It’s a question which many prospective Oxford applicants ask themselves: which are the best Oxford colleges?
In this guide, we’ll explore what ‘best’ might mean across a range of different categories, including academics, sports, beauty and more. While each student will need to decide which is best for their unique interests and preferences, we hope this article will be a useful starting point when beginning to think about which college you might like to apply.
What Are Oxford’s Colleges?
The University of Oxford contains 36 colleges and four permanent private halls (PPHs). While the colleges and PPHs belong to the university, they all have a significant degree of self-government.
Your college is where you will live, have much of your tutorial teaching, and may be the basis of your social and extracurricular experience of the university, too. Each college will have its own sports teams, music groups, and other societies.
Most students apply to a specific college (though you can make an ‘open application’ and get allocated to a college by the university if you are admitted), so choosing a college is usually an early and vital step of the Oxford application process.
Best Oxford Colleges for Academics
Norrington Table
One popular way to rank Oxford’s colleges is by using the Norrington Table. This is Oxford’s equivalent of Cambridge’s Tompkins Table, and is a way of producing an Oxford colleges ranking based on the results their students’ achieve in that year’s final exams.
The table is named after Sir Arthur Norrington, President of Trinity College, who, in 1963, proposed an amendment to the methodology of a table The Times had been producing since the previous year. The Norrington Table was published unofficially until 2005, when the university began publishing its own rankings using the same methodology. The rankings were last published by Oxford itself in 2022 but the results can be reconstructed for more recent years.
The table is calculated by awarding each college:
- 5 points for every student who gets a first
- 3 points for a 2.i
- 2 points for a 2.ii
- 1 points for a third
This total is then divided by the total number of points a college could have received if all its students had got firsts, and is expressed as a percentage.
Here is the Norrington Table for 2024:
| College | 2024 Score, % |
|---|---|
| St Stephen’s House | 80 |
| Magdalen | 77.9 |
| Merton | 77.3 |
| St John’s | 76.6 |
| New College | 76.2 |
| Keble | 75.8 |
| Jesus | 75.7 |
| Exeter | 74.6 |
| Lincoln | 73.7 |
| Harris Manchester | 73.1 |
| Brasenose | 73.1 |
| St Peter’s | 73 |
| Mansfield | 73 |
| Wadham | 72.7 |
| St Catherine’s | 72.5 |
| Balliol | 71.9 |
| Christ Church | 71.5 |
| St Anne’s | 70.8 |
| Queen’s | 70.6 |
| St Hugh’s | 70 |
| Trinity | 70 |
| University | 69.8 |
| Lady Margaret Hall | 69.2 |
| St Hilda’s | 68.8 |
| Hertford | 68.6 |
| Somerville | 68.5 |
| Worcester | 68.5 |
| Pembroke | 68.2 |
| Oriel | 67.7 |
| Regent’s Park | 67.5 |
| St Edmund Hall | 66.8 |
| Corpus Christi | 66.3 |
| Wycliffe Hall | 64.7 |
St Stephen’s House is an Anglican theological college with observer status at Oxford; it typically only has a handful of undergraduate students, so its performance in the table fluctuates significantly from year to year.
Of the larger colleges, Magdalen, Merton, and St John’s topped the Norrington Table in 2024. In recent years, these, Wadham, New College, Christ Church and Balliol tend to appear among the top colleges.
Although the Norrington Table is a broad-brush guide to a college’s overall academic standing, it doesn’t take into account the course mix of its students – a college with more students taking courses which give out more firsts will be advantaged.
And remember that as you are reading a specific course at your college, the academic quality of the college for that course is much more important to your experience than its overall ranking.
Offer Rates
Another indicator of a college’s academics might be the offer rate: the percentage of students who apply to that college who accept. In theory, the most academic colleges will be more selective and have lower offer rates.
Take this with a pinch of salt, though – the reasons why some colleges are more oversubscribed than others are complicated, and factors like reputation, location, beauty, and prestige all come into play. These might drive the offer rate down but don’t necessarily mean the college is more academic.
