20+ OF THE FILMS THAT SHOW US THE COLLEGIATE CLASSROOM
School is back in session and with it arrives cooler weather and excitement to pull out that favorite worn cardigan. As the final hours of August tick away, we turn focus to some of the movies set in college. I’m certain many of these have featured on other lists in the past, but hopefully there is still some to discover that don’t get a spotlight as frequently. Let’s take a closer look.
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20+ OF THE FILMS THAT SHOW US THE COLLEGIATE CLASSROOM. Looking at film’s set in college (mostly!). #College #Movies #MovieList #CollegeMovies Share on XBelow is a varied collection of college movies. From sororities to serious academics, mysteries to tearjerker romance, there should be a little something for everyone. The goal is also to showcase different styles and genres as well as characters that have different personalities and academic goals. Read on to visit these halls.
MOVIES SET in COLLEGE
ADMISSION
Starring as a college admissions career girl, Tina Fey discovers that she may have a chance to help someone she never thought she’d meet. Co-starring is Paul Rudd. The film is an entertaining and fast-moving comedy.
PG-13 is the rating for some profanity and innuendo; the film has 2-3 instances of undressing and making out which implies sex.
Digitally purchase, at publication, on places like Prime Video
Synopsis: Tina Fey stars as a strict Princeton admissions officer who finds herself bending the rules for a gifted -yet unconventional- student. – via Prime Video
AURORA TEAGARDEN MYSTERIES: A LESSON in MURDER
This is one of the revamped titles in the Aurora Teagarden adaptations which introduces us to a college-aged Aurora who, in this story, solves the mystery of a lit class student. There are three films (so far) featuring Skyler Samuels and Evan Roderick taking over the role of Arthur, the man who has a crush on her. Previously we met Candance Cameron Bure’s Aurora in her established career lifetime.
TV-PG is the rating for the murder mystery themes
Stream, at publication, the film with Hallmark+
CLASS
Before he made a splash on Sweet Magnolias, Justin Bruening played in this television role as a “privileged” law student who is assigned to help a single mom struggling to ensure her son is well cared for. movies set in college
TV-G would be the rating of this one.
At present, there are no readily available copies or streaming options
CRIMES of FASHION
This is one of those “silly” movies that has no purpose other than to entertain. It’s good fun and features Kaley Cuoco in the role of fashion student who learns her family is, well, from a criminal and questionable background. Megan Fox co-stars.
PG is probably the rating for this “not rated” film.
Stream, at publication, on Freeform; or search for DVD copies of this film on places like Amazon
DAMSELS in DISTRESS
Before she was the director everyone loves from Barbie, Greta Gerwig co-stars in this film about girls who try to change the campus at Seven Oaks college. The cast also includes Adam Brody (Nobody Wants This) and Aubrey Plaza.
PG-13 is the rating; the reason is for “mature thematic content” and “some” sexual content.
Digitally purchase, at publication, on places like Prime Video
Synopsis: Whit Stillman’s Damsels in Distress is a wonderfully off-beat comedy about a student, Violet (Greta Gerwig), who seeks to transform life at her college. – via Prime Video
DOWN to YOU
Al and Imogen are our hero and heroine in this about college students who fall head over heels in this story that pulls them apart because of commitment fears. Freddie Prince Jr. and Julia Stiles feature in lead roles.
PG-13 is the rating; there is some profanity and sexual content.
Stream, at publication, on Pluto TV; or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
Synopsis: A young man wins and loses the first serious love of his life. Al Connelly falls in love with the girl of his dreams. After the summer she breaks up with him. As he tries to recover Al goes to desperate measures. – via Prime Video
FIRST DAUGHTER
A millennial favorite this film is about the president’s daughter who enters her freshman year hoping to find a little more independence and space to have a life. The film has lots of comedy and even some surprisingly touching moments. Katie Holmes plays the lead with Michael Keaton as her father and Marc Blucas as a college crush.
PG is the film’s rating for some sensuality and minor profanity.
Look for DVD copies of this film on places like Amazon
FRESHMAN FATHER
Inspired by a true story (or so the trivia tells us), Drew Seeley plays one half of a high school sweetheart couple who has to adjust when they learn that Kathy is pregnant. They movie to Cambridge so that he can still take his scholarship until Kathy leaves him and their son, which leaves John to raise a child and still finish school.
TV-PG is the film’s rating
At present, there are no readily available copies or streaming options
GOOD NEWS
From 1947, this June Allyson film features her as a librarian at a co-ed school where she falls for the football “hero.” Peter Lawford co-stars in the film that is set in the roaring 20s!
“Not Rated” is the film’s rating classification.
Stream, at publication, on Plex or Tubi; or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
Synopsis: Golden Globe winner June Allyson and Peter Lawford star in this enjoyable musical about a football hero who falls in love with his French tutor. – via Prime Video
HAPPY TOGETHER
This follows a college student starting at UCLA and then he discovers that his roommate Alex is actually a girl. A young (and pre Grey’s Anatomy)Patrick Dempsey stars in this 1980s comedy.
