Party schools in the USA have a reputation that’s only been exaggerated by Hollywood movies. Think red solo cups, fraternities and sororities, hazing and big football games.
In reality, party schools are simply colleges that have a big social scene, balanced alongside the academic calendar.
Often this is because there’s a strong Greek Life presence (which we’ll go into later) or because of the university’s location. Some party schools are also known for their high ranking and great sports offering, while others are mostly known for their social life.
We’re going to break down exactly what a US ‘party school’ is, share the ones with the best academic reputation too and explain how you can balance a social scene with great grades.
Popular party schools in the US
We asked some American graduates what they thought the best party schools in the USA are, and these are the ones they chose:
University | Location | Annual tuition fees (avg)* | Known for | Studyportals Global Metaranking |
Tucson, Arizona | $46,068 | Strengths are space science and engineering, as well as its basketball team | 153rd | |
Coral Gables, Florida | $66,312 | Not to be confused with Miami University in Ohio, Uni of Miami has a strong Greek Life presence and sports programme, and is known for its marine science and business teaching | 236th | |
Tallahassee, Florida | $41,417 | In a great location, FSU offers strong research programmes with a focus on business and law | 307th | |
New Orleans, Louisiana | $70,622 | With a beautiful campus, Tulane is celebrated for its public health courses and its small-sized classes | 414th | |
Tuscaloosa, Alabama | $36,724 | Big focus on student-centred teaching and elite athletics offering | 618th | |
Columbus, Ohio | $30,220 | One of the country’s top public research unis, it has produced the most Fulbright scholars and has one of the biggest student bodies | 385th | |
Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) | Atlanta, Georgia | $36,268 | The South’s largest engineering school, Georgia Tech is well ranked for engineering and computer science | 513th |
College Station, Texas | $41,000 | A land-grant, sea-grant and space-grant college, Texas A&M is known for engineering, tech and agriculture | 141st | |
Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) | University Park, Pennsylvania | $44,574 | Fantastic alumni outreach network and support, one of the largest unis in the US and highly rated sports programme | 74th |
Ole Miss (University of Mississippi) | University, Mississippi | $31,068 | Famous for its athletic programmes, especially its American Football performance | 933rd |
*based on on-campus undergraduate fees only. Does not consider living costs. Always check directly with the institute you’re applying to for their latest fee costs and any international student charges.
In this list, there’s a direct correlation with colleges that have a big football scene. American football is very popular at American universities as there’s a pipeline from college sports programmes to the NFL.
Campus stadiums can sometimes seat up to 100,000 people and there’s national television coverage of games. This means that colleges are often hosting huge match day events which are accompanied by campus parties and celebrations.
‘Tailgating’ is associated with football games when groups gather in the parking lot before a match and have drinks and food from the back of trucks/cars together. Tailgate parties can be a key part of the party school’s calendar.
Best academic party schools in the US
It’s possible to also find a party school that’s internationally recognised for its academic teaching. These colleges know how to work hard and party hard:
- Dartmouth — part of the Ivy League, Dartmouth is nationally renowned for its education standards (especially for Medicine and Engineering) and having strong Greek life presence
- Duke University — ranked 19th in the USA by Studyportals Global Meta Ranking and often considered a peer of the Ivy League schools, Duke has competitive entry and is known for its basketball programme
- Cornell University — ranked 15th globally, Cornell is also part of the Ivy League and celebrated for its engineering and architectural courses as well as its big Greek Life scene
Admissions for these universities are highly competitive because they’re amongst the top ranked schools in the USA but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try! We’ve revealed our best tips on applying to an Ivy League school here.
What makes a university a ‘party school’?
A lot of the time, it’s simply about word of mouth reputation. Big tailgate parties, a heavy Greek life presence, popular nightclubs and busy social calendars shared with friends that become the highlight of college, rather than lectures and seminars. One student might insist that their college is a party school while another would disagree.
There are generally some famous ‘party schools’ that everyone agrees on (Florida State and Tulane for example) but others might be known in their state for partying while, nationally, they’re outranked.
So, what exactly makes a party school a party school?
