Universities are places full of mystery and intrigue. Their long histories and unique traditions make them the perfect setting for riddles and brainteasers. Below are 73 riddles about universities, their students, professors, classes, dorms, libraries, and more. Test your wits and see how many you can get right!
Riddles about university students
Riddle 1
What do you call a university student who rarely goes to class?
Answer: An absent-minded student.
Riddle 2
I’m where students sleep, but not in their beds. What am I?
Answer: A lecture hall.
Riddle 3
What did the two university students say to each other at the library?
Answer: “Let’s go check each other out!”
Riddle 4
Why did the student get kicked out of university?
Answer: For cheating.
Riddle 5
Where do students go to think outside the box?
Answer: Outside of their dorm rooms.
Riddle 6
Why did the student bring scissors to class?
Answer: To cut classes.
Riddle 7
What did one university student say to the other?
Answer: “I’m so stressed with exams, I just want to drop out.”
Riddle 8
Why did the lazy student get good grades?
Answer: He cheated off the smart student.
Riddle 9
Which university student loves to sleep in class?
Answer: The philosophy major.
Riddle 10
Why did the biology student bring pizza to lab?
Answer: To culture some cells.
Riddles about university professors
Riddle 11
What do you call a university professor who never smiles?
Answer: Serious.
Riddle 12
Why was the math professor late to class?
Answer: He took the rhombus.
Riddle 13
Why was the English professor arrested?
Answer: For making up stories.
Riddle 14
Which key can’t open any door at the university?
Answer: A monkey.
Riddle 15
What did the professor say to the student who fell asleep in class?
Answer: “I’m disappointed in ewe.”
Riddle 16
Why was the archaeology professor always tired?
Answer: His career was in ruins.
Riddle 17
Why was the physics professor arrested?
Answer: For resisting a rest.
Riddle 18
Why did the engineering professor get angry during class?
Answer: His students couldn’t build on his teachings.
Riddle 19
Why did the astronomy professor host class outside at night?
Answer: She wanted to point out the star pupils.
Riddle 20
Why was the climate science professor feeling anxious?
Answer: Her thoughts were consumed by global warming.
Riddles about university classes
Riddle 21
What class at university has the best views?
Answer: Geography.
Riddle 22
Why was the student not allowed in class?
Answer: He didn’t have the prerequisites.
Riddle 23
Why was the class so noisy?
Answer: The professor was teaching cacophony.
Riddle 24
Where do classes go on weekends?
Answer: On vacation.
Riddle 25
Why was it so hot in chemistry class?
Answer: They were studying thermo-dynamics.
Riddle 26
What did one class say to the other class?
Answer: “See you next semester!”
Riddle 27
Why did the student bring a ladder to class?
Answer: She wanted to get to the top of the class.
Riddle 28
Why was the trigonometry class so dramatic?
Answer: It dealt with sines and cosines.
Riddle 29
Why was history class so dusty?
Answer: It focused on ancient times.
Riddle 30
Which class likes to stir up trouble?
Answer: Chemistry.
Riddles about university dorms and housing
Riddle 31
Where do students eat and sleep?
Answer: In their dormitories.
Riddle 32
I’m a place inside your dorm where you can relax and hang out. What am I?
Answer: The common room.
Riddle 33
Why did the student bring microwave popcorn to the dorm?
Answer: To pop in and say hi to his roommate.
Riddle 34
Why are university dorms always so noisy at night?
Answer: Because students are up late studying (or partying!).
Riddle 35
What did one dorm room say to the other?
Answer: “It’s nice bunking with you.”
Riddle 36
Why did the student prefer living off campus?
Answer: He wanted more space to study.
Riddle 37
Why did the dorm prohibit candles?
Answer: They were two wick.
Riddle 38
Why did the student bring a sleeping bag to her dorm?
Answer: She was going on a camp-out to study for finals.
Riddle 39
Why was the student’s dorm room so cluttered?
Answer: He lost organizational skills living away from home.
Riddle 40
What did one university student say to the other about living in the dorms?
Answer: “It’s cramped quarters in here!”
Riddles about university libraries
Riddle 41
What building on campus has the most stories?
Answer: The library.
Riddle 42
Why was the librarian so suspicious?
Answer: She was worried about overdues.
Riddle 43
Why did the student bring coffee to the library?
Answer: She wanted to stay awake while studying.
Riddle 44
Why are the library’s books so good at karate?
Answer: They have a lot of covers.
Riddle 45
Why was the library so cold?
Answer: The computers needed to chill out.
Riddle 46
What did one library book say to the other?
Answer: “I’m overdue for a checkup!”
Riddle 47
Why was the student banned from the university library?
Answer: For marking up pages.
Riddle 48
Why did the student bring a tent to the library?
Answer: She planned to camp out all night to finish her paper.
Riddle 49
Why are library carpets so ugly?
Answer: To avoid distracting students.
Riddle 50
Why does the library have so many windows?
Answer: To let in natural light for reading.
Riddles about university facilities and buildings
Riddle 51
What building on campus is always open?
Answer: The clock tower.
Riddle 52
What facility on campus has the best music?
Answer: The band hall.
Riddle 53
Why does the university art building have so many windows?
Answer: To let in the most light for artists.
Riddle 54
What campus facility acts like a maze?
Answer: The utility tunnels.
Riddle 55
Why was the new university building unpopular?
Answer: It had no character.
Riddle 56
What has halls but no classrooms?
Answer: A residence hall.
Riddle 57
Why does the science building have emergency showers?
Answer: For rinsing off spills and splashes.
Riddle 58
What campus facility loves the summer heat?
Answer: The central cooling plant.
Riddle 59
What facility makes the university function?
Answer: The physical plant.
Riddle 60
Why does the campus chapel have no electric lights?
Answer: They prefer natural lighting.
Riddles about university staff and services
Riddle 61
What university employee works in the dining hall slinging hash?
Answer: The lunch lady.
Riddle 62
Why was the janitor feeling overwhelmed?
Answer: He had too much on his plate.
Riddle 63
Why was the groundskeeper covered in leaves?
Answer: He was raking it in.
Riddle 64
Why did the electrician get a job on campus?
Answer: He wanted to get wired into the university system.
Riddle 65
Why does campus security work late nights?
Answer: To keep students safe after dark.
Riddle 66
What did one campus tour guide say to the other?
Answer: “This job is giving me walking pneumonia!”
Riddle 67
Why does the university have so many secretaries?
Answer: To assist all the professors and administrators.
Riddle 68
Why did the IT guy bring his laptop everywhere?
Answer: He was connected to the university network.
Riddle 69
Why was the plumber unhappy with his campus job?
Answer: He felt drained.
Riddle 70
What did the campus police officer say to the student?
Answer: “Show me your ID.”
Riddles about university social life
Riddle 71
Where on campus can you find music, poetry, and intellectual talks?
Answer: The student union.
Riddle 72
Where do Greek organizations live together on campus?
Answer: In fraternity and sorority houses.
Riddle 73
Why do seniors visit the quad?
Answer: For graduation photos.
Conclusion
University riddles pose a fun creative challenge. Their clues speak to the myriad aspects of college life, from classes and dorms to libraries and faculty. Solving these riddles requires keen perception paired with a touch of imagination. Of course, most any riddle can spark deeper thought and conversation. So whether purely for entertainment, or as a thought-provoking exercise, riddles engage our minds in a uniquely captivating way.
