When it comes to college reputations, parents are often wary of a “Party School.” Colleges known for their partying aren’t thought of as academic powerhouses, and parents may feel a degree from a party school is less valuable. As a graduate of the #9 party school on a recent list, I’d like to rebrand these unfairly maligned institutions and instead ask you to think of them as “Connectivity Colleges.”
With teen depression rates soaring, social connectivity is more vital than ever. Face-to-face interaction with actual humans, and not solely via screens, goes a long way to increasing happiness. And, as it turns out, the top 10 Party Schools (according to Niche.com) also have a lot of happy students, judging by their retention rates and student life grades.
Top 10 Party Schools | Freshman Retention Rate | Niche’s Student Life Grade | Niche’s Academic Grade | GPA average for admitted students |
1. UC Santa Barbara | 92% | A+ | A | 4.13-4.29 |
2. Florida State | 94% | A+ | A+ | 4.2-4.6 |
3. Tulane University | 93% | A+ | A+ | 3.8 (unweighted) |
4. University of Alabama | 87% | A- | A+ | 3.47-4.16 (in-state) 3.59-4.26 (out of state) |
5. Syracuse | 91% | A | A+ | 3.75 (unweighted) |
6. USC | 97% | A+ | A+ | 3.79-4.0 (unweighted) |
7. University of Georgia | 94% | A+ | A+ | 4.05-4.33 |
8. University of Wisconsin | 94% | A | A+ | 3.8-4.0 (unweighted) |
9: University of Illinois | 93% | A+ | A+ | 3.73-4.0 (unweighted) |
10: Howard University | 88% | A- | A | 3.66 (unweighted) |
Niche used the following criteria to determine their top party schools: The 2024 Top Party Schools ranking is based on student reviews and nightlife statistics. Top party colleges have a vibrant and diverse party scene—they offer fun options both on and off campus and students rate their peers as being fun, friendly, and into partying.
So as part of this criteria, they all have “a vibrant and diverse” party scene, meaning there’s something for everyone. Not everyone’s definition of partying involves alcohol or drugs. Colleges that have diverse offerings like fine arts performances, holiday celebrations, campus movies, free tickets for student sports, etc. offer activities for students who want to connect through common interests, not alcohol. Some colleges are now offering esports teams and places for video gamers to play together so they can connect in person, too.
Next, these schools offer “fun options on and off campus.” Restaurants, theaters, places to listen to music or ice skate or bowl are welcome ways to de-stress and celebrate passing your mid-term, while connecting students with each other and the community at large.
Finally, students at these colleges rated their peers “fun, friendly, and into partying.” Ok, so we’ve already established that there are lots of ways to define “partying,” but who doesn’t want to meet fun, friendly people? When I ask my students to describe the type of students they want to go to school with, a lot of them mention friendly and fun. Those are great qualities— and a big reason that each of the schools on this list has at or near 90+% of their freshmen returning as sophomores.
It’s probably not surprising that the top Connectivity Colleges almost all received an “A+” grade from Niche for student life. Socially-connected students like to form and participate in clubs and organizations. The University of Illinois offers more than 1000 student organizations, Wisconsin has more than 900, and USC, with their smaller student population, still offers 850. Student groups help create community, which is core to a Connectivity College.
Students who are connecting are also networking for their future careers. Having a lot of friends in college can pay off; 75% of job seekers end up at companies where they know an employee. The Universities of Florida, Wisconsin, and Alabama are among the largest alumni associations in the country, offering graduates an opportunity to network with thousands of their fellow graduates. The legendary USC alumni network is a big reason students choose to attend that college. A UIUC grad can network to their advantage with a large alumni presence at any of the big accounting firms. Howard University offers its graduates networking opportunities through over 40 local alumni clubs located all over the US, plus one in Ghana and another in the UK.
But, it might be the academic side of these colleges that surprises you most. These are work hard/play hard schools, where students balance the stress of studying at a top research university with social events that provide a little escape. These college freshmen were A (and in many cases straight-A) students in high school. They often took multiple AP and other college-level courses that brought their GPAs above 4.0. Even Alabama, which is a college that accepts a large percentage of its applicants, is bringing in a freshman class where more than 25% of students had a weighted 4.0 or higher.
These aren’t the party schools of the 1980s and ’90s. Colleges have cracked down on the Animal House antics; so much so that colleges like Arizona State, #59, and Chico State, #74, are no longer at the top of this list, although there’s still great social connectivity at both schools. Arizona State now actually ranks higher on the academics list than the party list!
So the next time someone scoffs at a “Party School,” look up their stats. They probably have a great student life rating, lots of fun restaurants and places to go, tons of clubs and student groups, and very likely, some impressive academic numbers. They are today’s social Connectivity Colleges, where students find friends, start their career networks, and experience a sense of community that makes them want to stay, enjoy, and most importantly, finish college.
Comments