Top College Manga Recommendations

Blue Period

Also known as Blue Period.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Drama , Slice of Life

The studious Yatora leaves a dry life of study and good manners behind for a new passion: painting. But untethering yourself from all your past expectations is dangerous as well as thrilling…



Note: Nominated for Manga Taisho Awards in 2019, Kodansha Manga Awards in 2019 and the 24th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2020. Winner of the 13th Manga Taisho Awards. Winner of the General Manga category of the 44th annual Kodansha Manga Awards.

Tags: Drawing , Coming of Age , College , Seinen , Male Protagonist , Educational , Philosophy , Primarily Adult Cast , LGBTQ+ Themes , School , School Club , Tragedy , Transgender , Bisexual , Primarily Teen Cast , Crossdressing , Gender Bending , Suicide , Nudity , Tomboy

Grand Blue

Also known as Grand Blue Dreaming.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Comedy , Romance , Slice of Life , Sports

After moving out on his own to a seaside town, Iori Kitahara makes a college debut he never anticipated. A new chapter of his life unfolds, full of diving with beautiful girls and shenanigans with a gaggle of lovable bastards! Idiot-expert Kenji Inoue and au naturel authority Kimitake Yoshioka bring you a glorious college tale filled with booze-fueled antics!



Tags: Slapstick , Surreal Comedy , Male Protagonist , College , Seinen , Primarily Adult Cast , Nudity , Coastal , Bar , Scuba Diving , Love Triangle , Heterosexual , Otaku Culture , Kuudere , Meta , Tsundere , Female Harem , Gore , Bisexual , Yandere , Gyaru , LGBTQ+ Themes

Kanojo, Okarishimasu

Also known as Rent-A-Girlfriend.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Ecchi , Romance

In today’s Japan, “rental” services can deliver an afternoon with a “friend,” a “parent,” even a fake girlfriend! After a staggering betrayal by his girlfriend, hapless freshman Kazuya gets just desperate enough to give it a try. But he quickly discovers how complicated it can be to “rent” an emotional connection, and his new “girlfriend,” who’s trying to keep her side hustle secret, will panic when she finds out her real life and Kazuya’s are intertwined in surprising ways! Family, school, and life all start to go wrong, too… It’s sweet but naïve boy meets cute but ruthless girl in this 21st-century manga rom-com!



Tags: Male Protagonist , Love Triangle , Shounen , Primarily Female Cast , Prostitution , Gambling , Female Harem , Work , Tsundere , Heterosexual , Fake Relationship , Acting , Primarily Adult Cast , College , Coming of Age , Meta , School , Agriculture , Slapstick , Nudity , Filmmaking , Aliens

Solanin

Also known as Solanin.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music , Slice of Life

College graduates struggle to cope with the real world. Music offers refuge in this modern manga with an American attitude. Meiko Inoue is a recent college grad working as an office lady in a job she hates. Her boyfriend Shigeo is permanently crashing at her apartment because his job as a freelance illustrator doesn't pay enough for rent. And her parents in the country keep sending her boxes of veggies that just rot in her fridge. Straddling the line between her years as a student and the rest of her life, Meiko struggles with the feeling that she's just not cut out to be a part of the real world.



Notes:
- The chapter count contains an epilogue published in October 2017 as part of the new Japanese volumes edition release.
- It was nominated for the 2009 Eisner Award for Best U.S. Edition of International Material - Japan.
- It was nominated for the 2009 Harvey Award for Best American Edition of Foreign Material.

Tags: Coming of Age , Band , Seinen , Tragedy , Heterosexual , Found Family , Primarily Adult Cast , Female Protagonist , Family Life , College , Urban , Rock Music , Office Lady , Nudity

Yamada-kun to Lv999 no Koi wo Suru

Also known as My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance

Recently dumped, Akane is just about to quit the game she used to play with her boyfriend, when she meets Yamada in the same RPG. Yamada in real life turns out to be somewhat of a legend. The only problem is - he is ONLY interested in the game. As Akane's feelings grow, will Yamada's focus stay on the game?



Note: Ninth place of Tsugimanga 2020 Award in the Web Manga Category

Tags: Video Games , Heterosexual , Shoujo , Female Protagonist , Otaku Culture , Age Gap , Virtual World , College , Primarily Adult Cast , Urban , E-Sports

Mikkakan no Koufuku

Also known as Three Days of Happiness.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Psychological , Romance , Slice of Life , Supernatural

HOW MUCH IS LIFE TRULY WORTH?
Kusunoki used to believe he was destined for great things. Ostracized as a child, he held on to a belief that a good life was waiting for him in the years ahead. Now approaching the age of twenty, he's a completely mediocre college student with no motivation, no dreams, and no money. After learning he can sell his remaining years-and just how little they're worth-he chooses to divest himself of all but his last three months. Has Kusunoki truly destroyed his last chance to find happiness...or has he somehow found it?



Tags: Tragedy , Philosophy , Urban Fantasy , Primarily Adult Cast , Male Protagonist , Urban , Seinen , Hikikomori , Heterosexual , Writing , Suicide , Photography , Drawing , College , Mopeds , Autobiographical , Amnesia

Yubisaki to Renren

Also known as A Sign of Affection.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Romance , Slice of Life

Yuki is a typical college student, whose world revolves around her friends, social media, and the latest sales. But when a chance encounter on a train leads to her meeting friend-of-a-friend and fellow student Itsuomi-san, her world starts to widen. But even though Itsuomi-kun can speak three languages, sign language isn’t one of them. Can the two learn to communicate the budding feelings between them?



Notes:
- Ranked 17th place for the Tsugimanga Award in the Print Manga Category in 2020.
- Nominated for the 45th and 46th Kodansha Manga Award in the Shoujo Category in 2021 and 2022.
- Nominated for the 68th Shogakukan Manga Award in the Shoujo Category

Tags: Shoujo , Language Barrier , Female Protagonist , Disability , Primarily Adult Cast , Heterosexual , College , Love Triangle , Bar , Chibi , Urban , Tsundere

Here U Are

Also known as Here U Are.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

They say opposites attract, and that couldn’t be more true for Yu Yang and Li Huan. Yu Yang is chatty and outgoing, while Li Huan speaks in monosyllables and walks around with a perpetual scowl on his face. Although they get off to a rocky start, Yu Yang eventually learns that beneath Li Huan’s reserved exterior lies a soft heart. Over time, the two slowly begin falling for each other… but will their budding romance be strong enough to withstand all the obstacles thrown their way?



Note: Includes 20 extra chapters.

Tags: Boys' Love , Male Protagonist , LGBTQ+ Themes , Primarily Male Cast , Full Color , College , Primarily Adult Cast , Bisexual , Age Gap , Tsundere , School , Yuri

Shinai naru Boku e Satsui wo Komete

Also known as My Dearest Self With Malice Aforethought.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Slice of Life , Thriller

Eiji the college-age virgin dreams of someday having a girlfriend...until he wakes up one day with his "girlfriend" in his bed with him! Not only that, his buddy tells him he got in a fight...and that three days have passed that Eiji doesn't remember? What dark secrets are being hidden...by Eiji himself?



Note: Includes 1 epilogue chapter.

Tags: Dissociative Identities , Revenge , Crime , Seinen , Amnesia , Police , Denpa , Fugitive , Yandere , Detective , Torture , Male Protagonist , Anti-Hero , Prostitution , Suicide , Gore , Gangs , Nudity , Adoption , College , Time Skip , Orphan , Tragedy , Body Horror , Guns , LGBTQ+ Themes , Transgender

Namaiki Zakari.

Also known as Cheeky Brat.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Romance , Sports

Basketball club manager Yuki has a secret—she’s in love with the team captain! But when Naruse discovers her secret, she’s in trouble! Just how long is he going to keep teasing her about it? Stupid pretty playboy…



Note: Chapter includes one epilogue.

Tags: Shoujo , Basketball , Female Protagonist , Tsundere , Heterosexual , School Club , School , Love Triangle , College , Kuudere , Age Gap , Crossdressing

Last Game

Also known as Last Game.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Romance

In elementary school, the rich and spoiled Yanagi Naoto was known for excelling in both studies and sports. But then he suffered the first setback of his life when Kujou Mikoto, a girl from a poor family, transferred to his school and performed better than Naoto at every turn. Reeling from this unforgivable blow to his pride, Naoto decided that he had to make Mikoto lose at something…by making her lose her heart to him, which he could then break! Now that they’re both in college, will Naoto finally be able to win Mikoto’s affections–or will he lose this final game with her?



Notes: The chapter count includes 6 extra stories and 4 one-shots.

Tags: Shoujo , Time Skip , Female Protagonist , Male Protagonist , Tsundere , Heterosexual , Kuudere , Primarily Adult Cast , College , Love Triangle , Coming of Age , School Club , School , Revenge , Tragedy

Uzaki-chan wa Asobitai!

Also known as Uzaki-chan Wants to Hang Out!.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Comedy , Ecchi , Romance , Slice of Life

Sakurai Shinichi’s one wish is for a little peace and quiet. But Uzaki Hana–his boisterous, well-endowed underclassman–has other plans. All she wants is to hang out and poke fun at him. With the help of her chipper charm and peppy persistence, this might just be the start of a beautiful relationship!



Tags: Large Breasts , Tsundere , College , Tomboy , Primarily Adult Cast , Heterosexual , Slapstick , Seinen , Episodic , Meta , Male Protagonist , Female Protagonist , Iyashikei , Nudity , Bullying

White Blood

Also known as Unholy Blood.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Romance , Supernatural

All pure-blooded vampire Ha-Yan Park wanted to do was live a normal life. But the rise of half-bloods ten years ago transformed the world into a dangerous and frightening place—robbing her of her one true wish. Determined to return Korea to how it used to be, Ha-Yan teams up with local police captain Eun-Tae Hwang to wipe out the bloodthirsty killers in a tale of hot-blooded romance and revenge.



Note: The chapter count includes a prologue and 2 extra chapters.

Tags: Vampire , Female Protagonist , Revenge , Crime , Full Color , Tragedy , Amnesia , Super Power , Urban Fantasy , Primarily Adult Cast , Detective , Heterosexual , Conspiracy , Terrorism , Adoption , Age Gap , Gore , Bullying , Motorcycles , Torture , College , Time Skip

Gakkou Gurashi!

Also known as School-Live!.

Status: Finished
Genres: Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Slice of Life , Supernatural

Meet the members of the School Living Club! There's the shovel-loving(?) Kurumi Ebisuzawa, the big-sister figure Yuuri Wakasa, club advisor Megumi Sakura, and last but not least, the ever-optimistic Yuki Takeya. The School Living Club is just your average after-school organization where the girls hang out, have fun...and live at school as the sole survivors of a zombie apocalypse.



Tags: Post-Apocalyptic , Coming of Age , Tragedy , Zombie , Survival , School Club , Primarily Female Cast , School , Memory Manipulation , Seinen , Female Protagonist , Guns , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Tomboy , Denpa , Primarily Teen Cast , Found Family , Time Skip , College

Jungle Juice

Also known as Jungle Juice.

Status: Hiatus
Genres: Action , Fantasy , Sci-Fi , Supernatural , Thriller

Su-Chan Jang is an extraordinary college student at the top of the social food chain. But underneath the perfect facade, he hides a pair of insect wings that suddenly grew when he used a mysterious bug spray called "Jungle Juice.” Su-Chan's life crumbles when he bares his wings to the world to save someone's life. When all hope seems lost, Su-Chan stumbles upon a hidden world of insect humans where everyone is accepted for what they are. But the law of the jungle governs this secret society and all must fend for themselves in order to survive.



Note: Season 1 contains 83 chapters and an extra chapter.

Tags: Full Color , Male Protagonist , Body Horror , Heterosexual , Monster Boy , Monster Girl , Terrorism , Martial Arts , College , Demons , Primarily Adult Cast , Primarily Male Cast

Hajimete no Gal

Status: Releasing
Genres: Comedy , Ecchi , Romance

Spring. The "season of love" has arrived and it seems that finding himself a girlfriend was harder than Jun'ichi believed. To break the status quo, Jun'ichi's friends have forced him into confessing to the gyaru, Yame Yukana. However, things do not go quite as he expected. A series of "firsts" begins!

Tags: Gyaru , Love Triangle , Heterosexual , Male Protagonist , Coming of Age , Tomboy , Primarily Female Cast , School , Shounen , Female Harem , Primarily Teen Cast , College , Urban , Tanned Skin , Femboy , Human Pet , Time Skip , Nudity , Crossdressing

Sukitte Ii na yo.

Also known as Say "I Love You"..

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance

Mei Tachibana has no friends—and she doesn't need them! Ever since her "friends" betrayed her in elementary school, she's sworn off friendship entirely. All it leads to is betrayal and heartbreak, and she's well enough on her own. But everything changes when she accidentally roundhouse kicks the most popular boy in school! However, Yamato Kurosawa isn't angry in the slightest—in fact, he thinks his ordinary life could use an unusual girl like Mei! He won't take no for an answer, and soon Mei and Yamato embark on an unwanted friendship that will change both of them forever.



Tags: School , Shoujo , Coming of Age , Female Protagonist , Heterosexual , Bullying , Love Triangle , College , Age Gap , Time Skip , Photography

Cheongchun Blossom

Also known as Seasons of Blossom.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance

Oh, to be young and in love. Oh, to be wild and carefree. The springtime of life is intense, tumultuous, and at times, oh so confusing. Spring, summer, fall and winter -- love blossoms in all seasons.



Tags: Ensemble Cast , Primarily Teen Cast , Coming of Age , Tragedy , Suicide , Bullying , School , Heterosexual , Full Color , Fake Relationship , Primarily Adult Cast , College , Delinquents , Kuudere , Sumo , Family Life , Love Triangle

Yeosingangnim

Also known as True Beauty.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance

After binge-watching beauty videos online, a shy comic book fan masters the art of makeup and sees her social standing skyrocket as she becomes her school’s prettiest pretty girl overnight. But will her elite status be short-lived? How long can she keep her real self a secret? And what about that cute boy who knows her secret?



Note: Chapter count includes a prologue and 33 side stories.

Tags: Makeup , Love Triangle , Female Protagonist , Full Color , Fashion , Heterosexual , Time Skip , Idol , College , Kuudere , Ensemble Cast , Bullying , School , Tragedy

Minamoto-kun Monogatari

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Ecchi , Romance

Minamoto-kun has a face pretty enough to make people think he's a girl. Because of his face, he was bullied by the girls in middle school who were jealous of his face. He developed a fear of women due to the trauma and he ended up attending a high school for boys. Just as he enters college and makes a promise to himself to overcome the trauma of his past, his father remarries and asks him to move out of the house. His father arranges him to live with his aunt (Minamoto-kun's father's younger sister) for the time being. She is an extremely beautiful woman who is also a non-tenured professor at his college. When he arrives at her apartment, she shows him her breasts and tells him that he will be her "guinea pig" in her reverse Hikari Genji project.

Tags: Nudity , Female Harem , Primarily Adult Cast , Seinen , Coming of Age , Male Protagonist , Large Breasts , Boobjob , Incest , Femboy , College , Primarily Female Cast , Age Gap , Crossdressing , Teacher , MILF , Bullying , Yandere , Airsoft