• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

College Magazine

College Life, Dating, Career & Campus Advice

  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Social Change
      • Party
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • FAFSA
    • Ramen Project
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • Writer Course
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
  • Find your college or university
  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Social Change
      • Party
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • FAFSA
    • Ramen Project
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • Writer Course
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
  • Find your college or university
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise
  • My Account
  • Cart

You are here: Home / Campus life / The Top 10 Schools that Party All Day, Everyday

The Top 10 Schools that Party All Day, Everyday

December 3, 2015 //  by Valerie Siu

Shares967FacebookTweet

Say the word “college” and you’ll immediately picture ramen, overpriced textbooks and (of course) the ever-present red Solo cup. After all, that’s why you’re here: to get your bachelor’s in Partying. Although most schools have their fair share of party options, these schools go above and beyond when it comes to getting so hammered you can barely remember your own name.

10. Rice University

commons.wikimedia.org
wikimedia.org

Don’t let Rice’s shockingly low number of yearly drug and alcohol violations trick you into thinking their students are all about the books. Thanks to the Rice Alcohol Policy, students over 21 can host private parties with alcohol, which the police won’t break up without “probable cause.” This means that those poor unfortunate underaged souls can drink, too–secretly of course. Although there’s no Greek life, the residential colleges where students are randomly split up, Hogwarts-style, throw tons of themed parties. Perhaps best event is the annual Beer Bike, a combination of bike race and chugging beer. A close second is the Night of Decadence, a themed and hyper-sexualized Halloween party thrown by Weiss College where students wear basically nothing but underwear. Need we say more?

9. Southern Illinois University–Carbondale

wikipedia.org
wikipedia.org

SIU isn’t exactly known for their sports teams, but their parties are a different story. Students care about football games for one reason: to get so ridiculously hungover they’ll say they never want to drink again (but of course that’s a lie). SIU is in the midwest A.K.A. the middle of nowhere, which means students throw rowdy frat and house parties or visit bars on the strip, which will let in anyone 19 and up. In fact, in the 80s, the strip was closed down thanks to riots on Halloween. The riots still happen now for no reason other than it’s Halloween; last year, students were at each other’s throats in front of the bars and even overturned cars. Most well known of all is Unofficial, a Halloween party complete with crazy costumes and binge drinking two weeks before the real thing. The party scene at SIU is so prominent that there’s a whole Twitter page (@SIUPartyschool) dedicated to it.

8. Coastal Carolina University

commons.wikimedia.org
wikimedia.org

When the going gets tough, the tough get going… or dream of leaving everything behind to be a beach bum. Going to school at Coastal is like permanent Spring Break, complete with boat parties and weekend boat trips to Boathouse Bar. “We all go to Tongy’s Shmackhouse on Thursdays and The Coop just to chill and have some fun, especially when vodka drinks are $2 till midnight and campus is in walking distance,” said freshman Maggie Stone. “Another cool thing is how Coastal students literally take over 64th street beach in Myrtle Beach over the warm weekends. It’s one huge darty.” Of course, according to Stone the Spring Break feel drops along with the temperatures in the winter, but that doesn’t matter. After all, it doesn’t need to be warm to go bar-hopping.

7. University of South Carolina

commons.wikimedia.org
wikimedia.org

You may recognize this school for the attention it received last year when they shut down a frat until 2018 for alcohol violations. But it’s not like that stops students from partying away a week’s worth of stress. With the exception of Sunday, you’ll find students out and about practically every night. And why not? According to freshman Sofia Jaramillo–thanks to the tons of amazing specials such as $1 drinks on Mondays at Pavlov’s–getting sloshed has never been easier. Thursdays, dubbed “Thirsty Thursdays,” are also a busy night for bars. For those who are under 21, there are 18-and-up dance clubs, or a handy college staple: tailgating, since football and fall are one and the same at USC. “Game day is the biggest thing here,” said Jaramillo. “If you’re a girl you go to the fraternity lots where every fraternity has a tent and pledges are making drinks for everyone, and the girls dance on tables.” Sure, USC is in the middle of the Bible belt, but that doesn’t stop students from turning up.

6. College of Charleston

wikipedia.org
wikipedia.org

College of Charleston students love getting lush, especially at the 73 bars within five miles of campus. “Bar life is big. There are so many bars [and] there are always people going out every night and of course through the weekend,” said freshman Olivia Mauer. Students aren’t limited to bars; they can still experience college the way God intended…by getting hammered at frat parties. “Frats have day parties a lot so Saturdays are big on frat darty-hopping. Frat parties are usually the pregame and the start of the night and most people end up at the bars after,” Mauer said. There are even some bars that’ll let in people 18 and up until 10 p.m., which means that the fun isn’t restricted to upperclassmen. After 10 p.m., it’s frat and house parties galore.

