20 Colleges with the Happiest Students

The modern university is an incredibly complex institution with many factors affecting the experience of students who attend it. This makes attempts to find a “happiness quotient” universally describing every student’s college experience seem more than a little foolish. How do you weigh the several competing and often contradictory academic, material, and social attributes within a single school? Further, how can you account for the role that students’ personal values, beliefs, backgrounds, and identities play into their subjective assessment of their own happiness? The truth is that it is all but impossible to empirically measure and identify colleges with the happiest students. Thus, this list of happiest colleges does not aim for empirical validity. It makes no pretension that the following 20 colleges, listed alphabetically, are indeed ‘happiest.’ However, it does identify attributes of each school that can meaningfully contribute to student happiness.

Colleges with the Happiest Students (Continued)

The list was compiled by referencing four large surveys that assess highly ranked U.S. universities according to specific criteria. Two of the surveys, released by College Transitions and Business Insider, identify schools with the most beautiful campuses and best locations. It is reasonable to assume that students will have happier experiences on picturesque campuses in areas with vibrant urban and/or natural settings. Another survey by U.S. News and World Report evaluates schools on their student/faculty ratios. Here, the assumption is that students will value more personalized instruction afforded by lower student/faculty ratios.

Finally, a survey by Princeton Review sorted schools on the strength of their student support and counseling services. “Happiness” is subjective, but strong mental health support would have an obvious effect on the overall well-being of students. The following list identifies respected universities and liberal arts colleges that ranked high on one or several of these lists as the “colleges with the happiest students.”

20 Colleges with the Happiest Students

1) Baylor University

• Overall Rank: #93 in National Universities
• Why it has the happiest college students: Campus Beauty

One of Texas’s several revered academic research universities, Baylor lands on this list for its scenic beauty. Between classes, students can appreciate the campus’s historic Georgian architecture. They can also decompress and beat the Texas heat through access to Waco Creek, which winds through the 1,000-acre campus.

2) Brown University

• Overall Rank: #13 in National Universities
• What makes it one of the happiest colleges: Low Student/Faculty Ratio

Brown is an Ivy that combines a highly selective admissions process with a robust core of faculty. These factors allow it to boast a student/faculty ratio that is more than half the US average. Personalized instruction and mentorship perhaps contribute to the school’s reputation as an incubator of Rhodes Scholars and Pulitzer Prize winners. Brown also ranked on our list of the top 25 LGBTQ friendly colleges, another strong indicator of how it prioritizes student happiness.

Colleges with the Happiest Students (Continued)

3) California Institute of Technology

• Overall Rank: #9 in National Universities
• Why it has the happiest college students: Low Student/Faculty Ratio

Along with MIT, Caltech boasts one faculty member for every three students, the lowest student/faculty ratio of any college. The globally respected research hub manages NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the Seismological Laboratory, and a huge network of astronomical observatories. It also boasts an eye-popping record of 46 Nobel Prize wins. Its prestige, hands-on approach to undergraduate training, and location land it on the list.

4) University of Chicago

• Overall Rank: #6 in National Universities
• What makes it one of the happiest colleges: Low Student/Faculty Ratio

While not an Ivy, the University of Chicago has the same low student/faculty ratio (5:1) as similarly ranked Princeton and Stanford. Its distinctive Core Curriculum and interdisciplinary ethos allow students to engage broad fields of inquiry, with close instructional support. Students arguably also enjoy the iconic red gothic architecture of its central campus and proximity to Chicago’s Lake Michigan coastline.

Colleges with the happiest students (5-8)

5) University of Colorado-Boulder

• Overall rank: #97 in National Universities
• Why it has the happiest college students: Campus Beauty, Best Location

This public flagship of the University of Colorado system is nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The sublime mountain views add an undeniably picturesque element to the college experience. The school also seems engineered to appeal to students with a love of the outdoors, hiking, and skiing. Vibrant downtown Boulder also offers more urban charms, with a host of attractive restaurants and breweries.