Here are the offer rates by college for UK students only, 2022-24:
| College | Applications | Offers | Acceptances | Offer Rate | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magdalen College | 2,514 | 298 | 266 | 11.9% | 10.6% |
| Worcester College | 2,639 | 335 | 316 | 12.7% | 12.0% |
| Keble College | 2,359 | 333 | 310 | 14.1% | 13.1% |
| Brasenose College | 2,151 | 319 | 280 | 14.8% | 13.0% |
| Balliol College | 1,973 | 300 | 271 | 15.2% | 13.7% |
| St John’s College | 2,077 | 324 | 283 | 15.6% | 13.6% |
| New College | 2,044 | 355 | 329 | 17.4% | 16.1% |
| Trinity College | 1,282 | 229 | 206 | 17.9% | 16.1% |
| Hertford College | 1,598 | 303 | 277 | 19.0% | 17.3% |
| Christ Church | 1,878 | 368 | 332 | 19.6% | 17.7% |
| Jesus College | 1,478 | 290 | 252 | 19.6% | 17.1% |
| Merton College | 1,255 | 247 | 220 | 19.7% | 17.5% |
| Lincoln College | 1,280 | 252 | 229 | 19.7% | 17.9% |
| The Queen’s College | 1,150 | 239 | 219 | 20.8% | 19.0% |
| Exeter College | 1,265 | 271 | 235 | 21.4% | 18.6% |
| Pembroke College | 1,346 | 297 | 248 | 22.1% | 18.4% |
| Wadham College | 1,500 | 336 | 301 | 22.4% | 20.1% |
| University College | 1,285 | 289 | 248 | 22.5% | 19.3% |
| St Catherine’s College | 1,591 | 372 | 318 | 23.4% | 20.0% |
| Corpus Christi College | 766 | 182 | 167 | 23.8% | 21.8% |
| Oriel College | 942 | 225 | 199 | 23.9% | 21.1% |
| Lady Margaret Hall | 1,139 | 284 | 263 | 24.9% | 23.1% |
| Mansfield College | 809 | 203 | 177 | 25.1% | 21.9% |
| St Edmund Hall | 1,112 | 280 | 254 | 25.2% | 22.8% |
| Somerville College | 1,252 | 317 | 282 | 25.3% | 22.5% |
| St Hugh’s College | 1,159 | 309 | 259 | 26.7% | 22.3% |
| St Anne’s College | 1,145 | 315 | 279 | 27.5% | 24.4% |
| St Peter’s College | 1,012 | 281 | 258 | 27.8% | 25.5% |
| St Hilda’s College | 1,079 | 316 | 278 | 29.3% | 25.8% |
| University total (2022–24) | 43,562 | 8,616 | 7,687 | 19.8% | 17.6% |
Magdalen, Worcester, and Keble come out in this way of ranking Oxford’s colleges, with Brasenose, Balliol, and St John’s not far behind, as they have the lowest offer rates. Most of these colleges also receive the most applications each year. This implies that they are at least among the most desirable colleges for applicants.
Most Attractive Colleges
This is another highly subjective category – beauty being, of course, in the eye of the beholder. We’ve come up with our top five, covering a range of architectural styles, but when deciding on the best Oxford college for you, make sure to form your own judgement on the environment in which you’d like to spend the next few years!
Christ Church
The grandest of all Oxford colleges, Christ Church is defined by Tom Tower – Christopher Wren’s iconic fan-vaulted gatehouse – and the sweeping Tom Quad, the largest quadrangle in Oxford. The college’s cathedral (the only one in England that doubles as a college chapel) adds a solemn magnificence, while the immaculate lawns of Christ Church Meadow stretch out behind, merging the city with the countryside.
Want to learn more?
- Christ Church Cathedral features on our list of Oxford’s most famous buildings
- The college was also a location used in the Harry Potter films
- Christopher Wren is one of the famous British architects featured in our dedicated guide
Magdalen College
Widely considered the most beautiful college in Oxford, Magdalen is a romantic composition of Gothic stonework, a soaring 15th-century bell tower, and one of the finest private grounds in England. Its deer park, riverside walks along the Cherwell, and cloistered quadrangles give it a countryside estate quality – serene and almost otherworldly – right in the heart of the city. Many would argue that its grounds make it the best Oxford college for natural beauty.
All Souls College
All Souls is architecturally unique in Oxford: an immaculately maintained front quad in the medieval Perpendicular style, paired with Nicholas Hawksmoor’s dramatic twin towers at the rear – baroque and medieval in striking conversation with each other. With no undergraduates to disturb the peace, the college has a hushed, austere beauty that is unlike anywhere else.
Hawksmoor also features on our list of famous British architects.