5. University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

wikipedia.org
wikipedia.org

Football and tailgating are like PB and J, and that’s certainly the case at UMich. Football Saturdays are the biggest party events of the year. “Our tailgates are unbeatable… you just dance on elevated surfaces and scream-sing 2000s hits all day, drunk-eat pizza and then wake up with no memory and do it again the next week. Being blackout multiple times a week is always okay,” said sophomore Ashley.* Besides tailgating, the 50 bars within walking distance are also very popular. “Scorekeeper’s bar and grill–lovingly known as Skeeps–is where you’ll see anyone and everyone you know on any given Tuesday ($2 tequila shots that will ruin your Wednesday), Thursday ($1 Long Island iced teas are also dangerous) or Saturday night,” Ashley* said. Greek life’s a huge part of campus as well, with frats throwing parties practically every night. No wonder Ann Arbor is known as one of the best college towns–there’s literally no shortage of ways to party.

4. Ohio State University

wikipedia.org
wikipedia.org

Any school that has more than 100 bars within five miles of campus has gotta be one huge party every day. Frat parties, bar hopping or tailgating? You name it and OSU has it. All of those unwatched shows on Netflix will just have to wait until winter break because any free time is Party Time. “This year fraternities hosted events including a Slip’N Slide party, a pool party (and the pool was made of hay stacks and tarp), a foam party and a tiki party,” said freshman Anna.* “On Fridays you’ll find the bar scene on High Street very lively from 11pm to 4am. Late Friday nights don’t stop students from waking up bright and early on Saturday morning to start tailgating. [Our tailgates are called] Block [which] consists of things like loud music, dancing on elevated surfaces and beer showers.” Sounds like a school that definitely takes the whole “work hard, play hard” mentality very seriously–maybe even too seriously.

3. West Virginia University

wikipedia.org
wikipedia.org

Ever seen the “I’m Shmacked” videos? They took place at WVU. “There probably is a party or people going out six to seven days a week,” said freshman Ben Stover. “The students themselves are pretty rowdy and always breaking stuff or being stupid.” Drunken kids randomly throwing couch bonfires? Yep, it’s all there at WVU. Aside from campus parties, the bar scene isn’t too shabby either. High Street is the popular option for bars and clubs. And endless drink specials ($2 tequila shots, anyone?) ensure the weekend never ends. Tailgating is as huge as ever, where everyone drinks to support the Mountaineers. A football game basically means an excuse to drink all day, starting at 9 a.m. Every event or holiday is an excuse to party, though the most popular yearly events are the campus-wide concert Fall Fest and St. Patty’s day, the setting of their now-infamous video. Life’s short so why not seize the day… or in this case, the beer.

2. Tulane University

wikipedia.org
wikipedia.org

New Orleans is already a huge party city, so it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise that Tulane likes to party. “Pretty much every bar that students go to accept 18 IDs making the party scene more enjoyable for everyone, even if they’re technically [not] of age. There’s no open container law in all of New Orleans so at every bar there are usually hundreds of people partying on the streets outside with no repercussions,” said a Tulane freshman.** But what really sets Tulane apart from most schools is how it celebrates holidays. “Every holiday is on a whole other level… Bourbon and Frenchman street are always wild and are very popular for Jazz Fest, Halloween and all the Mardi Gras festivals. Classes are a joke [during Mardi Gras] week and we even get a Mardi Gras break because the school knows what the students are doing.” While most college kids party because there’s nothing better to do, students at Tulane party because there’s a steady stream of never ending options.

1. University of Wisconsin-Madison

flickr.com
flickr.com

With more than 2,000 alcohol violations, 80 bars within walking distance, students at UW-Madison are doing something right (or very wrong, depending on how you look at it). Partying is as common and easy as breathing in Wisconsin. “If you don’t drink/party here, you are kind of an exception,” said junior Ashley.* Quiet weekend nights spent in PJ’s are practically unheard of at UW Madison. “Gamedays here are like most other colleges’ homecomings. But luckily for us, we get that every home game. Everyone is wearing red, tons of tailgates with kegs, flip cup, pong, bongs, etc.” Students have such a love affair with tailgating that sleep is eagerly sacrificed. “People will wake up as early as 7 a.m. to tailgate for an 11 a.m. game,” said freshman Eliana Locke.

