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Back to School Steppers: Best Shoes to Wear on Campus This Year, From Retro Sneakers to Preppy Loafers

A new year of college presents an opportunity to level up your footwear game. Here are the top shoes to snag before the semester commences.

By Stacia Datskovska Plus Icon

Stacia Datskovska

Senior Commerce Writer for WWD

Recent Articles by Stacia Datskovska

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August 25, 2026, 9:36am

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top shoes for college, including retro sneakers, running sneakers, and loafers over a fall campus background; shop back to school shoes

Courtesy Manufacturers, Canva

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While back-to-school shopping is typically associated with elementary, middle, and even high school students, it’s of utmost importance to stock up on essentials for classes when you are in college, too, while refreshing your wardrobe to reflect the shifting trends and seasons.

Around the country, most fall semesters are kicking off in late August to early September, which means there’s no better time than now to round out your closet, denim drawer, and shoe rack with picks that are equal parts practical (read: They’ll get you from dining haul to stadium without a fashion emergency) and stylish, channeling your personality in clothing and footwear form as much as any personalized phone case or DIY tote bag might.

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It is campus-approved shoes that we’ll be honing in on here — rounding up six pairs for men and women that will work (as hard as you do on those Abstract Algebra assignments) to support your every move and keep up with your understandably rapid pace.

6 Best Shoes to Shop for College This Year

best sneaker

On Cloudnova 2 Sneaker

Buy women’s at on $170 Jump to Details

best mule

Melissa Possession Jelly Mule

Buy Now at free people $75 Jump to Details

best retro sneaker

Brooks Chariot Sneaker

Buy Now at brooks running $120 Jump to Details

best loafer

Gap Vegan Suede Ruched Loafer

Buy Now at gap $48 Jump to Details

best boot

Quince Crafted Leather Waterproof Hiking Boot

Buy Now at quince $160 Jump to Details

best slide

Crocs Mellow Recovery Slide

Buy Now at crocs $39.99 Jump to Details

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You don’t have to attend an Ivy to flaunt a chic, sophisticated set of loafers, for instance, which have never really left the spotlight: as spotted on runways, the feet of your most-watched influencers, and outside of Fashion Week shows. Retro runners are another “It” style to embrace as you walk between the bagel shop and the library, matched with laidback track pants or baggy denim in outfit equations even your most old-school professor will approve of.

Additionally, even if you don’t have D1 practice on the calendar this autumn, it doesn’t hurt to invest in dependable, high-performance sneakers that will dole out energy return, protection from the elements, and superior cushioning (because nothing could ruin a typical day in college like fatigued feet or, you know, a breakup text).

From On Running to Free People, these are the footwear brands and models to shop before the metaphorical class bell rings.

best sneaker

On Cloudnova 2 Sneaker

$170

Buy women’s at on

$170

Buy men’s at on

Here for the everyday but also the active, On’s Cloudnova 2 is the best of both worlds — specifically, the lifestyle and the running-oriented. Sexy in looks and ambitious in specs (like that light, thermoregulating mesh upper and Zero-Gravity foam for controlled buoyancy with every step), the bestselling men’s and women’s sneaker has also been recently updated with features like a more supportive heel pillow and a thicker underfoot wall, achieving stability amidst all the demands and changes of college life.

All in all: These kicks don’t feel bulky, awkward, or too athletic — instead fusing technical aspects with a streamlined, fashion-forward profile that you can further customize across multiple colorways.

best mule

Melissa Possession Jelly Mule

$75

Buy Now at free people

Melissa’s sweet-smelling jelly shoes have been trending all summer long, and we advise you to extend this obsession to the chillier months of early fall — with a silhouette that provides more coverage while still wrapping the foot in that instantly recognizable PVC material. Pictured above is a clear colorway we appreciate for its versatility, allowing the shoe to coexist alongside your boho-coded maxi skirts or even cutoff shorts (should you be in pursuit of an endless summer) sans visual tension.

The caged mule’s slip-on nature is also a godsend when you’re running short on time after sleeping through the alarm clock. More to look forward to is its throwback design, texturality, and adjustable buckle, boosting the style’s attractiveness and comfort factor in equal measure.

All in all: Trend-aligned without trying too hard, Melissa’s Possession will make your schooltime ensembles effortlessly composed.

best retro sneaker

Brooks Chariot Sneaker

$120

Buy Now at brooks running

Brooks might be best known for its running innovations such as the new Ghost Max 4 and the custom spike Josh Kerr just broke the mile world record in, but its retro-leaning rollouts are just as deserving of your time — occupying the same upper echelons of the category as a Nike LD-1000, say, or an Adidas Gazelle.

This unisex Chariot top hit teleports shoppers right back to the ’80s, when it first entered the market, with a suede upper, squishy midsole, and nostalgic color palette. It’s also crafted with all-day wearability in mind, meaning you’ll no longer have to sacrifice the care all feet deserve for your street (quad) cred… or vice versa.

