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List of Top 50 Party Schools in U.S.

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College students dance during the South Padre Spring Break tradition. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Consider this a public service announcement for all of the seniors in high-school. Our friends over at niche.com have published a list of the top 50 party schools in the US. Among the 50 biggest party schools are four schools in the state of Florida. Including one school cracking the top-3. Alumni of these schools will most likely wear this as a badge of honor. Obviously I would not choose a school based solely on the party atmosphere. But if you're looking for that party atmosphere, or maybe not, then this list can help sway your decision in one way or the other. I'm not entirely sure how niche.com came up with the list, but if you click the link you can see most schools have well over 3,000 reviews left by current and former students.

There are a few schools that didn't make the list that seemed odd to me. UCF in Orlando, Arizona State in Tempe, and East Carolina in Greenville just to name a few. The first two seem to be because they are in larger metro areas and maybe the actual college party scene isn't as great as the overall party scene. However I have been to Greenville and know the Pirates know how to Party. I've taken the niche.com list and added a new component; PICTURES. Some of these school's party scenes are directly tied to the great athletics the schools offer. Others let the partying stand on their own. So with out further adieu, I present the top 50 party schools in the country.

50. LSU

LSU makes the list based off night games in Death Valley alone. That crowd is insane.

49. Texas Southern University

Not gonna lie, this one surprised me. Never really heard of Texas Southern as a party school, but here they are at number 49.

48. Texas Tech University

The Red Raiders will be upset they're this low. There's nothing else to do in Lubbock other than party.

47. North Carolina A&T University

Yeah... that looks like they know how to party.

46. Temple University

Makes sense with the Philly party scene. They've also had students in Antarctica on Antarctica. However you say it- they've done it.

45. University of Massachusetts Amherst

Not going to lie... this one surprised me too. Amherst?

44. College of Charleston

The Cistern at the College of Charleston

Charleston is a great town. It definitely has parts of it that feel like you're in a small college town. But it also has parts that have the southern charm of a small town. Great food, great music, and great drinks.

43. University of Pennsylvania

Another school located in the heart of Philadelphia. It's surprising to see an Ivy League school and partying associated with each other. But good on you Penn students.

42. University of Arizona

Bear Down Wildcats! Great weather, good sports, and plenty of fun to be had for students in Tucson.

41. Washington State University

The fact is there isn't a ton to do in Pullman Washington. You've got to find something to do and partying seems to be it for Cougars students.

40. University of Florida

(Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Great weather, great college town, and a historically great athletic department (although it might be down right now).

39. Lehigh University

Lehigh is an excellent academic school with a great party scene as well.

38. University of CIncinnati

(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Cincinnati is a big metro area, so I knew there would be plenty of bars and restaurants. But the students at UC know how to party with the best of them.

37. University at Albany, SUNY

I get it. It's below 40 degrees for most of the year so you got to figure out a way to stay warm. What better way then pack a frat house and let the liquid flow.

36. University of Kansas

(Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)

This was the scene after Kansas won the basketball national championship in 2022. Any student base that can create a scene like this has to know a thing or two about partying at an elite level.

35. James Madison University

(Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

JMU has been on the party scene for years. The campus is less than 100 miles from Washington DC, but still remote enough to have the college town feel.

34. Southern Methodist University

Located in the heart of Dallas, SMU offers the big city lifestyle to their students. It's a good academic school too.

33. University of Oklahoma

It's Oklahoma. They care about football entirely too much, and I mean that as a complement. Look at the student section for home games.

32. University of Michigan- Ann Arbor

From where I sit, Michigan is the best combination of elite academic school, great sports, and located in a metro while holding onto the college town feel in the country. I'm kind of surprised they aren't higher on this list.

31. Vanderbilt University

I mean it's located in Nashville. It's one of the best cities in the world in terms of live music and bars. Another spectacular academic school, they've got one of the best party scenes in the world just minutes from campus.

30. University of Delaware

All I knew about UD was the football helmets are very similar to Michigan's, and Joe Flacco went there. But know I know they can party with the best of them too.

29. Clark Atlanta University

CAU was founded in just 1988, but like athletics there are inherent advantages based on your location. Being in Atlanta they have a huge advantage just because of their location.

28. University of Dayton

There's a theme that schools in Ohio know what they're doing when it comes to partying. The Flyers need to cut back on burning couches in the street if they plan on having a place to crash later.

27. University of Miami

This one was easy to see coming. They're in one of the best vacation cities in the world. They've got a very good athletic department along with the biggest concerts and professional sporting events in the world. OH yeah- I almost forgot South Beach. It ain't a college town, but they know how to party in Miami.

26. University of South Carolina

SEC baby. It just means more.

25. University of Colorado Boulder

Sure it gets a little cold in the winter. But the weather from April through October is beautiful. Boulder is one of the more underrated college towns in the West.

24. Rutgers University- New Brunswick

(Photo by Chris Chambers/Getty Images)

Any student section that shows up in these numbers to support a well below average athletic department knows what they're doing. Also being in New Jersey, they need to lift their spirits somehow.

23. University of Virginia

The Hoos students are not just Brainiac's. They know what they're doing with a red solo cup in their hands.

22. THE Ohio State University

O-H! Great tradition and Columbus has some of the best pizza.

21. University of Texas - Austin

The ol' "Hook 'em Horns" UT has quite a tradition.

20. Michigan State University

The Ferris Buehler reference in the video is nice. MSU seems to always be the little brother to Big Blue. Nice to see them up on this list.

19. Florida A & M University

Another Florida school. You're gonna see that a lot.

18. San Diego State University

They had a good run this year. Amazing place to be.

17. University Of Iowa

Since we're talking basketball... You can actually get a really good burrito in that town, too.

16. Indiana University

Food truck Mondays? Genius. It's no wonder Craig holds them in such high regard.

15. Miami University

The original Miami. In Ohio. Awesome place to party.

14. Ohio University

Another Ohio party school, just up the road from Miami. Great bars within walking distance of the dorms.

13. University of Mississippi

Ole Miss.

12. Penn State

It gets weird in the Big 10. Penn State knows how to throw down.

11. West Virginia University

WVU just missed the Top 10. Next year - right?

10. University of Illinois

Orange! Not much else to do in Illinois but party.

9. University of Southern California

USC is always in the Top 10. Pretty solid football team this year, too.

8. Syracuse University

Orange Nation takes the 8 spot. The 'cuse gets it done.

7. University of Georgia

That video made me ready for next season. How many nattys they gonna win?

6. University of Wisconsin

Another entry from the Big 10. When it gets that cold what else you gonna do?

5. Howard University

Starting off the Top 5 with Howard U. Solid entry.

4. The University of Alabama

Big Al making memes. Lot of tradition, and lots of partying.

3. Florida State University

Our top Florida entry at number 3. The bar scene around the campus is in-sane. Love the old feel of the place.

2. Tulane University

It's a party school IN a party town. Of course that's gonna happen.

1. University of California - Santa Barbara

UCSB takes the top spot. Tupac said it best - California knows how to party.

Find the full list here:  Niche

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Chris has been on ESPN Soutwest Florida in one way or another dating back to 2010. As a Southwest Florida native, Chris understands what's important to the locals. He is a huge football fan; both professional and college. Although he has a special place for the Miami Dolphins and the entire SEC. He is also very into golf, both playing it locally and covering it on a global scale. Sports are supposed to be fun, and Chris likes to reflect that in the way he covers it. Chris writes about sports news and opinions.