There’s no most popular party option because there’s literally a party everywhere every night. “A lot of Greek students like to go out during the week (Tuesday and sometimes Sunday nights at the KK for kountry night),” said junior Alex.** “Frats are always super crowded and jam-packed with students.” In the spring, there’s Mifflin, an annual block party that takes over Mifflin Street all weekend. “It’s associated with the large drinking culture as it is essentially an all day outdoor party,” Alex said. Though police have tried to regulate it, students don’t let that stop them from having a good time. Another huge event? Freakfest, A.K.A. Halloween celebrated the proper college way, with live music, ridiculous costumes and, of course, lots and lots of drinking. You only go to college once, after all.

*Last names withheld for privacy.

**Name has been changed to protect the innocent.

For more College Rankings, check out:

CM’s Top 10 Schools for Greek Life

The 10 Most Hipster Campuses

Top 10 College Towns You’ll Never Want to Leave

Shares967FacebookTweet

Filed Under: Campus life College Rankings Ohio State University Party

About Valerie Siu

Valerie is a senior at the University of Washington, studying English/Creative Writing and History. She loves anything caffeinated, Netflix and long road trips. She'll always be obsessed with Once Upon a Time, Scandal, Private Practice and Agents of Shield.

You May Also Like

10 University of Iowa Student Orgs Making Campus a Better Place

ucla royce

10 Resources All Student Artists at UCLA Should Know About

10 Virtual Ways to Make Friends in College Without Joining Greek Life

The Ultimate Guide to the Sorority President Life at St. John’s University

Dismantling the System: Diversifying Your Narrative at a PWI

10 Ways UC Irvine Students Cope with Senioritis (Covid-19 Edition)

Interview with St. John’s University SGI President Roger Guevara

The Happiest Campus: A Student’s Guide to Auburn University 

Top 21 Things to Do Prior to Graduating St. John’s University

10 St. John’s University Finals Activities to Help You De-Stress

10 Easy Ways to Make Sure Your Spring Semester Doesn’t Suck

A Gator’s Bucket-List: 21 Things to Do Before Graduating From UF

the receptionist

A Conversation with the Receptionist

best classes

10 Best Classes You Need to Take at Drake University

St Salvators Quad image

My Hate/Love Relationship With My Joint Degree Program

College students walking

Becoming a Chameleon at Other College Campuses

And Suddenly, I Found Myself Living With a Stranger

Top 10 Safest Colleges and Campuses in the United States

CampusLife_sm

CM’s Top 10 Schools Doing Residential Life Right

colleges for future philanthropists

Live to Give: Top 10 Colleges for Future Philanthropists

Top 10 COVID-19 Safe Activities to Do Near Fresno, California

One Girl and a Whole World: What I Learned from My International Friends

fog

10 Reasons Why Bennington College Is the Quirkiest College

crim dell bridge

10 Signs That You’re a True TWAMP: Typical William & Mary Person

Previous Post: « The Ultimate Smackdown: Turkey Versus Reindeer
Next Post: Why Christmas Should Be a 24/7, 365 Kind of Thing »

Primary Sidebar



Trending Posts

dancing dreams
84

Saying Goodbye to My Dreams of Dancing

ucla royce
22

10 Resources All Student Artists at UCLA Should Know About

10

Top 10 Covid-19 Safe Spots to Explore Near UCLA

4

College Magazine’s Top 10 Schools for Film Majors

Featured Chapter: St. John’s University

Footer

logo

College Magazine is the national daily guide to campus life. Our articles for college students feature university rankings of U.S. colleges, college guides, academic advice, college prep, career advice, student health and collegiate dating tips.

Written by students for students, by a team of journalists from universities nationwide, we’re on the pulse of the college experience.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Colleges

  • College Guides
  • College Rankings
  • Campus life
  • Academics
  • Dating
  • Freshmen Year
  • Health
  • Party

Majors

  • All College Majors
  • Most Popular Majors
  • Choosing a Major

Intern

  • Internships Directory
  • How to Write a Resume
  • How to Write a Cover Letter
  • How to Interview
  • How to Get an Internship
  • How to Network

Money

  • How to Make Money
  • How to Save Money
  • How to Get a Job
  • Credit Cards 101
  • College Loans

Travel

  • Study Abroad
  • College Spring Break
  • How to Travel Cheap
  • Things to Do

Shop

  • College Packing List
  • Gift Guides
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise
  • My Account
  • Cart

Copyright © 2021 College Magazine · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc.