College was probably the best time of my life. While also being an opportunity to learn the skills you need and make the connections for the career, it’s a great transitional period between childhood and adulthood. You learn things about yourself and make new lifelong friends. If I could relieve my entire time at university, I’d do it. It wasn’t a perfect time, but it was a great time!
Disney doesn’t often take us to the magical world of the college campus. I honestly don’t know why, since they’re so eager to glamourize high school despite its reality being basically a zoo with deranged, egotistical keepers. Given the ages of most Disney characters, they should be fast approaching college, but it’s just not a thing in their world. Granted, a film about a young girl who goes to school and studies hard for her career might not be as interesting as a film about a girl who meets a handsome prince, but it has better values.
Fans of Disney, however, have pondered this. What would it be like if Disney characters went to college? What would they do and what would they look like? These gorgeous pieces of fan art explore exactly that! Most of these take the characters out of their mystical settings and place them in our modern-day college experience. It may not be a traditional Disney setting or experience, but it’s one that’s fun to explore!
25 College’s Open Door
These are two of the most famous Disney girls to date, walking through the campus together. I know only two siblings who went to the same colleges, and I don’t think they spent much time together, only acknowledging each other when passing each other in corridors. But I imagine these two sisters would stay close no matter what, despite likely having very different interests.
I imagine Elsa studying law or literature, Anna studying media, or something creative.
Since these two are already at college ages, there isn’t a lot of growing up for them to do (although Anna might have to learn to become more of a morning person). I don’t know whether Anna followed her to college because she coincidentally wanted to study here or because she missed having her big sister around. The choice is yours!
Artwork by Hyung86 and Rikamello.
24 Tangled Tech
Rapunzel, the princess of Tangled, would study art! No question. Not just because of her passion for painting that we see in the movie, but because she would fit in completely with the art students! She could completely pull off that bohemian relaxed style that seems to be present in the art departments of universities. Although, maybe Rapunzel wouldn’t mind cleaning up the mess so much.
I don’t know how she managed to fit all her long golden hair into that flower bun, but she’s showing a big part of what college is about: finding your image and style! Plus, sketching your animal sidekick onto your funky messenger bag is a great way to keep them with you, even if they don’t allow animals in class!
Artwork by Karina Yordanova.
23 Olympus-Worthy Grades
Luckily, I never had to deal with this type of pressure from my family! Although, I do know one person who was constantly being compared to their younger sibling (who was training to be a doctor). For a lot of us, going to university is also about meeting new friends, learning life skills, and letting off steam before the inevitable climb up the career ladder. For some students, though, it’s all about the grades!
This attitude having been drilled into them by the Zeus in their life: their parents.
I imagine even if you are mortal now, if your parents are actual gods, the pressure to do something great with yourself is on! That was made clear in Disney’s movie and would likely be Hercules’ college destiny.
Artwork by CollegeHumor.
22 Under The Dorms
After giving up her family and life to get married at the age of sixteen, it might have been too much to expect Ariel to head off to college just two years later. Then again, she was so eager to collect the day to day items of the people above and learn all about them. Wouldn’t college be the best place to do that? To learn more and collect people’s stuff is what college was all about for some people! I literally had to steal a lighter back out of a friend’s bag once. This little mermaid turned human did have a natural curiosity about her. But then again, in the ocean, it didn’t look like there was much going on in terms of academics. They just seemed to sing all the time!
Artwork by Taminura Luina.
21 Snow Term
I wish I’d taken more selfies in college. Don’t worry, I took a lot! But I still wish I’d taken more. I love this idea of the smallest and youngest princess being injected into a college setting. Her little dorm room looks just like some of the ones my friends lived in, bed unmade and all!
I guess the university halls frown upon birds coming in through the windows to help with the cleaning.
I love this modernized version of her original princess dress, which is certainly one of the more interesting ones. She looks sweet and innocent, like original Snow, but also comfortable and independent. She has an almost-grown-up style! But given that she now has studying to do, I hope her seven roommates pick up after themselves!
Artwork by Dari Fh.
20 Family Stays Together!
I know this franchise was absolutely done to death, with the multiple sequels and TV series that came out of it, but this is still a sequel I’d really like to see. I’d love it if Disney Channel cut the budget of one of their abysmal sitcoms just for a season or two (I doubt we’d see much difference) and bring us a sequel where Lilo heads to college!
Would she be able to smuggle Stitch into the dorms with her? Would he be able to behave himself while she was trying to study? Or would she leave him behind and Stitch would have to adjust to her not being around? I just feel like there are loads of layers this could bring. Plus Stitch is super cute and fluffy!
