Partying is often a large part of the college experience. So much so the Princeton Review ranks the top party schools in the country each year. The ranking is done based on a survey of college students from around the country. Other groups also select the top party colleges based on different criteria. One such list includes the top party colleges with the highest average salary for graduates.
The Princeton Review is often criticized for listing the top party schools. Some feel by listing party schools they are promoting binge drinking and condoning the wild life. The colleges themselves are also less than pleased to be ranked among the top party schools. They fear the image of being a party school will take away from their academic and scholarly reputation.
Princeton Review of Top Party Schools
The top twenty party schools as selected from survey results from 122,000 college students. A later list will look at earning potential from top party schools, but this list is concerned only with the wild night life present at the colleges and universities.
- Penn State University
- University of Florida
- University of Mississippi
- University of Georgia
- Ohio University
- West Virginia University
- University of Texas
- University of Wisconsin
- Florida State University
- University of California - Santa Barbara
- University of Colorado
- University of Iowa
- Union College
- Indiana University
- Depauw University
- University of Tennessee
- Sewanee: The University of the South
- University of North Dakota
- Tulane University
- Arizona State University
Best Paying Party College
If you want to party but also earn a good salary upon graduation, there is another list of top party colleges you should consider. Payscale.com lists the top party schools which offer a good starting salary as well as a handsome mid-career median pay. The list here shows the party college, the median starting pay upon graduation, and the mid-career median earning of graduates.
- Union College: $46,400 - $99,900
- University of California: Santa Barbara $47,600 - $96,400
- Tulane University: $45,300 - $92,200
- University of Colorado: $46,200 - $91,600
- University of Texas: $49,100 - $87,500
- University of Wisconsin: $47,900 - $87,400
- Depauw University: $43,500 - $85,600
- University of Florida: $45,200 - $84,300
- Penn State University: $48,600 - $83,900
- Arizona State University: $44,500 - $81,600
- University of Iowa: $42,200 - $80,300
- Indiana University: $43,000 - $79,800
- West Virginia University: $45,000 - $79,200
- University of Georgia: $42,100 - $78,400
- University of Mississippi: $41,200 - $76,500
- University of Tennessee: $42,400 - $74,400
- University of North Dakota: $42,900 - $73,900
- Florida State University: $40,100 - $73,900
- Ohio University: $42,900 - $69,200
The best party school is of course a very subjective selection. The campus parties are of course only one element of the atmosphere of the college or university. If a college or university is located within a city that offers more, entertainment, such as Las Vegas, New Orleans, or New York, the off campus entertainment can also provide many distractions to the young college student. While a good party in celebration of completing final exams may be in order, it must be kept in mind that a good education is the ultimate goal of attending any college or university.
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