While private east coast Ivy League schools may top most rankings of the best academic universities in the U.S., the parties are at public schools in the mid-Atlantic and the Midwest.
According to the Princeton Review’s ranking of party schools, three of the top 10 festive schools are in the Midwestern Big 10 conference.
The Princeton Review’s rankings are based on student surveys indicating the use of alcohol and drugs at the school, the number of hours that they study each day outside of class and the popularity of fraternities and sororities at their school.
To make the list, students at a school had to indicate low numbers of personal study hours, high usages of alcohol and drugs on campus and highly popular fraternity and sorority culture.
No. 10. Colgate University
Located in tiny Hamilton, N.Y., Colgate students seem to know how to deal with their school’s snowy locale. The school ranks No. 3 for consumption of hard liquor and No. 8 for consumption of beer. Between drinks, students can take advantage of the school’s beautiful campus and library, which are also ranked highly by the Princeton Review.
No. 9. Tulane University
It seems only natural for a school located in New Orleans to rank among the top 10 party schools in the country. Tulane ranks No. 1 for its students’ consumption of hard liquor, and 14th for their consumption of beer. It also places in Princeton Review’s top 10 schools for quality of life.
No. 8. Syracuse University
With The Carrier Dome, one of the largest university athletics venues in the U.S., Syracuse University is perhaps more known for its fervent sports culture than it is for its academics. It ranks No. 9 in rankings for both beer and hard alcohol consumption, and No. 16 for it’s campus Greek culture.
No. 7. University of Mississippi
The Southeastern Conference’s only entry on this year’s list of party schools, Mississippi ranks highly for beer consumption and Greek life. Known colloquially as “Ole Miss,” the school also ranks No. 7 on Princeton Review’s list of schools where students report studying the least.
No. 6. University of Iowa
The University of Iowa ranks fourth among schools analyzed by the Princeton Review for the consumption of hard alcohol and fifth for overall student happiness. Students also cite the school’s location, in Iowa City, Iowa, as ideal for a vibrant, party lifestyle.
No. 5. Bucknell University
Bucknell may be located in little Lewisburg, Penn., a town of just over 5,000 residents, but students there don’t want for diversions. For one thing, The Princeton Review ranks it No. 1 for the best Greek life in the U.S. and among the top schools in beer and hard liquor consumption. For another, Bucknell ranks fourth overall among U.S. schools for the most beautiful campus.
No. 4. Lehigh University
Students at this small liberal arts school in Bethlehem, Penn., live large. Lehigh ranks No. 5 for beer consumption and No. 7 for the popularity of its Greek culture. Not bad for a school also ranked highly by the Princeton Review for its alumni network and its career placement capabilities.
No. 3. University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
The Fighting Illini have a vibrant college “Greek” culture with sorority and fraternity life ranking eighth out of the 381 schools analyzed by the Princeton Review. Illinois also ranks 10th in beer consumption and seventh in the use of hard liquor.
No. 2. West Virginia University
Located in Morgantown, W.V., West Viginia university ranks sixth among schools whose students report studying the least. The school ranks seventh for beer consumption among its students and 20th for hard liquor use.
No. 1 University of Wisconsin, Madison
The No. 1 party school on the list also takes home first place honors for beer drinking and fifth place honors for cannabis and hard liquor consumption. Should a student overconsume during their revelry, Wisconsin also boasts Princeton Review’s No. 1 ranking for student health services.
