Which North Carolina universities rank among the most beautiful college campuses in America?

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – As the saying goes: beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and that certainly can be the case when it comes to college campuses.

Some students touring their favorite universities might consider a beautiful campus just as important as a good education. So how do campuses in the Triangle stack up to the rest of the country?

According to Yardbarker , two of the top 20 most beautiful university campuses reside in North Carolina.

Duke University appeared at No. 10 on the list, while the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill popped up at the No. 12 spot.

The top five schools in the rankings came in the following order: Yale University, Harvard University, University of Notre Dame, Vassar College and Stanford University.

Other universities that round out the top ten include Princeton University, Washington University in St. Louis, Brown University and Columbia University.

The report cited Duke University's gothic architecture as what makes the school stand out compared to other institutions of higher education.

"There are plenty of beautiful colleges that aren't in the Ivy League, though. Duke University in Durham, North Carolina is one," the report stated. "Its gothic architecture is brilliant, and the Duke Chapel is particularly unforgettable."

As for UNC-Chapel Hill, the Yardbarker rankings credited its historic buildings and picturesque landscaping as the reasoning behind the university's inclusion on the list.

"University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is what you envision when you think of a college campus," the report stated. "It's got formidable buildings and brick pathways bearing its crest. It's got well-manicured lawns. It even has a gazebo."