Students are naturally going to let off a little steam now and then given the high-pressure environment at U.S. colleges and universities. But some colleges are a little more exuberant than others when it comes to "living it up a little."
Princeton Review has released its 62nd annual survey of U.S. college students on an assortment of categories, including what institutions they view as the top party schools in the nation.
Schools on the party schools list were cited by students for their comparatively low daily student study hours, a high consumption of alcohol and drugs on campus, and the high popularity on campus of their fraternities and sororities, according to Princeton Review. The results were based on surveys of 140,000 students attending schools at 385 schools rated by Princeton Review as the best in the nation.
Some of the schools on the list have a long history of appearing on the annual party school list. The college deemed the top party school in the nation, for example, has been in the top 10 for eight years in a row.
Also notable is that all but two of the schools lie east of the Mississippi River, and while eight of the schools ranked in the top 20 for alcohol consumption, only two were in the top 20 for marijuana use.
The following, in ascending order, are Princeton Review's top 10 U.S. party schools:
10. University of Rhode Island
Kingston, R.I.
13,865 students
Students ranked this college third in the nation in terms of how widely marijuana is used.
9. Bucknell University
Lewisburg, Pa.
3,597 students
The school was ranked second in the nation for the popularity of fraternities and sororities on campus. It was also 13th in beer consumption.
8. Wake Forest University
Winston Salem, N.C.
5,102 students
The college ranked third in hard liquor consumption and sixth in beer drinking.
7. Colgate University
Hamilton, N.Y.
2,958 students
The univerity ranked fourth in hard liquor consumption and fifth in beer consumption.
6. University of California—Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, Calif.
22,186 students
The only West Coast school on the list this year, the university ranked 10th in marijuana use. It also placed 18th for the happiness of its student body.
5. Tulane University
New Orleans
6,773 students
This college ranked fourth for the happiness of its students, and 13th for "Greek Life," or the popularity of fraternities and sororities. It ranked sixth and seventh in hard liquor and beer consumption, respectively.
4. West Virginia University
Morgantown, W.V.
21,155 students
The school ranked fourth in beer consumption and 12th in hard liquor use.
3. University of Delaware
Newark, Del.
18,144 students
Greek life is pervasive on this campus, which ranked third for the popularity of its fraternities and sororities. It ranked fifth in hard liquor consumption and 10th in beer drinking.
2. The University of Alabama—Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
33,028 students
The school topped all others in the nation in terms of the popularity of fraternities and sororities, and it ranked ninth in beer consumption.
1. Syracuse University
Syracuse, N.Y.
15,226 students
The university, which was last named top party school in 2014, has been in the top 10 eight years in a row and placed fourth the past two years, according to the Syracuse.com news site. It ranked second in hard liquor consumption, eighth in beer consumption, 17th in Greek life and 19th in marijuana use.
The full report can be viewed here.
