The battle for students extends beyond the classroom and into high-end amenities. Many colleges with highly ranked food also score highly in U.S. News & World Report overall rankings. Yet while they spend big on amenities, some wealthy schools either enroll few poor students or charge them more than half what their families earn in a year — or both.

Some of the more outlandish amenities floating around — tanning beds, putting greens, high-end kitchens — are actually offered by private developers such as American Campus Communities in off-campus residences that have no affiliation with universities. 

But some colleges do offer amenities on campus that would be unrecognizable to anyone who went to college in an era of tiny rooms with shared bathrooms.

Here are seven amenities making college cushier, along with at least some of the colleges offering them: 

1. AN AQUARIUM AND "NAP PODS"
Where: St. Leo University

A 2,100-gallon aquarium and a relaxation room with spherical nap pods are the highlights of a housing complex at Florida's St. Leo University but hardly the only attractions — the accommodations also provide a gym, a game room and four big-screen televisions. Oh, the nap pods? Those are like recliners with a large hood that comes down over the student's head and upper body to play soothing music.

2. LAUNDRY SERVICE
Where: Davidson College

If you went off to college and had to start doing your own laundry, you probably did not go to Davidson College in North Carolina. There, the college takes care of washing, drying and folding students' laundry. For students who prefer to wash their own clothes — assuming they exist — there is also a free self-service laundry area with WiFi, television and lounge furniture.

3. ROCK-CLIMBING WALL
Where: Boston University and Oberlin College

Sure, students could do push-ups in their dorms to stay in shape... or they could take advantage of Boston University's climbing wall in its fitness center that also includes a lazy river, seven courts' worth of space in its gym area and of course two swimming pools and a relaxation whirlpool. (Oberlin College also has a climbing wall.)

4. ICE CREAM SHOP
Where: Rutgers University

Students who live in Rockoff Hall have a Coldstone Creamery in their building (don't worry, there's also a gym). The dorm was not only desirable to students — apparently it was interesting to developers too. It has been sold to a private company and Rutgers will end its involvement with the dorm after this year.

5. FIRESIDE LOUNGE
Where: Colorado State University

Students living in the Academic Village housing complex not only have access to a sports-grill style restaurant, pizza joint and Tex-Mex dining options, they also have a fireside lounge to gather and hear speakers. 

6. IN-ROOM CABLE WITH HBO
Where: Mississippi State University

The standout amenity at Hurst Hall is the HBO included with each room. Of course, the rooms also offer refrigerators and microwaves.

7. PRIVATE BATHROOMS
Where: Penn State University, Purdue University

OK, on any other list of amenities, private bathrooms such as those at Purdue would not rank among life's luxuries. But if you're a freshman in college and all your friends are waiting in line for the shower, a private bathroom at Penn State is probably going to earn you some envy.