Artwork by Jack Freak1994.
19 Exchange Students
I know there are fan theories that all Disney franchises share the same universe, and I know that a lot of Princesses have appeared in Sofia the First (although I’m not overly familiar with the show). But I don’t know whether they would actually meet. Not that it matters, fictional cartoons and all that, but I would really like to see these two interacting.
We know that Rapunzel lives in the same universe as Frozen, so why not Brave too?
Even though they’re obviously studying very different things at university, it would be the perfect place for them to hang out. They have very similar attitudes and I can’t see why they wouldn’t become best friends. Two admirable, determined girls who won’t let anything stand in their way!
Artwork by Kade Art.
18 Study Hard, Princess
This is a very cute and interesting version of Aladdin’s Princess Jasmine. There is a real sense of her wonder in this character’s face, but the new art style and clothing show a new side of her.
I don’t know what Jasmine would study at college. We honestly don’t see a lot of her interests in the film, except for her love for her animals. I imagine the worst part about going to college for her would be missing her pets, although her Father probably wouldn’t be too thrilled about having to take care of her tiger either! She looks both sweet and gorgeous in this artwork, the tattoos being a good touch. Be honest, who didn’t get their first tattoo whilst at college?
Artwork by Cherriene.
17 Already Grown Up
Cinderella, I feel your pain! I remember when I started university, I was invited to my first dorm party. I was first to arrive and was left by my friend in her kitchen and told to “make myself at home.” When she came back, I was cleaning! I’m sure it wasn’t her fault, but the kitchen was a mess!
It’s not that students themselves are messy, they’re just thrown into a world where they have to take care of everything themselves.
More often than not it’s with roommates who won’t clean up after themselves! While being forced to clean up after messy roommates isn’t as bad as being forced to clean up after your evil stepmother, it’s a very frustrating experience. And don’t say “just leave it,” because then it’ll be there for a year.
16 Education Possibilities
Well, Kim, if you thought saving the world (and getting your homework done) was hard, try saving the world and making sure your dissertation is completed to the required word count, spell checked, fact-checked, and presented on time with completed references, correctly formatted. Despite all her experience in the field as a secret agent, you’re still going to need that degree, Kimmy!
I’m sure Kim would be epic in college, though. She’s epic in general, but she’s good at time management and prioritizing work. I love the way she looks a little more mature in this picture, with her glasses and her neat hair, but she still looks like KP. I hope that in the Kim Possible remake we get to learn more about her future and see this sort of thing.
Artwork by Hotrod2001.
15 Belle Of The Books
The Belle of Beauty and the Beast is very much this person. She’s kind, compassionate, and brave, with a love for reading. That whole intro song where the villagers say she’s a “funny girl” just shows how intimidated they are by her good nature and intelligence.
Both fortunately and unfortunately, I think she would have the same experience at college.
People would whisper behind her back and call her strange, saying she studies too hard. But she’d just flick her hair out of her eyes and order her Frappuccino. This is an absolutely perfect reimagining of the character. Even though she isn’t wearing her typical Disney colors, this is still an outfit I would imagine her in if she went to university today. Pretty girls do indeed read books!
Artwork by Mattesworks.
14 Greek House Party
Is it just me or has Megara become a lot more popular in recent years? I only watched Hercules several years ago (in my last year of college, actually), but I hadn’t really heard of her before that and didn’t hear much of her after. But now I’m seeing a lot of YouTube videos centered around her and gorgeous fan art of her. This was uploaded in 2013, so it doesn’t really support my theory, but either way, I love to see this Disney girl getting some attention! She looks a little shy in this, which isn’t really her, but not in a way that makes me think someone is going to push her around! She’s confident and is going to be there for the “heroes” no matter what.
Artwork by Hyung86.
13 Toy Tech
I know that this one is a little questionable. Toys don’t go to university! Even in the world of Pixar in which they get up when you’re out of the room and have feelings and stuff (which actually traumatized the heck out of me when I was a kid). But even so, they are made out of plastic. They are made in factories. They are made the age they are now. And they don’t grow or age. Kids grow up and abandon them, but they stay the same age.
Even if they did, why would they go to college?
They don’t need education or careers; their lives are set. They’re child’s playthings! So, imagine this as an alternative universe, where Buzz and Woody are in university. And despite a rocky start, they’re now the best of friends.
Artwork by Nerd Pipo.