PG-13 is the rating for “scenes of” sensuality and profanity.
At present, there are no readily available copies or streaming options
THE HOUSE BUNNY
Anna Faris stars in this film about a ditzy girl who gets kicked out of her playboy mansion place only to end up in a sorority house where she ends up helping the residents and they in turn help her. Colin Hanks and Emma Stone also star.
PG-13 is the rating of this one for sexual content and innuendo.
Synopsis: The story of a Playboy Bunny who teaches an awkward sorority about the opposite sex – only to learn that what boys really like is what’s on the inside. – via Prime Video
LEGALLY BLONDE
This one on a list like this is a given because it’s Elle Woods and she wears pink and determines to (and does!) conquer law school. It’s all just so charming and fun, and Reese Witherspoon really makes the role work and fit and be endearing. Plus, it’s definitely an iconic very her role.
PG-13 is the rating and there is quite a bit of innuendo and some profanity too.
Stream, at publication, with Prime Video or HBO Max; or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
Synopsis: Elle has it all. She’s president of her sorority, a natural blonde, and she dates the cutest fraternity boy on campus. There’s just one thing stopping him from popping the question: Elle is too blonde. So, when he packs up for Harvard Law, Elle rallies all her resources and gets into Harvard, determined to win him back. – via Prime Video
LIBERAL ARTS
This follows a guy who returns to his alma mater for a retirement party where he meets a college student who intrigues him. Elizabeth Olsen stars in this pre her Marvel days. The co-lead is Josh Radnor. movies set in college
PG-13 is the rating which is said to be for “mature thematic elements” and “sexual content.”
Stream, at publication, on AMC+ and IFC Films Unlimited; or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
Synopsis: Josh Radnor & Elizabeth Olsen in a comic coming-of-age story about an unlikely romance. – via Prime Video
LIKE CRAZY
This one is about a British student who, while attending an L.A. university falls in love with an American but then isn’t able to stay because her student visa expires. This leads to up and downs and challenges that question if their love story is worth the risks.
PG-13 is the rating for language and sexual content
Stream, at publication, with PlutoTV; or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
Synopsis: A British college student falls for an American student, only to be separated from him when she’s banned from the U.S. after overstaying her visa. – via Prime Video
THE MALE ANIMAL
This plot follows a college professor who ends up at the center of a “free speech” debate on campus. Henry Fonda and Olivia de Havilland co-star in this 1942 title.
“Not Rated” is the film’s rating classification.
At present, there are no readily available streaming options; search places like Amazon for DVD copies
THE MIGHTY MACS
Set at a “tiny” Catholic college, Carla Gugino stars in this as a woman who is the head basketball coach and despite setbacks, she determines to make this team work even as the school is in danger of being sold.
G is the rating for this film inspired by a true story.
Stream, at publication, on Pluto TV or Tubi plus Prime Video. You can also find on UP Faith and Family
Synopsis: Coach Cathy leads an all girls Catholic college team to first national championship. – via Prime Video
MY OXFORD YEAR
If you enjoy bittersweet romances, well, this one is ideal. It’s based on the novel of the same name and follows a woman who decides to take a yearlong course at Oxford in order to fulfill her longstanding dream of studying at Oxford. While there, her academic plans also expand to include falling for her teacher. From there, secrets and sadness prevail, but surprisingly I do like where the film leaves the heroine.
PG-13 is the rating; there is some profanity and sexual content.
Stream, at publication, exclusively on Netflix
NANCY DREW, 2002
A TV film that featured as part of the Sunday night’s “Wonderful World of Disney,” this film reimagines Nancy in modern times and has Maggie Lawson in said character role.
The film is a PG or G rating and doesn’t have much, outside of some flirting, to make note of.
At present, there are no readily available copies or streaming options
OVERNIGHT DELIVERY
A road trip rom-com, Paul Rudd features in this comedy playing a college student who, believing his girlfriend is cheating on him, writes a scathing letter only to then learn she’s not. This sends him on a journey to get the letter back where he takes a tagalong in the sassy stripper Ivy. Reese Witherspoon co-stars. movies set in college
PG is the film’s rating for some sensuality and minor profanity.
Digitally purchase, at publication, on places like Prime Video; or find on Roku or Tubi
Synopsis: Wyatt thinks his sweetheart is cheating on him and sends the world’s most disgusting poison-pen letter only to find out she hasn’t been unfaithful. Now he’s got to get the letter back. – via Prime Video
THE PRINCE and ME
This film follows a midwestern girl who, taking college seriously, has no time for party boys or wasting time. Then she meets Eddie, a new lab partner, who seems to think this is all college is for. Little does she know, Eddie has a secret! Julia Stiles leads the cast in this.
