Campus visits are the most effective way to evaluate a college campus.  That's why independent educational consultants visit college campuses regularly.  You can look at video tours online and lovely pictures, but nothing beats the experience of being there (especially when classes are in session).  You aren't just seeing it,  you hear it, you smell it, you get a feel for the physical layout of a campus, you get to see how people move about on campus, how they interact with each other in social spaces and best of all, you meet students.   ..