The Spring 2026 semester has officially gotten underway, and with that starts exam season. Before you know it, your first few exams in classes are coming up, and you’re cramming to try to get a good grade on them. But with the cold winter stretching on, and snow decorating the ground, finding a study spot that isn’t your bedroom can be difficult.Â
This short guide lists a few different study spots around campus, both indoors and outdoors, so when the sun finally shows its face, and you’re tired of being kept inside, you have a new place to be productive.Â
Indoors:
1. The Downtown Library – 6th Floor
Yes, this is one of the most popular places on campus to study indoors. However, the sixth floor specifically draws attention to itself. The long windows showcase a beautiful view of the Monongahela River, as well as a large portion of the Downtown campus. This is often one of the quietest floors of the library, equipped with tables to study in groups, monitors if you don’t have access to a laptop and private study rooms.
2. Evansdale Crossing – Starbucks
Evansdale Crossing has a consistent, busy stream of foot traffic on the ground floor, where the Starbucks and Barnes & Noble Bookstore are located. Compared to the Starbucks in the Downtown bookstore and the University Place Market, this location is normally quieter, complete with comfortable, cushioned seating and an easy place to grab a snack or drink to recharge between exam topics.
3. E. Moore Hall Â
Although the architecture of E. Moore Hall downtown is gorgeous, the inside of it holds its own. It also houses some quiet, peaceful study spots that most students don’t know about. The home of the old natatorium, E. Moore Hall has multiple floors with comfy couches and space to sit and study, or even just read and relax for a little while!
Outdoors:Â
1. Evansdale Crossing – Balcony
When the snow finally melts and the temperatures start to rise, it’s time to get outside and get a little more vitamin D in while being productive. There’s few better places to do that than the fifth-floor balcony of Evansdale Crossing! Conveniently located next to World of Wings, with televisions livestreaming on the balcony and complete with a stunning view of Evansdale Campus for when you get distracted, this is a perfect spot to spend your study hours.
2. The Mountainlair Green
When spring has officially sprung, you’ll be able to tell through the population of the Mountainlair Green. Students clamor to spend their free time lying about, laptops open in front of them, soaking in the early rays of the afternoon sun. If you’re looking for a space where you can move around from seated to lying down to throwing a ball with your friends when you get bored with coursework, the Green is a good place to be.
3. Life Sciences Field
A large patch of field located between Life Sciences and Field Hall, the Life Sciences Green is equipped with chairs and benches, some under trees, some on the sidewalk, for whatever you prefer! Always a busy foot traffic spot on campus, you’ll get some good people watching while you pretend to be finishing that assignment you’ve been putting off for days.Â
All this being said, WVU’s expansive campus houses many different places for you to do your best work. If you need help picking a place to cram for your next test, we hope this short list helped!