It goes without saying that a lot of anime takes place in high school. So much so, we have anime high schools for superheroes and high schools for vampires. But when it comes to college anime, there aren't many to choose from. Often high school anime prepares its characters for college and then the story end.
However, many know that college is where the true adventure begins. No longer restricted by parents and allowed to make their own decisions, college anime stars find themselves in wackier situations than their high school counterparts. Not to mention they also deal with adult things older fans can relate to. While there aren't as many college anime as high school ones, the ones out are perfect for college student otakus or the adults who want something to relate to.
10 Genshiken
Genshiken is the anime for anime fans. Set in Shiiou University, the anime follows college freshman Kanji Sasahara as he joins the Genshiken club. The club brings together all different types of "otakus" and has them sharing their love of anime, manga, doujinshi, and conventions. While hesitant at first about joining and being a proud otaku, Kanji eventually makes friends and embraces who he is and what he loves.
It's not often that viewers can find an anime about loving anime, manga, and nerd culture so Genshiken is special in that way. It's perfect for older anime fans who want to see themselves represented.
9 Love Hina
One of the best parts of the college experience is leaving home and living in a dorm on campus. For Keitaro Urashima in Love Hina, he doesn't get to completely live in this experience as he didn't get into Tokyo University. However, Keitaro decides to move to Tokyo anyway as he studies for the entrance exam.
Upon arriving in Tokyo, Keitato becomes a dorm manager for an all-girls dormitory and ends up in an almost harem situation. Love Hina covers the best parts of the college experience: living in a dorm, meeting new people, and falling in love.
8 Grand Blue
What could be better than going to college? How about going to college in a coastal town, surrounded by a diving culture? In Grand Blue, freshman Iori Kitahara moves to the coastal town of the Izu Peninsula to live out his college dreams. He lives with his uncle above his uncle's scuba diving shop.
As Iori settles into the town, he meets the members of the Diving Club who instead of diving, spend their time drinking and partying. Iori will need to find the balance between being a partying college student and learning to dive.
7 Run With The Wind
Many sports anime like Haikyu! and Free! focus on junior high and high school athletics, however, the Run With The Wind focuses on university-level running. It focuses on Kakeru Kuraha, who used to run in high school and is now a university student.
After a series of mishaps, Kakeru ends up moving into a dorm room filled with hopeful runners who want to compete in the Hakone Ekiden relay marathon. He soon discovers that he is one of the only experienced runners. This anime shows viewers the amazing things that can happen in college when people come together for a common goal.
6 Nodame Cantabile
For fans of the musical hit, Your Lie In April, this anime about college-aged musicians is perfect. Nodame Cantabile brings together two completely different musicians: Chiaki, a former child prodigy, is a perfectionist who is very critical of other musicians and himself and Nodame, who is carefree and doesn't play by anyone's rules.
The two come together after meeting by accident and little by little, they begin to change each other and develop a relationship. The anime also details the journey of an artist and living up to other's expectations.
5 Science Fell In Love, So I Tried To Prove It
Science Fell In Love is one of the newer anime on this list, as it debuted for Winter 2020, but it is sure to be a classic college anime. Set in a science program at Saitama University, scientists work together to prove if love can be solved with science.
The group includes a beautiful scientist who confesses her love first, Himuro, and a serious student who is the recipient of the love confession, Yukimura. With the help of their group mates Kanade, a new student, Inukai, the RPG obsessed one, and Ibarada, the older level headed student, they conduct a variety of hilarious experiments to solve this problem.
4 Golden Time
At first sight, Banri Tada's experience at college isn't too far from regular. He moves to Tokyo to attend a law program, he meets and befriends Mitsuo on his first day. He joins a club, goes out drinking, gets a girlfriend, tries to make money, and has fun with his friends.
The only difference between Banri and a regular college student? Well, he is suffering from amnesia and is literally starting a brand new life. While at college, Banri meets his old high school best friend and crush, and as he starts remembering her and his old life, his new one is turned upside down.
3 number24
Nothing brings a group of college students together like sports. In number24, a group of college students with their own series of issues come together for the Doshisha University rugby team. The star, Natsusa Yuzuki, used to play rugby but due to an accident, he can no longer play.
Natsusa decides to become a manager for the rugby team in order to still be involved in rugby and hilarity ensues as they work together to win. Filled with a cast of fit, young, and funny characters, number24 is the perfect anime for those who miss the college sports life.
2 The Tatami Galaxy
How much different would life be if there were do-overs? In The Tatami Galaxy, Watashi, a lonely college student is about to find out. While reflecting on the past, Watashi realizes his college life could have been way better. He spent a lot of time with his friend Ozu trying to make others unhappy. And then suddenly, he's gone back in time.
Watashi has a second chance at his college life and begins to realize how his choices are what make his life what it is. The Tatami Galaxy is not a typical anime neither in style nor storytelling, but because of that, it paints a great picture of how college is what you make it.
1 Honey and Clover
College is one of the only times in life where people are allowed to not know what they want to do. College allows students to explore different majors, meet new people, and challenges their values and beliefs. Honey and Clover covers all that and more.
Honey and Clover follows five college students as they try to figure life in college and after out. Seniors Ayumi, Shinobu, and Takumi have to decide what to do post-college. Sophomore Yuuta has time but still doesn't know in what direction he wants to go. Hagumi feels the pressure of being a gifted artist. They may not have it all figured out but they have each other.