6) Emory University

• Overall rank: #24 in National Universities
• What makes it one of the happiest colleges: Best Student Support and Counseling Services

Emory is a private research university with a notable track record in tech and medical innovation. It’s also the largest employer in the Atlanta area and ranked the 7th best school for student mental health services. Emory’s counseling center offers a range of mental health workshops and support groups. Specific workshops for LGBTQ identities earned it a spot on our list of top LGBTQ universities. There are also volunteer opportunities for students passionate about promoting mental health and well-being on campus.

7) Harvard University

• Overall rank: #3 in National Universities
• Why it has the happiest college students: Campus Beauty, Best Location

Founded in the seventeenth century, Harvard holds the honor of being the oldest university in the United States. This longevity lends architectural significance to an already picturesque main campus, known as Harvard Yard. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard is also ideally proximate to nearby Boston. It lands on this list for its beauty and location, but its unmatched endowment and prestige won’t diminish student happiness.

8) Hillsdale College

• Overall rank: #39 in National Liberal Arts Colleges
• What makes it one of the happiest colleges: Best Student Support and Counseling Services

A small Christian liberal arts college in southern Michigan, Hillsdale stands out for its commitment to student support and well-being. It is ranked 4th best school for student counseling services. Its website also promotes a student organization, Lighthouse, that does extensive work raising awareness around mental health on campus.

Colleges with the happiest students (9-12)

9) Johns Hopkins University

• Overall rank: #7 in National Universities
• Why it has the happiest college students: Low Student/Faculty Ratio

Baltimore’s Johns Hopkins University distinguishes itself as the U.S.’s first research university. Further, it has led all universities in federal research and development funding since the late 1970s. Students benefit from a university culture that combines this strong research focus with an emphasis on teaching. The student/faculty ratio sits at 6:1, meaning that students receive highly personalized instruction from globally important researchers.

10) Kenyon College

• Overall rank: #31 in National Liberal Arts Colleges
• What makes it one of the happiest colleges: Campus Beauty

Founded in 1824, Kenyon College celebrates its bicentennial this year. It is the oldest liberal arts college in Ohio, wearing its age nobly through its beautiful Gothic architecture. The picturesque buildings stretch across a sprawling hilltop campus in a secluded rural setting. Students also appreciate Kenyon’s focus on writing skills and research opportunities across majors of study.

11) Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• Overall rank: #2 in National Universities
• Why it has the happiest college students: Low Student/Faculty Ratio, Best Location

Like Harvard, MIT is ideally located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It also shares with Caltech the lowest average student/faculty ratio of any university, with 3 students per 1 faculty. This global magnet for talent in research and industry has produced 100 Nobel laureates. Educational excellence and its prime location undeniably contribute to student happiness.

12) Northwestern University

• Overall rank: #10 in National Universities
• What makes it one of the happiest colleges: Low Student/Faculty Ratio

Northwestern academic strengths include renowned business and journalism schools, an interdisciplinary ethos driving collaboration, and a low student/faculty ratio. It has campuses both in beautiful suburban Evanston and vibrant downtown Chicago. Like the University of Chicago, its attractive proximity to the Chicago lakeshore enhances the campus experience in the warmer months.

Colleges with the happiest students (13-16)

13) University of Notre Dame

• Overall rank: #18 in National Universities
• Why it has the happiest college students: Campus Beauty

This Indiana university has a uniquely residential culture, with 4 out of 5 students reportedly living on campus. Part of the draw seems to be the campus’s strong visual appeal. Taking inspiration from its namesake in Paris, Notre Dame emphasizes ornate Gothic architecture, including in its gold-domed main building. The university also features globally renowned theology and philosophy programs, as well as an exceptional record in research and teaching.

14) Pepperdine University

• Overall rank: #55 in National Universities
• What makes it one of the happiest colleges: Campus Beauty

Many colleges have picturesque campuses. Fewer look like resort destinations in southern Europe. Pepperdine’s Mediterranean Revival-style buildings perch upon a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. What student wouldn’t be happy with those kinds of stunning vistas?

