The Colleges with the Best Student Life Methodology
The Colleges with the Best Student Life ranking is based on student reviews and statistics from the U.S. Department of Education. Top-ranked colleges have a positive, fun, and friendly student culture and a vibrant campus community. Learn where our data comes from.
Factors Considered
| Factor | Description | Source | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Surveys on Student Life | Niche survey responses scored on a 1-5 scale regarding the quality of student life at each school. | Self-reported by Niche users | 25.0% |
| Party Scene Grade | Niche Party Scene grade, which incorporates factors such as access to bars and student surveys regarding nightlife on campus. | Multiple Sources | 15.0% |
| Athletics Grade | Niche Athletics grade, which incorporates factors such as number of national championships won, athletic department revenue, as well as student surveys regarding athletics on campus. | Multiple Sources | 10.0% |
| Campus Grade | Niche Campus Quality grade, which incorporates factors such as quality of campus food and housing, as well as student surveys regarding facilities on campus. | Multiple Sources | 10.0% |
| Local Area Grade | Niche Local Area grade, which incorporates factors such as median rent, local crime rates, access to amenities, as well as student surveys regarding the local area around campus. | Multiple Sources | 10.0% |
| Diversity Grade | Niche Diversity grade, which incorporates factors such as ethnic composition of the student body, proportion of international students and out-of-state students, as well as student surveys regarding diversity on campus. | Multiple Sources | 7.5% |
| Full-Time Retention Rate | Percent of full-time, first-time students enrolled the prior year that re-enroll the next year. | U.S. Dept. of Education | 7.5% |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | Percent of undergraduate students who graduate within six years. | U.S. Dept. of Education | 7.5% |
| Safety Grade | Safety grade, which incorporates factors such as campus crime rate, local crime rate, as well as student surveys regarding health and safety services on campus. | Multiple Sources | 5.0% |
| Part-Time Retention Rate | Percent of part-time, first-time students enrolled the prior year that re-enroll the next year. | U.S. Dept. of Education | 2.5% |
The same methodology is used to produce the Niche Student Life Grade for each ranked school as well as additional 4-year colleges, community colleges, trade schools, and other 2-year programs. Statistics obtained from the U.S. Department of Education represent the most recent data available, as self-reported by the colleges. Niche also collects data directly from schools via our school data update form. If you work for a school and would like to update your data, please claim your school.
For more details about how we calculate our rankings, click here.