so I can’t say for sure. My undergrad school was wide open and the town revolved around it for the most part.
Depends on the campus, but for colleges, generally yes, though of course doesn’t mean all areas are permitted.
E.g. University of California, for the most part can walk on campus, through open areas of open buildings, but they ask that you not enter classroom (especially in session) and such.
And of course for those that screw up, not unlike many businesses open to the public, they can get your tail tossed out/off, ban you from the property(/ies), or even have one arrested and criminally charged, depending what one was doing and where.
As someone who loves touring colleges/universities yes! I will say that private universities sometimes do have certain buildings locked or only accessible with a student ID. Public universities will typically have buildings unlocked and accessible to the public.
For the most part, yes. Some have open libraries or memberships to athletic facilities. The open grounds are generally considered public property and are open to all. Many if not most buildings are access-controlled in some way, though.
Private universities can do whatever they like as far as declaring who can and can’t be on their property.
I’ve brought friends who didn’t go to college into my lectures before, the professors were OK with it too— but I wouldn’t advise that unless you got a great rapport
Yes. Heck, you could probably just walk into classes and sit down depending on the college. In some of my classes you could probably go most of the year with no one questioning it.
If you don’t create smoke, people don’t come looking for fires. If you keep your head down, don’t visually look out of place and don’t do anything suspicious, you can go pretty much anywhere
We have a hockey team at our college and this an ice rink which is open to students for free some days, there was a girl from another college on our ice the one day and no one knew or cared
Sometime my wife and I walk around the University near us. It’s a beautiful campus and has a cool bell tower and lake. Usually on a weekend morning though. Not much going on then.
My old college the campus was open for all, even the cafe was open to all, we had alumni come in and eat all the time (don’t know why it was like $15 and the food sucked)
It’s kind of nuanced. I, a 54 year old guy not currently enrolled, could walk around on the local college campus if I wanted, and if I didn’t bother anyone. However, I would not likely be able to go into places like dormitories unless I knew someone that lived there or broke in. I could probably walk around class buildings and enter classrooms, again, unless I caused a problem for someone or if they kicked me out for trying to take a class without paying for it. I could probably go in some student facilities although I might not have access to use their equipment of course.
Now if I tried stealing something or pulling some elaborate prank I might indeed get into trouble. But just being on the campus isn’t a crime or misdemeanor.
Depends. My University was completely open on all sides, had a bus stop, a stadium that’s also used for non-university competitions, and the libraries are open to the public.
At the same time the university near where I live now is completely gated with security guards
I went to U.C. Davis in early 1970’s. Bad people mostly from Sacramento roamed the campus at night doing rape, robbery, bicycle theft and vandalism. Campus police didn’t do much unless perp was caught in the act because “bigotry.”
Yes. I often go to the excellent library of a nearby university to read books, magazines, and the newspaper from the state capital. I stick to myself and don’t leave a mess to be cleaned up. When there is something I want to make copies of, I bring a small printer and paper in a backpack and do my thing.
An open campus, yes. Although you can be banned from campus for bad behavior. It happened on my campus a couple times, non-students doing something strange or disruptive being trespassed. Inside campus buildings are often more scrutinized than just on campus grounds.
I have never been a college student, but I have had Library cards at a few colleges. Usually if you just ask they have a program to provide access to community members. Even if you can’t check books out and take them off site, they will let you use the resources there.
Technically yes. I know community members that use local high school and college tracks to do running and training. Basically open to the public unofficially until the school needs it for their own gym classes or practices and events.
Pretty much every public, and most private college campus is an open campus meaning they’re a public place anyone can go to. Most college campuses are treated as parks by the local community.
I mean, I occasionally sit in my fiancé’s engineering campus and crochet or read while he’s in class if we make plans immediately after. No one has ever bat an eye. I went to the same school for a small degree but I’m not a student anymore. I’d say most schools would be fine, just stay in common areas where you can’t be disruptive.
