The top 15 party schools in the US, ranked

From which schools offer the best classes to what kind of professional network they want to build, college decisions can be a complicated question for students and their families to navigate.

But for some students, it also comes down to one thing: where they'll have the most fun outside class.

This year, Florida State University is the place to be. It was ranked the No. 1 party school in the US for 2027 by Niche.

Some schools hold large events during homecoming or football seasons, while others keep them going year-round. One school, the University of Miami, for example, has a boat-burning ceremony in which scores of students gather around Lake Osceola in Coral Gables, Florida, to watch a boat burn as part of homecoming events.

At some schools, party culture centers on tailgating and football games, while at others, large off-campus parties are the main social events.

Every year, Niche publishes a list of the best party schools in the US as part of its annual best colleges list. The site uses student surveys of the party scene on campus, ratings for athletics and Greek life, and access to bars and restaurants based on US Census data to determine the ranking.

Whether it's large state schools or smaller colleges with tight-knit communities, these are the 15 schools across the US where students party the hardest in 2026 and 2027.

Howard University, a historically Black college, was named the 15th-best party school in the US.

Known as "The Mecca," the school is the alma mater of key figures such as Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, but that doesn't mean that students sacrifice fun for academics.

The Washington, DC, school has a large and engaged Greek life scene. Some students attend "Thirsty Thursdays" parties or darties (day parties) between classes, The Root reported.

"The good parties are off campus," one student wrote on Niche. "If you're not a party person, there are so many organizations to be a part of, so you will find your people."

Syracuse University was ranked the 14th-best party school in the nation by Niche.