Retro sneakers are getting the green light from Hilary Duff, Dua Lipa, and pretty much every other tastemaking star under the sun. It’s about time you join them.

All in all: Brooks Running’s Chariot takes a vintage shoe your dad probably wore in his youth and infuses it with the company’s impressive, modern-day tech, making it virtually flawless.

best loafer

Gap Vegan Suede Ruched Loafer

$48 $69.95 31% off

Buy Now at gap

If there’s a shoe that epitomizes college, it’s the loafer — classy, preppy, and polished enough to lift even your most casual ‘fits (yes, an oversized collegiate pullover qualifies) to more respectable levels. These days, loafers for women come in all shades and finishes, from bold red to pebbled leather, but perhaps the most timeless look of all is chocolatey suede.

Case in point is this Gap fan favorite: vegan, ruched, and high-traction, courtesy of a thin yet grippy outsole. No matter if you show the loafer off at a Lincoln-Douglas debate or a coffee shop, it’s sure to be a conversation starter and head turner, catching the attention of none other than your class crush.

All in all: Gap’s on-sale, ruched loafers ace the quiet-luxury and old-money aesthetics alike but will never cost you more than an annual Uber One membership for students. Enough said.

best boot

Quince Crafted Leather Waterproof Hiking Boot

$160

Buy Now at quince

Quince, famously, sells everything from caviar to couches, and our editors are especially devoted to the retailer’s footwear roster, marked by prices that, in many cases, beat the competition by over 70 percent. This hiking boot for men exemplifies Quince’s unique balance of affordability and excellent quality — checking all the boxes with its water-resistant membrane (if it so happens that your university is located in a rainy region), padded cowhide collar, rubber lug sole, and intentionally lived-in, oil-treated calfskin exterior.

The perks don’t end there, though. Also on the menu? An Ortholite insole for plusher landings, a specialized tongue that works to block incoming debris, and top-notch durability witnessed in every last element. This one’s good for all the nature trips you’re planning with your suitemates, as well as the occasional evening downpour that leaves the campus a muddy mess.

All in all: It’s a hiking boot that doesn’t skimp on appearances, and the product’s only mission is to keep you as far away from moisture as possible while leaving room for play (peep those interchangeable laces).

best slide

Crocs Mellow Recovery Slide

$39.99

Buy Now at crocs

Slides are college necessities of the highest degree: ensuring you can use the communal showers or gym locker room without coming into contact with dirt or, worse, the evidence of someone’s leg-shaving session. Our recommendation in this department is the Crocs Mellow Recovery Slide, which serves a dual purpose — helping you recover from long walks or strenuous exercise while shooing away water in the aforementioned settings.

The main draw here is Crocs’ Mellow foam, letting feet “melt into the footbeds,” per the brand, and being slow to rebound. Soft, roomy, and gently massaging, the slide will turn all your ews into ahhs in no time.

All in all: Nothing’s better than relaxing the mind and body after a tough week, and the Mellow Recovery Slide will have just that effect, thanks to its breathability, cloudlike cushioning, and subtlety, what with those five subdued hues.

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For more than 75 years, Footwear News has been the shoe authority. Our coverage spans top industry news, retail trends, head-to-toe fashion, athletic and outdoor analysis, and more. Footwear News’ global network of editors has carefully curated all product selections featured using our expansive brand knowledge and thorough research to find quality, long-lasting items.

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Meet the Author

Stacia Datskovska is a Senior Commerce Writer at WWD. Previously, she worked at ELLE DECOR as an assistant digital editor, covering all things luxury, culture, and lifestyle through a design lens. Her bylines over the past five years have appeared in USA Today, Baltimore Sun, Teen Vogue, Boston Globe, Food & Wine, and more. Prior to joining ELLE DECOR, Datskovska learned the ins and outs of e-commerce at Mashable, where she tested products, covered tentpole sales, and curated gift guide roundups. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and international relations. Datskovska regularly reports on the best footwear to shop for specific settings — college campuses included.

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Back to School Steppers: Best Shoes to Wear on Campus This Year, From Retro Sneakers to Preppy Loafers

Recent Articles by Stacia Datskovska

Related Articles

6 Best Shoes to Shop for College This Year

On Cloudnova 2 Sneaker

Melissa Possession Jelly Mule

Brooks Chariot Sneaker

Gap Vegan Suede Ruched Loafer

Quince Crafted Leather Waterproof Hiking Boot

Crocs Mellow Recovery Slide

On Cloudnova 2 Sneaker

Melissa Possession Jelly Mule

Brooks Chariot Sneaker

Gap Vegan Suede Ruched Loafer

Quince Crafted Leather Waterproof Hiking Boot

Crocs Mellow Recovery Slide

Why Trust Footwear News

Why Trust WWD

Meet the Author

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