Merton College
Merton has the feel of the oldest Oxford, with Mob Quad – arguably the university’s most ancient quadrangle – still largely intact from the 13th and 14th centuries. The medieval library, the intimate chapel, and the views over Christ Church Meadow give Merton a quiet, scholarly beauty rooted more in atmosphere and age than in grandeur. Any Oxford colleges ranking based on beauty should include Merton.
Keble College
An outlier in the best possible way, Keble is a bold Victorian statement in polychrome brick – stripes of red, cream, and black running across its High Gothic facades. Designed by William Butterfield and completed in 1870, it divides opinion, but its sheer confidence and visual drama earn it a place among Oxford’s most distinctive and striking buildings. Love it or not, it is impossible to ignore.
Best Oxford Colleges for Sport
If athletics matters a lot to you, then read on for our list of the best Oxford colleges for sport. If you’d rather spend every moment in the library, have other ways you like to relax, or only play sports casually, skip to the next section!
Keble College
Keble consistently tops the Cuppers standings (Oxford’s inter-college sports competition) and has a strong culture of athletic participation across rowing, football, rugby, and more. Its relatively large student body gives it strength in numbers, and sport is genuinely central to college life. It deserves high billing on any list of the best Oxford colleges for sport.
Exeter College
Exeter punches above its weight for sport given its modest size, with particular strength in rowing. Its central location and well-organised sports culture make it a perennial contender across multiple disciplines.
Christ Church
“The House” benefits from its size, wealth, and the use of Christ Church Meadow for training. It fields competitive teams across most sports and has a long rowing tradition, with its own boathouse on the Isis.
Oriel College
When ranking Oxford colleges for sporting prowess, Oriel has a strong claim to be included. It has one of the strongest rowing traditions in Oxford – its men’s boat has spent extended periods at the top of the river – and a broader sporting culture to match. It is a natural choice for students who want sport to be a serious part of their university experience.
Pembroke College
Pembroke has quietly built a strong all-round sporting reputation, with competitive teams in football, rugby, and rowing. It tends to attract students who want a healthy balance of academics and athletics.
Most Prestigious Colleges
Once again, prestige might not matter to you at all. Indeed, by the time you graduate, the fact that you went to Oxford will matter far more to employers than which college at Oxford you attended. But if the weight of history, reputation, and illustrious alumni are something you’re looking for, then a college’s prestige is worth factoring into where to apply.
This Oxford colleges ranking by prestige is, of course, a matter of personal perspective.
Christ Church
No college carries quite the same weight of history and establishment as Christ Church. It has produced 13 British Prime Ministers, counts William Gladstone, John Locke, and W.H. Auden among its alumni, and its sheer architectural and institutional scale reinforces a sense of being at the centre of things.
Balliol College
Balliol’s prestige is intellectual rather than purely social. It has a fierce academic reputation – long considered the top college for tutorials – and an alumni list that includes Harold Macmillan, Edward Heath, Boris Johnson, and Aldous Huxley. It has historically attracted students who are more interested in ideas than tradition.
Magdalen College
One of the best Oxford college’s for reputation, Magdalen combines academic excellence with beauty and wealth. It is frequently among the most sought-after colleges in terms of applicant numbers. Oscar Wilde, C.S. Lewis, and Seamus Heaney all studied or taught here. Its endowment and grounds reinforce a sense of quiet confidence.
New College
Founded in 1379 by William of Wykeham, New College has one of the largest endowments in Oxford and a strong reputation across law, humanities, and the sciences. Its alumni include Tony Blair, Hugh Grant, and Kate Beckinsale, and it retains a powerful sense of institutional seriousness.
All Souls College
All Souls occupies a unique position: it has no undergraduates at all, admitting only a handful of the most exceptional postgraduate fellows each year via what is reputed to be the hardest exam in the world. Its exclusivity and association with the highest levels of academia, law, and public life make it the most rarefied college in Oxford by some margin.
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Richest Oxford Colleges
Although we wouldn’t suggest that it should decide where you choose to apply, there’s no doubt that the wealth of a college will make a difference to your experience. At a college with a large endowment, there will be more money to invest in facilities, staff, and even food.
Here are the richest colleges at Oxford:
| College | Total Assets | Financial Endowment | Assets per Student |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magdalen College | £985,756,000 | £817,931,000 | £1,590,000 |
| St John’s College | £891,197,000 | £779,833,000 | £1,311,000 |
| Christ Church | £830,291,000 | £816,253,000 | £1,221,000 |
| All Souls College | £546,604,000 | £501,226,000 | £51,711,00 |
| The Queen’s College | £426,250,000 | £327,789,000 | £829,000 |
| Merton College | £419,586,000 | £387,676,000 | £836,000 |
| New College | £363,303,000 | £303,324,000 | £502,000 |
| Jesus College | £308,251,000 | £259,938,000 | £562,501 |
| Nuffield College | £263,017,000 | £239,159,000 | £2,769,000 |
| Somerville College | £223,804,000 | £83,663,000 | £353,000 |
| University College | £209,052,000 | £125,489,000 | £338,000 |
| Trinity College | £193,684,000 | £164,267,000 | £446,000 |
| Corpus Christi College | £191,539,000 | £166,841,000 | £535,000 |
| Brasenose College | £179,827,000 | £151,293,000 | £301,000 |
| Pembroke College | £176,001,000 | £85,547,000 | £263,000 |
| Lincoln College | £161,414,000 | £124,437,000 | £262,000 |
| Balliol College | £147,546,000 | £123,435,000 | £202,000 |
| Wadham College | £142,812,000 | £105,237,000 | £203,000 |
| St Catherine’s College | £142,129,000 | £104,305,000 | £125,000 |
| Exeter College | £130,995,000 | £74,876,000 | £218,000 |
| Keble College | £128,578,000 | £50,313,000 | £162,000 |
| St Hilda’s College | £119,647,000 | £56,592,000 | £206,000 |
| Oriel College | £105,618,000 | £86,524,000 | £200,000 |
| Green Templeton College | £102,808,000 | £1,143,000 | £194,000 |
| Wolfson College | £95,187,000 | £60,395,000 | £141,000 |
| Worcester College | £87,218,000 | £48,324,000 | £135,000 |
| St Edmund Hall | £87,027,000 | £68,248,000 | £119,000 |
| Hertford College | £79,183,000 | £60,552,000 | £117,000 |
| St Peter’s College | £78,172,000 | £47,030,000 | £132,000 |
| St Antony’s College | £72,393,000 | £44,741,000 | £163,000 |
| St Hugh’s College | £69,374,000 | £34,934,000 | £88,000 |
| St Anne’s College | £66,634,000 | £40,574,000 | £80,000 |
| Lady Margaret Hall | £64,477,000 | £36,279,000 | £101,000 |
| Linacre College | £43,288,000 | £27,854,000 | £74,000 |
| Harris Manchester College | £40,301,000 | £14,371,000 | £152,000 |
| Mansfield College | £30,307,000 | £14,627,000 | £67,000 |
Magdalen, St John’s, and Christ Church top this list, with assets of nearly £1bn. They are also near the top of the list of assets per student, at more than £1m per student. However, the highest assets per student is at All Soul’s (which doesn’t admit undergrads) and then Nuffield.
Biggest and Smallest Oxford Colleges
College size is purely a matter of personal preference, but we have included it in this guide to the best Oxford colleges as it will affect which is the best college for you. You may prefer a large, bustling student body, a more intimate college where everyone knows everyone, or something in between.