There is a community college near me, I haven’t been a student there in 23 years, I could walk right in and go anywhere. Colleges by their nature are pretty open.
Yes. Many college libraries have guest passes – community members are usually welcome to use certain resources for completely free! You may need to show picture ID to enter some libraries.
Yes. Anytime I travel, I find the common colleges around and just go on campus to see how they compare to mine. And Its funny telling people im not even a state resident, I just wanted to see the student union
Onto campus, absolutely. Into general buildings like libraries, probably. Into dorms, probably not unless you follow behind someone else. Into classes, will depend.
My boyfriend and I went to neighboring colleges, he was at the public state school and I was at the smaller private school. He’d often come hang out on my campus often enough that a lot of people assumed he went there. He’d come to events and the dining hall, but he could never come to my classes since they were small enough that it’d be noticeable. On the other hand I also would visit his campus often enough that students in one of his clubs asked why I didn’t join because they thought I was a student too. I couldn’t always go to student events because they had some that were included in their annual fees for students only (while my school included events in tuition costs so they were open/free events). However I was able to sneak into some of his classes if they were in lecture halls since it was large enough for no one to notice, and I’d just do my own homework. 1
If it’s a public university, yeah. Apparently you can.
One time at my college, we had a presumably homeless guy going around the cafeteria asking everyone for money. I told the campus security/police guys about it and they said that they can’t do anything about it because we’re a public university.
Sounds pretty bogus to me, but that’s what I was told.
Yes they are amazing places to visit ASU has a mars rover, live snakes in the biology building and a pendulum so big it demonstrates the rotation of the earth
It definitely depends on the campus. Mine has the local high school students taking dual credit classes. Because of that, they are stricter. If you are not there with a campus or student related reason, security can ask you to leave. Some places on campus require you to sign in by scanning or showing your student ID as well.
Again, it varies by campus. I have visited campuses where a non-student/non-faculty could easily spend all day roaming around, and no one would think twice. In colleges/universities with large lectures (100+ students), you could possibly even sit in on a lecture without being noticed.
Mostly, yes. You most likely won’t be able to get into student dormitories if you don’t live there. But for the most part, academic buildings, the cafeteria, and the library are public spaces. Most college cafeterias will let you go in if you pay a public rate. (Heads up: college food is generally pretty crappy.)
There are certain exceptions to this. The big ones that come to mind are the military service academies. They are considered to be military bases, and they have controlled entry like any other base. For someone outside of the academy to get in, they’ll need to have business there — for example, a tour, attending graduation, etc. I recently attended a graduation at the Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut and they made me show my ID to enter.
State colleges in the US are considered public grounds, or at least that’s what I was told when I went to one. That’s why protests are so common there; campus police aren’t supposed to restrict freedom of speech on state property but can on private property.
Legally you can usually go just about anywhere outside at least once. If the property owner tells you to leave and not come back. If you come back it is considered trespassing.
Exceptions to this would be areas that are clearly marked “no trespassing”. Or have other deterrents such as fences and locked gates.
100%. Dorms on the other hand you have to sign into as a guest, usually. But it’s pretty damn easy to sneak people in if you have confidence. The person behind the counter is another student who really doesn’t care about that job and just wants some extra cash.
My gf in college use to come to some of my classes to sit-in and my professors didn’t give a damn. Although I did play to their ego by saying things along the lines of, “Professor, do you mind if my gf joins us today? I told her about how much I enjoy this class and she wanted to check it out.” Professor’s have incredibly fragile egos.
Yep! I live right near a large campus and my wife and I go play Pokemon Go most weekends and walk the dogs around. Gorgeous campus. Some buildings you need an ID or are only open to the public for certain events (museums, auditorium, etc), but it’s 90% accessible to the public most of the time.
Usually, yeah. You can often even attend classes. It’s called “auditing” a class. You won’t get a grade or credit or anything but you might still learn things.
My favorite fro-yo place in my hometown was on a college campus. It’s not uncommon to wander around campus especially if they have tons of restaurants.
