University of Illinois named top party school in Princeton Review

By Wyatt Massey, Special to CNN
2 minute read
Updated 6:20 PM EDT, Mon August 3, 2015
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign topped the Princeton Review's annual list of the biggest party schools for 2015. The school's chancellor wasn't very happy about the designation, calling it "disappointing."
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign topped the Princeton Review's annual list of the biggest party schools for 2015. The school's chancellor wasn't very happy about the designation, calling it "disappointing."
Sporting News/ZUMA Press
The University of Iowa came in second in the rankings. The list is based on a nationwide survey of 136,000 students from 380 colleges.
The University of Iowa came in second in the rankings. The list is based on a nationwide survey of 136,000 students from 380 colleges.
Jordan McAlister/Getty Images
University of Wisconsin-Madison ranked third on the list, rounding out the Midwest's domination of the top three slots.
University of Wisconsin-Madison ranked third on the list, rounding out the Midwest's domination of the top three slots.
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Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, ranked fourth in the Princeton Review's list of top party schools.
Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, ranked fourth in the Princeton Review's list of top party schools.
Syracuse University, home of the Orangemen, came in fifth this year. The school <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/05/living/princeton-review-party-schools-syracuse/">topped the list in 2014</a>.
Syracuse University, home of the Orangemen, came in fifth this year. The school topped the list in 2014.
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University of California-Santa Barbara is the only West Coast school in the top 10; it ranked sixth.
University of California-Santa Barbara is the only West Coast school in the top 10; it ranked sixth.
Patricia Marroquin/Getty Images
West Virginia University came in seventh on the Princeton Review's annual list of top party schools.
West Virginia University came in seventh on the Princeton Review's annual list of top party schools.
Bob Gay/The Dominion Post/AP
The University of Georgia Bulldogs came in eighth when it comes to having a good time.
The University of Georgia Bulldogs came in eighth when it comes to having a good time.
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Tulane University in New Orleans came in ninth on the list of hardest partiers.
Tulane University in New Orleans came in ninth on the list of hardest partiers.
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The stately campus of Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, ranked 10th on the annual list of top party schools.
The stately campus of Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, ranked 10th on the annual list of top party schools.
From Wikipedia
Princeton Review releases annual list of top party schools in the U.S.

Story highlights

The Princeton Review released its annual college rankings

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign was named the top party school

Other categories included "Best College Dorms" and "Best College Library"

CNN  — 

The results are in – the Princeton Review has released its annual ranking of 380 colleges. Setting aside other categories such as “Best Professors” or “Happiest Students,” the hotly anticipated title of top party school in the nation went to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

The title is one of 62 categories but it’s, perhaps, the most provocative.

Robert Franek, publisher for the Princeton Review, said that every college the company reviewed has excellent academics and that the rankings are a reflection of campus culture.

“Our 62 ranking lists provide students with a way to see the types of colleges that could help them achieve their future goals and dreams,” Franek said in a news release.

University Chancellor Phyllis Wise said the ranking was not scientific and called it a “promotion” by the Princeton Review.

“It’s disappointing that, once again, Princeton Review is promoting this pseudo-ranking as though it were meaningful,” Wise said in a statement to CNN. “It’s insulting to all of our students, since they are here to prepare to become leaders of their generation.”

She said that the university’s graduation rates and achievements of alumni show that students take academics seriously.

The University of Illinois has been in the Top 5 ranking in prior years, but this was its first year atop the list. The Midwest is well-represented in the party-school rankings with University of Iowa coming in second and University of Wisconsin-Madison third.

These schools stand in sharp contrast to Brigham Young University, which topped the list of “Stone-Cold Sober Schools.” Other categories included “Best College Dorms” won by Bennington College in Vermont, “Best College Library” won by Yale University and “Best Athletic Facilities” won by Kenyon College in Ohio.

The Princeton Review creates the rankings after surveying a total of 136,000 students from the 380 colleges. Its survey includes 80 questions about student life, academics and administration. The company offers tutoring and test preparation as well.