| College | Undergraduates | Postgraduates | Visiting Students | Total Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kellogg College | 0 | 1155 | 0 | 1155 |
| St Catherine’s College | 505 | 428 | 50 | 983 |
| St Anne’s College | 439 | 352 | 37 | 828 |
| Keble College | 422 | 369 | 4 | 795 |
| St Hugh’s College | 425 | 366 | 1 | 792 |
| St Edmund Hall | 396 | 296 | 40 | 732 |
| Balliol College | 385 | 343 | 1 | 729 |
| New College | 418 | 295 | 10 | 723 |
| Wadham College | 466 | 208 | 30 | 704 |
| Christ Church | 455 | 225 | 0 | 680 |
| St John’s College | 425 | 250 | 5 | 680 |
| Hertford College | 410 | 236 | 31 | 677 |
| Pembroke College | 390 | 250 | 30 | 670 |
| Worcester College | 438 | 179 | 30 | 647 |
| Lady Margaret Hall | 405 | 212 | 24 | 641 |
| Somerville College | 425 | 209 | 0 | 634 |
| Magdalen College | 405 | 205 | 10 | 620 |
| University College | 394 | 224 | 0 | 618 |
| Lincoln College | 312 | 302 | 3 | 617 |
| Exeter College | 343 | 233 | 26 | 602 |
| Brasenose College | 360 | 234 | 3 | 597 |
| St Peter’s College | 356 | 215 | 21 | 592 |
| Linacre College | 0 | 587 | 0 | 587 |
| St Hilda’s College | 399 | 183 | 0 | 582 |
| Wolfson College | 0 | 581 | 0 | 581 |
| Jesus College | 358 | 189 | 1 | 548 |
| St Cross College | 0 | 545 | 0 | 545 |
| Green Templeton College | 90 | 439 | 0 | 529 |
| Oriel College | 323 | 200 | 5 | 528 |
| The Queen’s College | 336 | 177 | 1 | 514 |
| Merton College | 314 | 188 | 0 | 502 |
| Mansfield College | 239 | 173 | 40 | 452 |
| St Antony’s College | 0 | 443 | 0 | 443 |
| Trinity College | 299 | 135 | 0 | 434 |
| Corpus Christi College | 258 | 98 | 2 | 358 |
| Reuben College | 0 | 330 | 0 | 330 |
| Harris Manchester College | 115 | 150 | 0 | 265 |
| Nuffield College | 0 | 95 | 0 | 95 |
| All Souls College | 0 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
Ranking the colleges by size, We see that the largest Oxford college actually has no undergraduates – it’s Kellog College, which only takes postgrads. The largest undergraduate student bodies are at St Catharine’s, Wadham, and Christ Church, with the fewest undergraduates at Green Templeton, Harris Manchester, and Mansfield.ocieties, networking through your college, and research or project experience within your department.
How to Choose a College
Our list of the best Oxford colleges has taken into account a wide range of considerations – from academics to sport, and from size to wealth and reputation. But deciding where to apply is a matter of deciding which is the best college for you. Disregard any metrics that don’t matter to you at all and focus on those which will really make a difference.
We advise building a college shortlist of 5-7 based on some of the following factors:
- Course provision (not all colleges offer all courses)
- Size
- Location (central or further out)
- Gender (is it women’s-only)
- Architecture and grounds (do you prefer something modern, medieval, or a mixture)
- Sporting reputation
- Academics, focusing on your subject
Then, if at all possible, visit. Some colleges have dedicated open days but many will allow you to walk around if you tell the porters you are a prospective student. (Though it’s worth contacting the college in advance to make sure and to check if you need an appointment.)
Many students find that they get a strong feeling one way or another once they visit a college in person, and that this is the decisive consideration. Can you imagine yourself living and working here for the next 3-4 years?
You can also try to speak to current or recent students to get a sense of life in your shortlisted colleges. You may be fortunate enough to know some personally, or your school may be able to put you in touch.
How Dukes Plus Can Help
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We have personal experience of all Oxford’s colleges and guide students to applying to the college where they will be happiest and have the best chance of admission.
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FAQs
The best Oxford colleges depend on what matters most to you. Magdalen, Merton and St John’s often perform strongly academically, while Christ Church, Magdalen and Merton are frequently praised for beauty and prestige. For sport, Keble, Exeter, Christ Church, Oriel and Pembroke are particularly strong options.
There is no single official Oxford colleges ranking for every category. The Norrington Table ranks colleges by undergraduate finals results, but it does not measure student life, teaching quality by subject, accommodation, location, sport, wealth or atmosphere. It is useful, but only as one factor.Q
Based on recent UK offer rates, colleges such as Magdalen, Worcester, Keble, Brasenose, Balliol and St John’s are among the most competitive. However, offer rates change by year and subject, so you should not choose a college purely because it looks more or less selective.
Beauty is subjective, but Christ Church, Magdalen, All Souls, Merton and Keble are often considered among Oxford’s most attractive colleges. Magdalen is especially known for its grounds and deer park, while Christ Church is famous for Tom Quad, Tom Tower and Christ Church Meadow.s
It can affect the process slightly, because some colleges receive more applications than others. However, Oxford uses a pooling and reallocation system to help ensure strong applicants are not disadvantaged simply because they applied to an oversubscribed college.
Start by checking which colleges offer your course, then compare size, location, accommodation, facilities, subject tutors, architecture, sports, societies and overall atmosphere. The best Oxford college for you is not necessarily the one at the top of a ranking, but the one where you can see yourself thriving.