If you want and “dress” for it you can legit just go to any lecture you want and listen in, most lectures no one knows or talks to each other so you can blend in pretty well if you look like your average college student, ofc if you get figured out they won’t be happy with you.
You definitely can. I live across the street from a college and before I started driving, I would walk to the school and get food from the cafeteria since they had pretty good food on campus. Did it all the time and no one said anything.
Yes. Many have stores and other things that are open to the public. It’s also how/why non-students are able to go to sporting events. You can walk around and admire the architecture and historical sites on the campuses as well.
Yeah. There was this one guy that was always on campus hanging out with people when I was in college. I didn’t care for him, but he was quite popular with a number of other people.
Private universities can be closed to the public, but many are open. Public universities essentially have to be open. Although, many buildings may have restricted access if the area around the college is high-crime.
Comments
Yes for the most part.
Yes
Yes, the tradition of openness extends back to the beginning of the college or university concept.
Yes. They have guests all the time. There are certain buildings that require keycard access like dormitories and research labs.
Mostly. Probably wont be able to get inside certain buildings or the library, but most unis are pretty open.
You can generally just go there. Colleges near me have a lot of open to the public events and all.
It’s still illegal to do things that are illegal there – which a lot of pranks are vandalism and stuff. So you could be banned. I expect they’re more tolerant if it’s students doing that, not wanting to expel students and having their own punishment system internally for students. But for civilians, they might not be forgiving.
Yes. If you start annoying people or causing a disturbance campus security or police can be called and they could tell you to leave and not come back. Otherwise you are mostly free to wander onto campuses if you want, they tend to be pretty open in nature.
Yeah, I have friends in college and go on campus to play chess with them all the time.
Yes! Can also ask for a tour from the administration or casually enjoy the place as you feel as long as you’re not disruptive to others schooling.
I used to go to my local college just to meet like minded people & get help me out the house doing stuff
Generally, yeah. Most of them aren’t walled in with controlled access or anything.
Stuff like dorms, labs or other sensitive/private areas are generally locked and tied to your student/employee ID for access but the general campus is open.
Typically yes. Theyre not usually locked down or anything.
Yes, especially so if it’s a public university
Yep, as a kid I’d ride my bike all over our local campus cause they had cool trails lol
Ain’t nobody gonna stop you. Unless you’re on a skateboard.
Yes
It depends. Some campuses like USC are fenced with security check points.
Yes that’s how I find the baddies to party with
Yes. I travel for work and will often go to the bookstore or student center at major universities to buy gifts for friends and family. Most also have food courts and coffee shops that are open to the public.
In my experience, the bigger the school the easier it is to visit since they tend to host a lot of events involving non-students. The biggest hassles I’ve had are typically when visiting small private universities or community colleges.
yeah you actually can
Yes, but don’t be a wanker. Be nice and don’t litter. Or listen to music on your phone without headphones.
I used to walk to Columbia University on sunny days just to sit in their gorgeous inner court.
Yes, if you “fit in”, and don’t do anything too out of place. But if you draw too much attention for whatever reason it could be a problem. Someone might see you as out of place and alert security.
I go to get dole whip. I’m 60
Yea I’m not a student but I go to my local college campus pretty often to play Pokémon Go, there’s lots of pokéstops and gyms there. We’ve even gone in a group of ~30 to do raids together. I’ve also gone inside the building to warm up during the winter/cool down during summer or to use the bathroom and water fountain.
Though, if you wanna be careful I’d suggest calling them to see what they say and their rules.
The campuses themselves are generally open to the public for state schools, but classrooms, libraries, and lecture halls may have limited entry.
I live 2 blocks from a university and walk the grounds all the time
Yep. In high school I used to hang out in the nearby college’s library after extracirriculars while I waited on my ride. Nobody said a word.
Most colleges are just open campuses. They are not gated.
