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Not all colleges were created equal–the truth is that some students go harder than others. So if you’re looking for a quiet education, then attending one of these schools listed here on our “2016 Party School List” might not be the institution for you. But if you think that you can balance both work and play, then maybe you’d be interested in attending a place like ASU over Navy. Moderation is the key to everything, and what’s the point of writing a 40-page thesis if you don’t let loose every once and awhile?
The key is finding an institution that’s been partying for decades. The administration for a lot of the newer colleges and universities you see now on other “Party School Lists” are already trying to figure out ways they can limit the damage. That’s why you’ve got to go with a school that consistently finds itself on our lists. You know what you’re going to get: a good education inside and outside the classroom without any pesky deans trying to muck it up.
So, with that being said, let’s check out this year’s “Party School List,” put together with the help of The Highlyfe Group’s Haydon Cook. The Highlyfe Group has been all around the country throwing some of the best college parties you’ve ever attended, so we figured they would be the right people to tap for this feature. Check out their/our ranking below, and tell us your thoughts.
#25: Southern Methodist University
SMU has a very large population of trust fund students who have had everything handed to them by mommy and daddy. Although they have Greek life, most of the socializing at this college campus takes place at the bars, where there’s a different bar for every night of the week.
#24: University of Texas-Austin
Every thing is bigger in Texas. This includes the parties. Fraternities love throwing fat bangers in their luxurious mansions. Like a lot of the other schools on this list, UT has a huge collection of college bars in downtown Austin.
#23: Texas A&M University
This place knows how to party and their bar culture is insane. Fraternities like Beta Theta Pi continue to kill the party game.
#22: University of Florida
Greek life runs this campus. Florida may have a great football team, but they have an even better collection of bars in midtown. Not really feelin’ the bars tonight? That’s okay. Head downtown and find an immense concentration of clubs full of hot sorority girls with golden tans and jaw dropping bodies.
#21: University of Maine
University of Maine doesn’t really have anything that sets it apart from the rest. They simply just party week in and week out. U of M students drink a lot, have lots of hot girls, have lots of great bars, and party more than your average college campus.
#20: College of Charleston
This school parties so hard that the University’s president had to suspend all fraternities and sororities from alcohol related extracurriculars… I just can’t seem to wrap my head around the fact that Greek life parties were getting so out of hand that such an extreme measure had to be taken. You might be asking yourself the question, “How could it have possibly been that bad?” Just watch this video
#19: Wake Forest University
This campus is full of traditions (i.e. Rolling the Quad) and full of parties. These students grind during the week but when it comes to the weekend they sure know how to have a good time. It was also ranked high for “lots of hard liquor.” These kids take “work hard, play hard” to a whole new level.
#18: Texas State University
TSU has an on campus pool so just let that sink in for a second. What’s better than drinking some brews and pounding some shots poolside after a long day of classes? The answer is absolutely nothing. The amount of drunken students at this pool on a daily basis is solely what landed Texas State a spot on this list.
#17: University of Rhode Island
URI may be a small school, but its party scene is nothing of the sort. They have student housing located right on beach and the students who live here just throw parties all week long. I don’t know about you but that sounds like a great time to me.
#16: Colgate University
Many of you may not know much about Colgate University, but one thing you should know is these kids know how to rage face. Greek life runs a vast majority of this campus and that makes it a party hotspot.
#15: Tulane University
Take a second and imagine what it would be like to have Mardi Gras (one of the most drunken and disorderly events that happens in America) take place minutes from your college campus. I know for a fact I would skip class every day for that two week long parade just so I could get sloshed with my peers.
#14: University of Delaware
Delaware is a college full of smart kids who work their asses off to get good grades. That being said, sometimes you gotta let loose and take a study break, am I right? UD prides itself on its day ragers or “daygers” as I like to call them. With warm weather and lots of alcohol it’s absolutely impossible to not have a great time.
#13: University of Colorado―Boulder
The Mile High state has one of the biggest party scenes in the West. Whether you are trying to partake in some recreational activities (if you know what I’m sayin’), ski or snowboard, or just love the snow in general (if you also know what I’m sayin’), Boulder is the place to be. Not to mention the local bars will show you a great blackout.
#12: University of Mississippi
Home to probably the largest Greek scene in the South, the University of Mississippi is full of hot sorority girls running around in skimpy little sun dresses and parties galore. Like I said before, only two things matter to these Southerners. I suggest you go visit a Mississippi tailgate on a Saturday afternoon and you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.
#11: University of California―Santa Barbara
UCSB has no off days. There is a fat rager Monday through Sunday every single week, but with all that partying I don’t really see how anybody would get any school work done. Then again, most college students don’t enroll here because they have a stellar social science degree. They simply just want to party.
#10: University of Iowa
Iowa is perfect for this list. With tons of hot girls, a grade-A bar scene, and huge parties, there is no reason it shouldn’t have made it. I mean what else are these students supposed to do in Iowa City, aka the middle of nowhere?
#9: University of Alabama
Down South there are only two things that matter: football and partying. The University of Alabama is very good at both of these activities. I don’t know about you, but when I think of college gameday I think about a bunch of rednecks, wearing crimson and getting trashed. Roll Tide!
#8: Penn State University
After constantly making headlines and having its parties featured all over YouTube, Penn State was bound to make the list once again. If you don’t trust our judgement simply just type “Penn State party” into your search bar. I rest my case.
#7: University of Southern California
Located in beautiful Southern California, USC has it all. Beautiful beaches, beautiful babes, and huge parties are what make this school come in at number seven on our list. Imagine the biggest party you’ve ever been to. Okay, now imagine that party with warm weather, lots of palm trees, lots of bikinis, and a beach. Enough said.
#6: Syracuse University
With a basketball team that has ranked in the top 10 since 1979, Mayfest, and Blockparty, the Orange have no excuse to not be on this list. From what I’ve seen Mayfest looks like every college student’s dream. I highly advise you to give it a Google.
#5: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Previously ranked number one out of all the party schools in the nation, UIUC throws down harder 99.9% of the nation. Even though it has dropped on the list, it is still widely known for its huge bar scene.
#4: Florida State University
FSU was once ranked number one on party school lists in 1997 and 2000, but although it dropped in the ranks, it hasn’t dropped far. With one of the best ranked college football teams in the country, one can only imagine what the tailgates are like every Saturday. Having trouble picturing it? Here’s a little help…
#3: University of Arizona
Just watch the video below and you’ll understand.
#2: University of Wisconsin-Madison
The University of Wisconsin-Madison ranks on this list year after year, making it into the Top 20 for the last 25 years. UW-Madison is most famous for its Halloween parties and its End-of-Year block party which I can only imagine is full of blackouts and sorority girls.
#1: West Virginia University
For starters, “I’m Smacked” goes out of their way to record every big event that happens at WVU so if that doesn’t scream “party school” I don’t know what does. They also have some of the best school spirit in the nation.
Most of this school spirit is displayed at Milan Puskar Stadium, which is home to some of the most insane tailgate scenes in America as well as one of the top-ranked FBS teams in the nation. Last but not least, WVU is one of the only colleges that has one night every week where the local bars give out FREE ALCOHOL to students. “Turn up or transfer,” am I right?
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