12 The Memorable Parties
One would think that after leaving home, getting your own space and gaining personal responsibility, students might feel a little bit more mature. But I can honestly say that I experienced far more onesie wearing and slumber parties than I did in high school! Although I’ve never put on a onesie in my life, I’m sure it’s very warm, snuggly, and comfortable. This image could have been taken straight from my college experience. Although I’d be the one taking the picture!
The tailored onesies, matching their animal sidekicks (or snowman sidekicks or animal they turned into due to circumstances) is a really sweet touch. Nothing like hanging around, studying together whilst dressed in our Princess animal outfits. What’s the point in having an animal sidekick if you can’t dress up as them for fun nights with your friends?
Artwork by Naty 222129.
11 Emperor On Campus
I recently decided that Kuzco is a Disney Princess and nobody can convince me otherwise. I’ve not heard one good reason why he can’t be! The llama on his shirt immediately made me think about the llamas in The Sims University expansion pack. Yeah, llamas are everywhere in The Sims because I guess Will Wright likes them, but in the University expansion pack, the cheerleaders have llamas on their uniforms (which I guess the high schoolers have too).
The mascots dress in llama suits (which I guess the sports hopefuls do too).
You can get little llama flags to hang on your dorm walls to support your university and show some llama pride! It’s a small nerdy thing, I know, but now I’ve decided that this alternative Kuzco went to Sim City University.
10 What We’re Gonna Do This Semester
I’ve recently gotten into this show. I’d seen it before and thought it was fine, but now I’ve sat down and watched it properly, I think it’s really fun and great, even though I’m completely out of the demographic.
It’s a little sad that Ferb doesn’t go to the same college, but I’m sure they stayed close emotionally and visited each other often. Even though Phineas and Isabella do go to the same college, I doubt they’ll end up together forever since they’ll be in a new environment, surrounded by plenty of new people. Overanalysing kids’ programs is my specialty. Either way, given that these guys build a rollercoaster and a time machine before they even hit their coming-of-age shows how easy college would be for them! They honestly don’t even need college, they’re Bill Gates, people!
Artwork by Romulan64.
9 Dressed Up For School
Honestly, there was someone in my class at university that had this exact outfit! I really don’t believe that The Hunchback of Notre Dame film could have been made today. All the fire, religious imagery, and horrific stuff that goes on was pretty heavy for a kids’ film.
In my opinion, the fact that Disney threw the book out the window on their first meeting is a lot more strange.
Yes, the book is sad, but it was written by Victor Hugo, not Disney. That most of the movie is just Disney’s writing shows what they’re really capable of! This is a really great modernizing of Esmerelda in a very student style. The best thing about university is that no one can tell you how to dress or what you should look like. You just get to be you.
Artwork Nina-D-Lux.
8 Rocking Princess
Honestly, I’m pretty sure at university I had this exact outfit! If I looked around for it, I probably still have it. You can’t really say that Merida would have been into this kind of style, but if she were at college today I really hope she might have. Her hair goes perfectly with it and is perfect for headbanging at metal concerts.
Some people, myself included, spend hours in front of the mirror trying to get their hair as big as that! She’s got that wild spirit that is the perfect criteria for college. One of the best things about these fan arts are the small details, and Merida’s bear tattoo is a perfect example! I didn’t notice it at first, but I’m glad I did.
Artwork by Anoosha Syed.
7 Make A Student Out Of You
This image is completely original and well thought of. The artist had captured the college style perfectly. It’s so simple yet amazing. I can’t figure out if this is intended as a gender-swap or not.
It doesn’t have to be, maybe this is just Mulan’s style as a college student.
Gender is fluid and one of the joys of college is that social standards of masculine and feminine don’t matter as much. At least compared to the other stages of life we go through. So, even if it is a gender swap, it’s a very subtle and commendable one. I did wonder if Mulan is supposed to be trans in this, but even so, since she is a woman in the film (as far as we know) then that wouldn’t be relevant to whether or not this is a gender swap.
Artwork by Johanna The Mad.
6 Study Hard, Snow
Like the other Snow White interpretation we saw, this one carries a certain element of the cute innocence that the original character has. Ironically, I’m picturing her as the girl in college who never really grew up, the one who still eats sweets a lot and watches Disney films (that she’s already seen a thousand times) for recreation. I’m not judging that girl, I’ve loved every that girl I’ve ever met, it’s just ironic to put the first Disney Princess in that role.
Her outfit is amazing. It’s absolutely something I could see my friends in college wearing. The cute gingham dress/shirt adds to the cutesy vibe Snow always has and makes her look college casual. You’d think the bow would be too much but nope, I remember wearing bows to class!
Artwork by Hyung86 and Shanineko.
