Top Party Colleges: Did Your School Make the 2023 List?

Students have a lot to consider when choosing a college. The school’s location, size, cost, majors offered, academic rating, and even “party” ranking can affect the final decision. The college survey website, Niche, has just released its rankings for 2023 party schools in America, and the criteria to get a top spot may surprise you.

2023 Top 5 party schools in the U.S.

Niche, an online platform with in-depth profiles of every college in America, recently released its newest ranking of top party schools in the nation. The top 5 party schools in America are^{: 1}

1. University of California – Santa Barbara.
2. Tulane University.
3. Florida State University.
4. The University of Alabama.
5. Howard University.

Niche determines the “party criteria” through a blend of student surveys and nightlife statistics and determines the score and weight of each factor as follows:¹

• Student surveys on the party scene (70%)
• Access to bars (10%)
• Athletics grade (7.5%)
• Greek life grade (7.5%)
• Access to restaurants (5%)

Other schools in Florida also made it on the list including:

• Florida A&M University (#19)
• University of Miami (#27)
• University of Florida (#40)

The website acknowledges that schools known for being party schools aren’t the right choice for everyone and if you want to, you “can stay away from the party scene.” However, being surrounded by parties might be more tempting than one realizes. For many students, college is the first time they have experienced that level of freedom which can lead to over-indulgence in certain activities. These activities, especially in Greek life, often include drinking dangerous amounts of alcohol, drugs, and hazing. ¹

Dangers of Binge Drinking in College

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, binge drinking is defined as “a pattern of drinking alcohol that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 percent – or 0.08 grams of alcohol per deciliter – or higher.”.This is typically 5 or more drinks for a male and 4 or more drinks for a female in about a 2-hour period. ²

America’s Health Rankings estimate 20.4% of Florida residents ages 18-44 partake in excessive drinking behavior and that 13.5% of adults binge drink.³ Binge drinking – while dangerous for every age—can be particularly dangerous for young adults and college students whose brains are still developing. ⁴ Consequences of college binge drinking can include:²

• Acute harm (alcohol poisoning/blackouts).
• Unintentional pregnancy.
• Sexually transmitted infections.
• Physical harm (drownings, burns, falls, car accidents).
• Compromised immune system.
• Death

Over time, alcohol misuse can increase the risk of cancer in the liver, breast, head and neck, esophagus, and colon. Around 9% of full-time college students in 2019 met the criteria for alcohol addiction, also commonly referred to as an alcohol use disorder (AUD). ⁵

Tips to Stay Safe At College Parties

The consequences of alcohol misuse are scary, and potentially fatal as well. However, there are ways for college students – and all people for that matter—to stay safe at parties and still have fun. Ways to stay safe include: ⁶

• Plan and know your limits.
• Use the buddy system.
• Do not leave drinks unattended.
• Do not accept an open drink from an unknown source.
• Do not drink from communal alcohol sources.
• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Have a designated driver (DD) or use Uber/Lyft to get home.
• Don’t give in to peer pressure.
• Don’t walk alone after dark.
• Don’t leave with someone you don’t trust.

If you believe you or a loved one may have an alcohol addiction, reach out to your doctor or learn more by calling River Oak’s admissions navigators available 24/7 at . Our compassionate team can walk you through the admissions process, how to pay for alcohol addiction rehab in Florida, and provide answers to any other questions you may have.