PG-13 is the rating for this one which says it’s for some “crude sexual material.”
Digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
Synopsis: A pre-med student falls for her lab partner, unaware that he is actually the Crown Prince of Denmark, who has enrolled incognito to escape the royal spotlight. – via Prime Video
SO UNDERCOVER
A sassy and opinionated private detective goes undercover at a college sorority in order to protect a daughter of a mob boss. She does this undercover and with the help of the FBI. The film features Jeremy Piven, Joshua Bowman, Kelly Osbourne and in the lead role Miley Cyrus.
PG-13 is the rating for innuendo and some “tense” moments.
Stream, at publication, on Roku and Tubi or Hulu and Prime Video
Synopsis: A tough, street-smart private eye is hired by the FBI to go undercover in a college sorority. – via Prime Video
SON in LAW
Pre her starring role in The Might Macs, Carla Gugino stars in this 90s film about a college student who leaves her safe and traditional family to get away. Only she brings home an oddball boyfriend who leaves everyone unsure of what to think. The film primarily takes place over Thanksgiving.
PG-13 is the rating for sensuality and profanity.
Digitally purchase, at publication, on places like Prime Video
Synopsis: A farm girl falls for a party boy much to the chagrin of her family. – via Prime Video
STARTER for 10
Set in the 80s at Bristol University, James McAvoy leads an impressive e cast in this 2006 comedy about a working-class student trying to navigate his first year and make it on the trivia team. The cast includes Mark Gatiss, Alice Eve, Rebecca Hall and Benedict Cumberbatch. This is actually a super entertaining and underrated dramedy.
The PG-13 rating is for “sexual content” and profanity, plus some drug use.
Stream, at publication, on HBO Max; or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
Synopsis: A brilliant young man heads to college bent on leading his school on a TV quiz show, only to get caught up in personal entanglements. – via Prime Video
SUMMER CATCH
This one is more about summertime than anything else (so no real examples of walking the college halls), but it’s also about a college (if memory is serving me) baseball player looking to be discovered. A young Freddie Prinze Jr. leads the cast alongside Jessica Biel.
PG-13 is the rating which means the film has sexual content, profanity and “drinking.”
Digitally purchase, at publication, on places like Prime Video
Synopsis: Every summer, the most talented baseball players come to Cape Cod, to compete for a spot on one of the Cape’s elite baseball teams, a steppingstone for a talented major leagues. – via Prime Video
SURPRISED by OXFORD
A film that released in 2023, Rose Reid stars in this title that describes her Caro as a “brilliant” student with a one-track mind who arrives in Oxford where she studies and meets a “charmer” that inspires her to open up to love. movies set in college
“Not Rated” is film’s classification (though some sites list it as PG-13), but film has some innuendo / suggestive comments and some profanity, too.
Stream, at publication, on Roku or Tubi; or find streaming on Prime Video
Synopsis: Caro, a brilliant but emotionally guarded American student, arrives in Oxford focused solely on attaining her PhD. – via Prime Video
SYDNEY WHITE
A loose retelling of Snow White (set in modern times), this primarily takes place in a dilapidated sorority inhabited by seven quirky guys and Amanda Bynes’ titular character. The film is lots of fun and does entertain if that’s all you are looking for!
PG-13 is the rating which means the film has some innuendo
Digitally purchase, at publication, on places like Prime Video
Synopsis: When Tomboy Sydney is banished from the most popular sorority on campus, she is taken in by seven socially challenged but endearing guys. – via Prime Video
TEACHER’S PET
From 1958, this is tagged as a romance and comedy and has Doris Day and Clark Gable. It follows an “editor” who poses as a journalism student where a flirtation strikes up with the professor.
“Not Rated” is the film’s rating classification.
Digitally purchase, at publication, on places like Prime Video; you can also find this on Kanopy
Synopsis: Clark Gable (in one of his finest late-career performances) plays Jim Gannon, a school-of-hard-knocks newspaperman who despises journalism schools…until he sees who’s doing the teaching. Attracted to lovely professor Erica Stone (Day), he masquerades as a novice in her class. – via Prime Video
WITH HONORS
From 1994, this title is, as described on Prime Video a film about a character “armed with a copy of a Harvard student’s thesis a homeless man makes a desperate student an offer. In exchange for food and a place to stay he will return the thesis one page at a time.”
The film is PG-13 for “language and brief sensuality.”
Stream, at publication, on Tubi TV; or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
Synopsis: Four ambitious Harvard students are forced to examine their values when they become friends with a homeless man … and learn that many of life’s lessons cannot be found in a book. – via Prime Video
Photos: Alamy
How many of these college movies have you seen? Which ones would you add to our never totally complete movies set in college list? Share all of your thoughts below! Let’s talk.
Thank you for visiting; please do return again soon!
Editorial Note; this was updated on August 12, 2026.
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