Experience Sweet Briar for yourself! Nothing compares to seeing Sweet Briar in person, from the rolling hills and lush greenhouse to our historic buildings and renowned riding center. Explore the campus and discover what makes it truly one of a kind!
Every visit to Sweet Briar begins with a conversation—you and one of our admissions counselors—so we can learn about your dreams, passions, and the path you see for yourself. From there, we’ll design a tour that’s entirely your own.
Morning Tour: Following your 9:00 AM interview, wander our campus as the sun lights up the Blue Ridge. You’ll explore classrooms, residence halls, and hidden corners that could soon feel like home.
Afternoon Tour: After your 1:00 PM interview, see Sweet Briar in the golden glow of late day, when the Riding Center hums with activity and the quad buzzes with friends catching up.
Along the way, you’ll have the chance to speak with faculty and coaches, and you might even get to meet and say hello to our President, Mary Pope Hutson.
We offer personalized interviews and tours Monday through Friday, and select Saturdays, by appointment only, so you can find a time that works for your schedule.
No two tours are alike—because no two students are. This is your chance to see Sweet Briar not just as it is, but as it could be yours.
Ready to plan your visit?Reserve Your Personalized Tour and take the first step toward your Sweet Briar story.
Are you an independent, high school, or transfer counselor looking to visit? Please go to ourFor Counselors pagefor more information.
The bell tower is a distinctive site at Sweet Briar College’s historic Quad.
The front gate of Sweet Briar College
Each year, the senior equestrian students get the opportunity to ride their horses on Sweet Briar College’s historic main campus.
The Mary Helen Cochran Library at Sweet Briar College offers students a wide variety of research resources and comfortable study spaces.
Many social and cultural events take place in Student Commons Courtyard near the dining hall, book shop, and Daisy’s Cafe.
Babcock Auditorium is home to Sweet Briar College’s performing arts.
The Boathouse is home to many Sweet Briar College social events.
Sweet Briar College campus has more than 20 buildings on the National Historic Registry.
Sweet Briar College’s historic campus is beautiful during any season.
The wildflower meadow and apiary are key components of Sweet Briar College’s sustainability courses.
The Dairy Barn complex is home to Sweet Briar College’s visual arts classes.
Sweet Briar College’s equestrian center features one of the largest indoor college arenas in the nation.
Campus Aerial
Sweet Outdoors
With 2,847 acres, we explore, ride and meander on a 22-mile network of trails. We paddle, swim, and enjoy our two lakes. We harvest grapes, tend bees, and grow our own vegetables. Campus life is engaging at our stunning hands-on laboratory.
Equestrian Life
You can ride here at any starting level. We’ve been striving for excellence in riding for well over 100 year, and in 2021, our Vixens won a national championship! We have a 130-acre on-campus riding center and one of the nation’s largest indoor college arenas. We have riders of all skill levels, from beginners to the most accomplished. Like everything at Sweet Briar, you are so welcome to join!
There are few limitations on how your dorm room can look and feel!
Our charming dorms are cozy while providing enough space for you to live and learn.
Art happens anywhere (and everywhere) at Sweet Briar!
A student enjoys time in her decorated dorm room.
Dorm rooms of all shapes and sizes are great places to hang out or study.
Student dorm room
Charming Dorms
We have a caring and supportive community, your home away from home. Most students live on campus all four years and many of our dorms are on the National Register of Historic Places. Renovated to provide all the things you need, these beautiful, historic buildings make campus living memorable.
Convenient Fitness Center
The 53,000-square-foot Fitness and Athletic Center (FAC) in the Upchurch Field House offers racquetball and squash courts, a spinning room, pickleball courts, and a multi-purpose event space. It also includes the Williams Gymnasium and the Prothro Natatorium pool, as well as locker rooms, cardio and weightlifting equipment, free weights, and fencing rooms.
Come Visit Us!
We’re so convinced you’ll love Sweet Briar as much as we do, we’ll reimburse you for the trip! Be our guest at our own Elston Inn, and we will assist with the cost for you and one family member to visit. We’ll also coordinate a tailored itinerary based on your interests!
You’ve earned it—now let’s celebrate it! Join us for an exclusive VIP experience designed to honor and celebrate our exceptional admitted scholarship recipients. You’ve already distinguished yourself through your achievements. Now it’s time to connect with other top scholars, meet inspiring faculty, and explore the bold opportunities that await you at Sweet Briar.
Your future starts here—see what it means to be bold. Whether you’re just starting your college search or making your final decision, Spring Vixen Preview Day is for you! Students in grades 9–12 and their families are invited to explore all that Sweet Briar has to offer.