15) Princeton University

• Overall rank: #1 in National Universities
• Why it has the happiest college students: Low Student/Faculty Ratio

The top-ranked school by US News and World Report, Princeton combines its leading research profile with a strong student-to-faculty ratio of 5:1. The Ivy’s alumni include 12 U.S. Supreme Court Justices, 3 of which currently sit on the Court. It also famously offers one of the best U.S.-based examples of High Victorian gothic style architecture, contributing to the campus’s solidly academic aura.

16) Stanford University

• Overall rank: #3 in National Universities
• What makes it one the happiest colleges: Campus Beauty, Low Student/Faculty Ratio

Stanford combines a beautiful Californian setting, unique architecture, and an exceptional track record in teaching. Students enjoy hands-on and individualized training, as well as an exceedingly picturesque campus. The campus designer also designed New York’s Central Park, and the buildings convey a blend of Romanesque and Mission Revival architecture known as Richardsonian Romanesque.

Colleges with the happiest students (17-19)

17) Swarthmore College

• Overall rank: #4 in National Liberal Arts Colleges
• Why it has the happiest college students: Campus Beauty

Swarthmore is a classic liberal arts college focused on personalized instruction in small classes. Located just outside of Philadelphia, it has the atmosphere of a quaint wooded retreat, with its 425-acre arboretum campus great for hiking. Further, its academic strengths warranted it a spot on our list of best liberal arts colleges. With a solid educational base, 1 in 3 Swarthmore students reportedly go on to obtain graduate degrees.

18) Vanderbilt University

• Overall rank: #18 in National Universities
• What makes it one of the happiest colleges: Best Student Support and Counseling Services

Vanderbilt features an attractive park-like campus in the middle of Nashville, Tennessee. It is notoriously academically competitive and ranked in the top 10 of private research universities for research and development expenditures. But it lands on this list primarily for its strengths in student support and care for wellbeing. Its counseling services are ranked 2nd best in the nation for all universities surveyed.

19) University of Virginia

• Overall rank: #25 in National Universities
• Why it has the happiest college students: Campus Beauty

In contrast to the gothic beauty of many other entries on this list, the University of Virginia embraces a neo-classical architectural style. Its red brick buildings with white columns create an air of significance and pleasing uniformity across its idyllic campus. The public flagship is notable for its strengths in academics, research and athletics. Students can also take advantage of proximity to the Blue Ridge Mountain range and founder Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. Speaking of Jefferson, the famous rotunda on campus (listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site) has recently been joined by a Memorial to Enslaved Laborers, symbolizing the university’s ongoing critical interrogation of its campus history.

Colleges with the happiest students (Continued)

20) University of Washington

• Overall rank: #55 in National Universities
• What makes it one of the happiest colleges: Campus Beauty

The University of Washington resides in Seattle along the banks of Lake Washington, with a view of Mount Rainier. Students can expect to experience both the best of the big city and the natural wonders of the Pacific Northwest. Making the campus even more idyllic is a grove of cherry blossom trees that brighten life in the spring. The University of Washington, along with Brown, Emory, and Stanford on this list, also rank among the most supportive universities for LGBTQ students.

Colleges with the Happiest Students – Final Thoughts

All these schools lay reasonable claim to being among the colleges with the happiest students. However, they are by no means definitively the happiest. It is likely there are many other schools that occasion strong levels of student gratitude. What’s important to take away from the exercise of identifying the ‘happiest colleges’ are the specific factors influencing student happiness. Looking at attributes like campus beauty, location, student/faculty ratios, and mental health support can be a valuable way of determining whether you might be happy attending a specific school. At the end of the day, that more granular assessment provides greater insight than trying to get a holistic picture of something as nebulous as ‘student happiness.’

Colleges with the Happiest Students – Additional Resources:

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