(For the most updated list, click here for the 2010-2011 Top Party School Rankings.)
Every year, The Princeton Review surveys over 120,000 students at colleges and universities across the United States. Based on these surveys, they come up with a list of college rankings that rate these schools based on all kinds of criteria -- everything from quality of teaching to diversity of the student population to the campus food.
By far, the ranking that gets the most publicity is the Top Party Schools ranking. News agencies all over the country pick this up and give it coverage -- especially if the local college or university is on this list! But what does it mean to be a "party school," and is this a ranking that should be taken seriously by students in search for either a party campus or a quiet campus?
The Top 20 Party Schools
According to The Princeton Review, here are the top 20 party schools in the United States:
- University of Florida
- University of Mississippi
- Pennsylvania State University
- West Virginia University
- Ohio University
- Randolph-Macon College
- University of Georgia
- University of Texas
- University of California-- Santa Barbara
- Florida State University
- University of New Hampshire
- University of Iowa
- University of Colorado
- Indiana University
- Tulane University
- University of Illinois
- Arizona State University
- University of Tennessee
- University of Alabama
- Loyola University New Orleans
The Party School Ranking
According to The Princeton Review, the list of party schools is created "based on a combination of survey questions concerning the use of alcohol and drugs, hours of study each day, and the popularity of the Greek system ."
So is there a scientific way to define "partying" and the level of this abstract concept at college campuses? Not really. Keep in mind that the purpose of The Princeton Review rankings is to give prospective students a sense of what life is like on college campuses, based on the opinions of a large number of students who actually attend these institutions. Students are asked to fill out lengthy questionnaires, and their responses are used to create the rankings.
So are these rankings accurate? In one sense, no. For one thing, what it means to "party" is subjective. The Princeton Review factors in Greek life in these rankings -- and yet, many people who have never set foot in a fraternity or a sorority may consider themselves partiers. However, considering that the rankings come from the opinions of a broad range of students, they certainly can provide prospective students with insight into what a school is like, including the level of partying.
Is the Party School Ranking Important?
It's safe to say that on any of these 20 college campuses, you can find plenty of parties. But one important thing to keep in mind: parties aren't the only things happening on these campuses. Almost all of these schools are large universities, which means that although there may be a heavy volume of partying, there's a heavy volume of other kinds of activities as well.
For example, according to The Princeton Review, the top-ranked party school University of Florida also has one of the best newspapers in the country. West Virginia University, which was the #1 party school in 2007, has one of the best college libraries. And the University of Texas, the #8 party school, is also ranked high for being in a great college town.
So if you're looking for a school with lots of partying -- or one where there's not -- how seriously should you take this party school rankings? Like all college rankings, the list can give you some helpful information about what to expect. But keep in mind that there's more to a school than one ranking, so make sure this ranking is supplemental to other information about the campus.
Naomi Rockler-Gladen - Instructional designer and freelance writer, Naomi Rockler-Gladen writes some of Suite101's most read work.
