A university's acceptance rate doesn't reveal everything about its student body. Most college students will tell you that campus life is more than academics. This is true for all types of colleges, from liberal arts schools to community colleges.
While many students go off-campus for fun, the best colleges offer an excellent on-campus social life for their student body. In addition to checking off questions about dorms, financial aid, and internships during your campus tours, remember to ask about the school's extracurricular programming.
If you're searching for the best first-year college experience in America, start with these top 10 colleges with the best student life. Note that this isn't a college ranking - schools here are listed in no particular order.
What is student life?
A school's student life is defined by the extracurriculars that round out the higher education experience. Student life includes clubs and student organizations, athletics, seminars, and Greek life. Colleges with the best student life offer programs that let each student find their niche and have a social life beyond their residence halls.
Studying isn't the only important part of the college experience for students hoping to earn their bachelor's degree. Extracurricular programs are just as necessary to wellness as a school's health services, so include student life in your college search methodology.
10 best student life colleges
With student life covering many different extracurricular activities, where do you start searching? Here, we'll cover the top 10 best colleges for extracurricular programming to help guide your college application process.
1. University of Southern California
The University of Southern California has more than 1,000 student organizations that host events from concerts to lectures. USC has a designated volunteer center for off-campus service opportunities. And when it comes to Greek life, USC recognizes roughly 40 fraternities and sororities.
For night owls, the University of Southern California hosts free late-night events. Regarding wellness, the USC athletics department has a full roster of men's and women's sports, including baseball and water polo.
2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
The Ann Arbor campus of the University of Michigan boasts 1,600 student organizations and specialized programming for first-year students to help them get involved in student life.
For Wolverines looking for competition outside of the classroom, the University of Michigan's intramural athletics ranges from the typical (volleyball and soccer) to the more niche (pickleball, spike ball, and golf).
The University of Michigan has a long history of Greek life dating back to 1845 when the campus moved from Detroit to Ann Arbor. Today, over 5,500 students are members of the fraternities and sororities hosted on the University of Michigan campus.
3. Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University offers a vibrant student life that makes it a standout among colleges. With over 500 student organizations, there's something for everyone, from academic clubs to cultural groups. The campus is a hub of activity, with events ranging from music festivals to guest lectures.
Greek life is prominent at Vanderbilt, with over 20% of students participating in fraternities and sororities. This involvement fosters a strong sense of community and provides tons of social opportunities.
4. The University of Texas at Austin
Longhorns have plenty of choices when it comes to student life. At the University of Texas at Austin, there's a niche for everyone. Figure skating? Yup. Magazines and newspapers? There's that, too. And if neither of those sounds appealing, try one of 1,000 other student organizations!
Nashville isn't the only college town known for its music-driven college experience. Austin is the Live Music Capital of the World, and the University of Texas at Austin is no exception. It's one of the best colleges for a musical college experience, with plenty of concerts for the student body to enjoy.
About 60 sorority and fraternity chapters call the University of Texas at Austin home, making UT Austin a great choice for students seeking the Greek life college experience.
5. Brown University
Rigorous academics meet a vibrant social life at Brown University. Its open curriculum allows students to dive into their passions without the usual course constraints, making it a playground for the intellectually curious. This flexibility isn't just for the classroom - over 400 student organizations mean you can join anything from performing arts to social justice groups.
Greek life at this Ivy League school focuses on inclusivity and community service. The campus buzzes with creativity, thanks to student-run theater productions, art exhibitions, and music performances. Plus, being in Providence, Rhode Island, means students can soak up the city's rich cultural and social scene.
6. University of Georgia
Located in Athens, Georgia, the University of Georgia's student body can choose from over 700 student-run organizations, and a quarter of University of Georgia students are members of Greek life.
Students looking for the best colleges for sports have many opportunities to be Bulldogs fans or athletes. The University of Georgia is known for its athletics programming - especially its NCAA football team.
If you want to take your higher education experience overseas, the University of Georgia's study abroad office sponsors faculty-led trips, exchange student programs, and independent travel opportunities.
7. University of Wisconsin - Madison
Cheeseheads rejoice - the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin in Madison has a bustling student life experience. With 1,000 student organizations, 60 Greek life chapters, and 260 study abroad programs, Badgers are sure to find their niche.
Interested in learning how to boat? How about getting competitive on the squash court? In addition to 23 Big Ten varsity athletic teams, the University of Wisconsin has sports clubs, intramural teams, group wellness classes, and outdoor clubs.
Its Multicultural Student Center offers programming to help students find community. Students can share their backgrounds during designated heritage months and learn about new multicultural perspectives.
8. University of Florida
If sun, sand, and a busy social life sound like the campus life for you, then the University of Florida should be on your application list. With over 1,000 student organizations, the University of Florida ensures there's something for everyone. Students have countless opportunities to get involved, from academic societies to special interest clubs.
Greek life is a significant part of the social fabric at UF, with a variety of fraternities and sororities hosting events and philanthropic activities. The Gator spirit is strong in athletics, where students passionately support their teams. The campus also offers many other recreational opportunities, including state-of-the-art gyms and outdoor adventure programs, keeping students active and engaged.
9. University of Virginia
Located in Charlottesville, the University of Virginia has a diverse campus life. UVA hosts nearly 700 student-run organizations. Around 30% of the student body are sorority or fraternity members, making Greek life a core pillar of campus life.
Specialized events for first-year students are a great way for new Cavaliers to get out of their dorms and get involved in extracurriculars. In addition to theater and music productions, the UVA arts program hosts the Virginia Film Festival, which makes for an artistic college experience!
10. University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA)
The University of California in Los Angeles is another school for Southern California dreaming. UCLA has such a vibrant student life that you might not find yourself going off-campus!
UCLA has a niche for every interest. Students can take to the seas to learn sailing, sculling, and kayaking through the school's recreational athletic programming. UCLA's largest student organization is its Undergraduate Business Society, which helps bachelor's students find internship opportunities in the bustling city of Los Angeles.
The school has 1,200 student organizations offering a robust student-run event and seminar roster, especially when it comes to the arts. Every year, UCLA hosts 1,000 visual and performing arts events created by students and featured guests.
Other top student-life schools to consider
Although these schools didn't make our top 10 list, they are still great places to consider if you want to widen your search.
- Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri
- Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut
- Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana
- Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio
- Penn State University in University Park, Pennsylvania
Find the best school with help from College Rover
Tracking the college life aspects of each American university is no easy feat. College Rover's college comparison tool helps prospective first-year students find the best student life that meets their needs.
Whether you're looking for a thriving party scene or the best fraternities and sororities, compare your top schools on College Rover today and get ready for the student life you've dreamed of.
College Rover gets the majority of its data directly from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). The DOE publishing schedule "lags" the most current data which some colleges post on their official websites. This may cause there to be a difference in the data you see on College Rover and an individual college website. College Rover's website is updated as the DOE data becomes available and is configured for the College Rover website.