Absolutely, this is how I can tell people I’ve been to Yale and Harvard
My current school actually is a closed campus entirely, or at least was the last time I had to stop by. I’m fully remote so I can’t say for sure. My undergrad school was wide open and the town revolved around it for the most part.
Yes, I used to go onto the Northwestern Campus all the time to play Pokémon Go when I lived down the street.
Depends on the campus, but for colleges, generally yes, though of course doesn’t mean all areas are permitted.
E.g. University of California, for the most part can walk on campus, through open areas of open buildings, but they ask that you not enter classroom (especially in session) and such.
And of course for those that screw up, not unlike many businesses open to the public, they can get your tail tossed out/off, ban you from the property(/ies), or even have one arrested and criminally charged, depending what one was doing and where.
As someone who loves touring colleges/universities yes! I will say that private universities sometimes do have certain buildings locked or only accessible with a student ID. Public universities will typically have buildings unlocked and accessible to the public.
For the most part, yes. Some have open libraries or memberships to athletic facilities. The open grounds are generally considered public property and are open to all. Many if not most buildings are access-controlled in some way, though.
Private universities can do whatever they like as far as declaring who can and can’t be on their property.
You can even walk into a lecture hall if you really wanted to.
The university that I went to was large and centrally located enough that there were plenty of public city roads going through it
Open campus then yeah you can.
Why do you think they wouldn’t be? There are so, so many reasons to be on a college campus without being enrolled or employed there.
me clicking nervously to find out if I’ve been breaking the rules for the last several years
You can even sit in on classes
I’ve brought friends who didn’t go to college into my lectures before, the professors were OK with it too— but I wouldn’t advise that unless you got a great rapport
Yes. I used to go to my school’s library when I was working from home and needed a quiet place.
If it is public, yes. If it is private, they can ask you to leave.
Yes. Heck, you could probably just walk into classes and sit down depending on the college. In some of my classes you could probably go most of the year with no one questioning it.
If you don’t create smoke, people don’t come looking for fires. If you keep your head down, don’t visually look out of place and don’t do anything suspicious, you can go pretty much anywhere
No.
We have a hockey team at our college and this an ice rink which is open to students for free some days, there was a girl from another college on our ice the one day and no one knew or cared
Yea, many you can use the libraries, at some you can check out materials and use computers
Sometime my wife and I walk around the University near us. It’s a beautiful campus and has a cool bell tower and lake. Usually on a weekend morning though. Not much going on then.
In my personal experience you can walk into lectures and learn some shit and nobody really notices or cares.
Yes, Its where I play pokemon go. I just walk around the campus playing Pokemon and theres usually others there as well.
State-definitely. Private-maybe not.
My old college the campus was open for all, even the cafe was open to all, we had alumni come in and eat all the time (don’t know why it was like $15 and the food sucked)
Follow up question: are you allowed to walk into a classroom and just sit in on lectures?
Yes you can go just to visit. I used to go to the library of a nearby college I did not attend, just to study.
Yeah! When I was little we often went to OU and shit walked around the grounds and even inside when there weren’t classes or whatever.
It was nice and quiet.
Absolutely. I’ve had to do it hundreds of times over the many years I delivered pizza.
It’s kind of nuanced. I, a 54 year old guy not currently enrolled, could walk around on the local college campus if I wanted, and if I didn’t bother anyone. However, I would not likely be able to go into places like dormitories unless I knew someone that lived there or broke in. I could probably walk around class buildings and enter classrooms, again, unless I caused a problem for someone or if they kicked me out for trying to take a class without paying for it. I could probably go in some student facilities although I might not have access to use their equipment of course.
Now if I tried stealing something or pulling some elaborate prank I might indeed get into trouble. But just being on the campus isn’t a crime or misdemeanor.
Depends. My University was completely open on all sides, had a bus stop, a stadium that’s also used for non-university competitions, and the libraries are open to the public.
At the same time the university near where I live now is completely gated with security guards
I went to U.C. Davis in early 1970’s. Bad people mostly from Sacramento roamed the campus at night doing rape, robbery, bicycle theft and vandalism. Campus police didn’t do much unless perp was caught in the act because “bigotry.”