- Big sports programmes—it’s typical for university sports to be accompanied by big parties that are either led by the teams or celebrating them. Match days are huge affairs with the whole campus coming out to support and the teams themselves usually have regular hang out spots that host parties. College football and basketball have the largest followings
- Fraternities and sororities—the most represented by Hollywood, Greek life at US colleges balances partying with philanthropy but it’s not a universal experience and many colleges don’t have any chapters
- Location—if a college is in a big city then it creates great opportunities for students to go out and party. The University of California’s LA campus is more known for parties than its San Diego peer, partly because of its location in the city with access to LA nightlife
Greek life at US colleges
When trying to decide where to study in the US, you might have come across mentions of Greek life, or, fraternities and sororities. An old college tradition, fraternities and sororities are clubs that promote community and philanthropy but also have a strong emphasis on their busy social scene.
It’s referred to as ‘Greek life’ because the clubs all use letters from the Greek alphabet for their names.
Part of joining a fraternity is the infamous pledging and rushing traditions. Typically this involves prospective members taking part in drinking games and other ‘organised fun’ activities to prove their loyalty to the club. In the past there has been controversy over safety concerns connected to pledging and rushing but, these days, universities have strict oversight that ensures student safety.
Fraternities and sororities also offer accommodation to their members, where the majority of their events take place. This means lots of house parties and sometimes whole streets dedicated to Greek life accommodation.
Colleges with a strong Greek tradition are usually considered party schools. As well as the ones we’ve already mentioned that have a big fraternity tradition (University of Alabama, Ole Miss, Penn State), these colleges are also known for their Greek life social calendars:
- University of Illinois (Champaign, Illinois) — ranked 54th globally
- Pennsylvania State University (University Park, Pennsylvania) — ranked 74th globally
- Purdue University (West Lafayette, Indiana) — ranked 82nd globally
- Iowa State University (Ames, Iowa) — ranked 337th globally
Not every ‘party school’ has Greek life though. While it’s a great opportunity to build a strong community and offers incredible networking opportunities, it’s also a particular American college experience that might not be for everyone.
On top of normal parties, fraternities and sororities will usually host charity galas and fundraising events, end of year balls, joint events with other Greek chapters, sports days and weekend trips, networking dinners and more.
Are party schools good for international students?
Definitely! It’s always up to you as a person and what you enjoy and what you’re looking for in your student experience.
Attending a party school doesn’t mean you have to attend every party and it doesn’t mean a school doesn’t have a strong academic focus either. A lot of the time, the schools are proud of their ‘work hard, play hard’ attitude and encourage students to socialise and study.
A party school guarantees international students a vibrant social community and chance to have an authentic college experience.
However, the drinking culture might also be very different to what you’re used to at home and some students can feel pressure to engage in activities outside of their comfort zone.
It’s also important to remember that you shape your college experience more than the college you go to. You might attend a college not known for partying, but still choose to be very social, go to matches, host house parties, join clubs, etc. You might attend a party school and only go to an event once a month!
When choosing a college consider everything, not just one part of their reputation. What’s the location? How’s it ranked for your course, as well as overall? Does it have a research focus that interests you? Are there sports you can get involved in?
And, remember, every college experience is unique and what you choose to make of it!
FAQ
What’s a tailgate party?
A gathering (usually in the parking lot of a stadium) in the lead up to a sports match where people gather around trucks/cars and serve food and drink.
What’s Greek Life?
Fraternities and sororities are social clubs, with a focus on philanthropy and community, that students can join to share accommodation. Often associated with big party scenes.
Should I go to an American party school?
It depends what you’re looking for in a USA college experience. Schools that aren’t ‘party schools’ still have fun social events and party schools can still have great academic reputations. It’s about balancing your priorities and thinking about what matters to you.
Do non-party schools still have events?
Yes! All colleges have busy social calendars that are curated for students, and some even have specific international student calendars to encourage community building, so you’ll have the opportunity to party wherever you go. Party schools will just have more!
Are party schools ranked highly?
Depends on the school! Some of the country’s best schools (Dartmouth, Cornell) are known as party schools. A party school doesn’t mean the college doesn’t have good academics, it just means there’s a greater social scene on campus.
