The ScrollerThe antidote to doomscrolling.

Split image: On the left, a young woman sits smiling on a young man's lap at a casual gathering. On the right, two girls use rotary phones; one stands at a wall phone, the other sits below with a corded phone.

20 Vintage Photos Of College Life In The 1980s

Vintage Photos History Nostalgia June 2, 2025 by Matt Staff

Last Updated on June 2, 2025 by Matt Staff

Take a step back in time and onto the college campuses of the 1980s. Life was far different back in that neon-lit bygone era. These 20 vintage snapshots can capture the unmistakable vibe of the 1980s college life in vivid clarity.

1. A young lady getting her studies in at the University of Georgia, late 1980s

A person sits at a desk studying in a small, tidy dorm room with a single bed, a wall poster of a scruffy dog, a small TV on top of a cabinet, and sunlight coming through the window blinds. — urbanachiever123

2. A snapshot from the Oregon State University yearbook in 1980

A person wearing a jacket, shorts, and roller skates carries a stack of books while smiling in a library aisle lined with shelves of books. — glasspar21

3. University in Raleigh, North Carolina, 1980

Four young Black adults walk hand in hand down a campus path, smiling. Trees without leaves and a tall clock tower are visible in the background, suggesting a college setting in early spring or late fall. — axlcobianvedder

4. Bennett College, Greensboro, North Carolina, 1980

Two young women sit on a bed in a dorm room. One operates a record player while the other smiles at the camera. Behind them are a television, books, and various personal items on a desk and shelf. — deleted

5. College students relaxing on a warm spring day in 1980

Seven young women sit on the edge of a fountain, chatting, eating, and relaxing on a sunny day. Shoes are off, and their reflections are visible in the water. A grassy park is in the background with another person walking. — fabergrad

6. Students in an arcade in Claremont McKenna College, California, 1983

A group of young men, some playing and others watching, gather around arcade machines in a busy game room. Most are focused on the screens, and the scene feels lively and social. — axlcobainvedder

7. A young couple enjoying a college party in the early 1980s

A smiling woman with shoulder-length hair sits on a man's lap. She holds a white cup and wears a light sweater and jeans. The man behind her wears a dark jacket and a cap with Greek letters. They are indoors on a couch. — deleted

8. In the freshmen dorm room at Caltech in 1982

A young person with light brown hair sits on a bed in a room with bright red and orange walls. Behind them is a poster, books, a guitar, and a laundry basket. The person is smiling and wearing a "Puerto Vallarta 82" shirt. — anonymous

9. Someone’s dad in the studio of the radio station he founded in college in 1984

A person sits in a dimly lit radio studio, leaning back with feet up on the console, surrounded by audio equipment, dials, and a microphone, with light coming from a lamp in the background. — deleted

10. Skateboarder at The University of Illinois, 1985

A young man skateboards down a wooden ramp in an outdoor area, while a woman sits nearby on a ledge, writing or drawing. Trees and people sitting on the ground are visible in the background. The photo is in black and white. — deleted

11. Morrinsville College in the mid 1980s

A smiling woman with long blonde hair, wearing a red top, sits at a desk with papers, a computer keyboard, and bookshelves in the background. — anonymous

12. Phoning home in Boston College around 1985

Two young women use payphones. One is standing and wearing a light sweatshirt, holding the phone and a wire, while the other is crouched below, smiling and talking on a phone. A bright binder is on the shelf beside them. — deleted

13. Doesn’t get much more cool-looking than this in college in the eighties

A person with long hair and sunglasses sits on a custom chopper motorcycle in a park; beer cases labeled "Molson" are on the ground nearby, with people and trees in the background. The photo is in black and white. — Screenshot

14. Throwing it back to 1980 with the whole college first floor together for the pic

A group of around 20 young men pose in front of a blue vintage car, some sitting on the ground and roof, others standing. They wear casual 1980s clothing, with several wearing matching sweatshirts labeled “The Argue.” — anonymous

15. A young and in love couple holding it down at a college party in the late 1980s

A young man smiles while playfully patting a young woman's head from behind. Both appear happy, with the woman wearing glasses and a grey sweatshirt, and the man in a red and white shirt. Indoors with others in the background. — deleted

16. Someone’s dad getting after his college studies in the early 1980s

A man with brown hair in a white shirt sits at a cluttered desk, turning to look at the camera. Behind him are posters, including one of a woman in white and another of a man holding a mug. — deleted

17. Yes, this is a snapshot of a college 1981 tug-of-war team

A group of ten men pose together outdoors, some smiling and some with arms around each other, in what appears to be a casual, friendly gathering. Equipment and trees are visible in the background. — theberzerker13

18. Some 1984 college kids representing that classic ivy look

A young woman on a bicycle talks to a young man standing on a path, surrounded by greenery and brick buildings. She is smiling, resting one hand on his arm, while he faces her with hands in his pockets. — deleted

19. Just some friends goofing off in college in the early 1980s

Four young people in a retro bedroom, three standing and laughing near the bed while one person playfully flashes their Police t-shirt, sticking out their tongue. The room is decorated with posters and various items on shelves. — anonymous

20. Someone’s dad in college in the early 1980s

A young person with light brown hair sits in a chair indoors, dressed in dark pants, a dark top, and white socks, holding a piece of paper and appearing to write or read, with a wooden cabinet in the background. — deleted

Explore more vintage content:

Craving more vintage vibes? Check out 35 Vintage Photos Of The Mid-1880s. Then hop on over to 20 Vintage Photos Of College Life In The 1970s. Lastly, check out 17 Vintage Photos Of The 1860s.

Tags: '80s 1900s 1980s

About Author

Matt Staff

Matt has spent over the last 8 years as both a writer and editor, working in Seattle and Brooklyn, where he is now based. He loves escaping the tirelessly fast pace of the “Mad Apple” that is NYC by taking walks and runs through parks where he’s able to catch up on the latest tea about society from the city’s ever chatty, always hungry, occasionally maniacal, pigeons. They always have a lot to say. When he’s not taking his urban nature strolls, or dutifully combing the deepest rabbit holes of the internet to find the content that’s worth sinking your mind’s teeth into, he’s likely holed up at a dark-lit dive bar with a new book and/or some friends, or just as easily he could be on the hunt for the next addition to his steadily growing plant family.

These days Matt's caught up in trying to provide folks as many vivid glimpses into the days long since passed as he can, through fun and engaging collections of hand-picked vintage photos.

View all posts by Matt Staff

You May Also Like

A woman with dark hair sits on the hood of a black classic car parked in a grassy field with autumn trees in the background. She is wearing a light top and a dark skirt, and is looking at the camera.

Vintage Photos History Nostalgia

20 Vintage Photos of People’s Cars and Bikes in the ’90s

17 Colorized Mugshots That Bring the Past to Life