Yes. I often go to the excellent library of a nearby university to read books, magazines, and the newspaper from the state capital. I stick to myself and don’t leave a mess to be cleaned up. When there is something I want to make copies of, I bring a small printer and paper in a backpack and do my thing.
In America your taxes pay for it so yes. This is why private campuses are usually closed off.
An open campus, yes. Although you can be banned from campus for bad behavior. It happened on my campus a couple times, non-students doing something strange or disruptive being trespassed. Inside campus buildings are often more scrutinized than just on campus grounds.
I have never been a college student, but I have had Library cards at a few colleges. Usually if you just ask they have a program to provide access to community members. Even if you can’t check books out and take them off site, they will let you use the resources there.
What would be your reasoning for going? If you don’t have a reason to go why would you go?
Operate by “Don’t be a Dick” and you’ll be fine.
Technically yes. I know community members that use local high school and college tracks to do running and training. Basically open to the public unofficially until the school needs it for their own gym classes or practices and events.
Pretty much every public, and most private college campus is an open campus meaning they’re a public place anyone can go to. Most college campuses are treated as parks by the local community.
Yeah, going into buildings sometimes requires a keycard but just walking around outside isn’t restricted.
Yes.
Yes
Straight to jail.
I mean, I occasionally sit in my fiancé’s engineering campus and crochet or read while he’s in class if we make plans immediately after. No one has ever bat an eye. I went to the same school for a small degree but I’m not a student anymore. I’d say most schools would be fine, just stay in common areas where you can’t be disruptive.
There is a community college near me, I haven’t been a student there in 23 years, I could walk right in and go anywhere. Colleges by their nature are pretty open.
Yes. Many college libraries have guest passes – community members are usually welcome to use certain resources for completely free! You may need to show picture ID to enter some libraries.
Yes. Anytime I travel, I find the common colleges around and just go on campus to see how they compare to mine. And Its funny telling people im not even a state resident, I just wanted to see the student union
Onto campus, absolutely. Into general buildings like libraries, probably. Into dorms, probably not unless you follow behind someone else. Into classes, will depend.
My boyfriend and I went to neighboring colleges, he was at the public state school and I was at the smaller private school. He’d often come hang out on my campus often enough that a lot of people assumed he went there. He’d come to events and the dining hall, but he could never come to my classes since they were small enough that it’d be noticeable. On the other hand I also would visit his campus often enough that students in one of his clubs asked why I didn’t join because they thought I was a student too. I couldn’t always go to student events because they had some that were included in their annual fees for students only (while my school included events in tuition costs so they were open/free events). However I was able to sneak into some of his classes if they were in lecture halls since it was large enough for no one to notice, and I’d just do my own homework. 1
If it’s a public university, yeah. Apparently you can.
One time at my college, we had a presumably homeless guy going around the cafeteria asking everyone for money. I told the campus security/police guys about it and they said that they can’t do anything about it because we’re a public university.
Sounds pretty bogus to me, but that’s what I was told.
Yes they are amazing places to visit ASU has a mars rover, live snakes in the biology building and a pendulum so big it demonstrates the rotation of the earth
Yeah but not into the buildings. And if you’re asked to leave, do so before they trespass you which they are allowed to do.
It definitely depends on the campus. Mine has the local high school students taking dual credit classes. Because of that, they are stricter. If you are not there with a campus or student related reason, security can ask you to leave. Some places on campus require you to sign in by scanning or showing your student ID as well.
Again, it varies by campus. I have visited campuses where a non-student/non-faculty could easily spend all day roaming around, and no one would think twice. In colleges/universities with large lectures (100+ students), you could possibly even sit in on a lecture without being noticed.
I was allowed to go to George Mason’s library for an English project in high school.
Shooting ranges cost money.
Mostly, yes. You most likely won’t be able to get into student dormitories if you don’t live there. But for the most part, academic buildings, the cafeteria, and the library are public spaces. Most college cafeterias will let you go in if you pay a public rate. (Heads up: college food is generally pretty crappy.)
There are certain exceptions to this. The big ones that come to mind are the military service academies. They are considered to be military bases, and they have controlled entry like any other base. For someone outside of the academy to get in, they’ll need to have business there — for example, a tour, attending graduation, etc. I recently attended a graduation at the Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut and they made me show my ID to enter.
yes
State colleges in the US are considered public grounds, or at least that’s what I was told when I went to one. That’s why protests are so common there; campus police aren’t supposed to restrict freedom of speech on state property but can on private property.
when i lived in chicago i used to go to neiu’s library all the time. i enjoyed it and then i saw 2 people hooking up in one of the rooms. kinda funny
Legally you can usually go just about anywhere outside at least once. If the property owner tells you to leave and not come back. If you come back it is considered trespassing.
Exceptions to this would be areas that are clearly marked “no trespassing”. Or have other deterrents such as fences and locked gates.
I used to go to all the free events, pizza parties, etc; at colleges, was in a few clubs as well as a non student
Also went to free events at churches and stuff as well despite not being religious at all
If i was asked if i was a student or which classes i was taking i would reply truthfully though
100%. Dorms on the other hand you have to sign into as a guest, usually. But it’s pretty damn easy to sneak people in if you have confidence. The person behind the counter is another student who really doesn’t care about that job and just wants some extra cash.
My gf in college use to come to some of my classes to sit-in and my professors didn’t give a damn. Although I did play to their ego by saying things along the lines of, “Professor, do you mind if my gf joins us today? I told her about how much I enjoy this class and she wanted to check it out.” Professor’s have incredibly fragile egos.
Yea I go to sorority parties all the time
Absolutely, pretend you’re lost or chasing a frisbee
Public campuses at least. Not sure about private though. I go on campus all the time. I have access to their food, their library, their lounges, etc.
Yep! I live right near a large campus and my wife and I go play Pokemon Go most weekends and walk the dogs around. Gorgeous campus. Some buildings you need an ID or are only open to the public for certain events (museums, auditorium, etc), but it’s 90% accessible to the public most of the time.
Usually, yeah. You can often even attend classes. It’s called “auditing” a class. You won’t get a grade or credit or anything but you might still learn things.
Yes unless its labs which require id’s also most places would have notices on it
Yep
Yeah. But you need a card to get anywhere.
My favorite fro-yo place in my hometown was on a college campus. It’s not uncommon to wander around campus especially if they have tons of restaurants.
Yep, as long as you don’t bother anyone nobody cares. You can even ride the bus on my campus because there’s no sign on required
Sure. Just don’t be a weirdo and no one will even notice you, really.
If it’s a big campus you can often find a nice bathroom to take a peaceful dump!
Depends. Some are private.
As a former music major, I’m glad people can. It meant that people could actually go to my concerts
Average college student or professor hasn’t memorized the student body so would neither know nor care if you were a student there.
If you want and “dress” for it you can legit just go to any lecture you want and listen in, most lectures no one knows or talks to each other so you can blend in pretty well if you look like your average college student, ofc if you get figured out they won’t be happy with you.
You definitely can. I live across the street from a college and before I started driving, I would walk to the school and get food from the cafeteria since they had pretty good food on campus. Did it all the time and no one said anything.
Yes. Many have stores and other things that are open to the public. It’s also how/why non-students are able to go to sporting events. You can walk around and admire the architecture and historical sites on the campuses as well.
if you carry a backpack and look tired enough, maybe you can
Yeah. There was this one guy that was always on campus hanging out with people when I was in college. I didn’t care for him, but he was quite popular with a number of other people.
universities, yes
the community colleges around here don’t like people after hours, security likes to kick people out
Private universities can be closed to the public, but many are open. Public universities essentially have to be open. Although, many buildings may have restricted access if the area around the college is high-crime.