Choosing colleges with the happiest students can be subjective. Everyone has a different definition of happiness, so it’s hard to have a standard to rank the happiest colleges.
However, it is still necessary to discuss the issue. In recent years, students’ psychological problems caused by negative emotions such as pressure, anxiety and loneliness have become more and more significant. According to the Spring 2023 Health Assessment Survey released by the American College Health Association (ACHA), of the undergraduates surveyed, 79% reported moderate or high levels of stress in the past 30 days, 36% had anxiety, 25% had depression, and 31% had suicidal thoughts. Such alarming statistics make us pay more attention to the issue of choosing the happiest colleges in the US. This article will discuss this topic.
Top 10 colleges with the happiest students
Although difficult, the Ivy Coach has successfully ranked the top 10 happiest colleges in America. Their list is based on real student ratings.
| Rank | Colleges |
|---|---|
| 1 | Brown University |
| 2 | Emory University |
| 3 | Stanford University |
| 4 | Northwestern University |
| 5 | Rice University |
| 6 | Duke University |
| 7 | Tulane University |
| 8 | Vanderbilt University |
| 9 | University of Southern California |
| 10 | Yale University |
Happiest colleges in the US 2024
Why are these schools ranked the happiest universities in USA? Let’s look at each of the 10 universities.
1. Brown University
- Location: PRrovidence, Rhode Island
- US News university ranking: 9
- Full-time enrollment: 10,585
- Acceptance rate: 6.9%
Brown University is known as the “happiest Ivy League School” and is the number one college with the happiest students in the United States. This is because Brown University not only has strong academic ability, but also has a relatively relaxed learning atmosphere. The university does not disclose students’ GPA, and also implements the open curriculum, which means that all courses are chosen by students according to their own interests.
In addition, Brown is one of the most fun colleges. The school often holds various theme parties, dancing parties and so on. The uni also has more than 500 student organizations. Whether you enjoy singing, playing frisbee, hiking, or camping, you’ll find like-minded partners.
2. Emory University
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia
- US News university ranking: 24
- Full-time enrollment: 7,359
- Acceptance rate: 11%
Emory University is located in Atlanta, the bustling metropolis of the US, so life is very convenient. The whole campus is surrounded by large forests, and the buildings are mostly in the classical Italian style. There is a national nature reserve inside the school, which has been selected as the location for many famous American TV series and movies. The school even has its own farm to keep the food in the student cafeteria delicious and fresh. Emory also provides free TV in the dorms, where students can spend their spare time watching TV.
3. Stanford University
- Location: Stanford, California
- US News university ranking: 3
- Full-time enrollment: 17,212
- Acceptance rate: 3.7%
In addition to its academic strength, Stanford University is also very beautiful. Not only is it one of the largest universities in the United States, but also very luxurious.
There are many Spanish buildings on the campus. Many famous attractions are also here, such as the Hoover Tower, Stanford Memorial Church, and Rodin Sculpture Group.
Stanford campus also has a variety of sports facilities, restaurants and even high-end shopping. Students who study here feel like they are in an upscale community.
Stanford is also very supportive of students and encourages them to innovate and start businesses. The school offers a dedicated entrepreneurship center and also offers courses in innovation and design thinking to help students realize their dreams.
4. Northwestern University
- Location: Evanston, Illinois
- US News university ranking: 9
- Full-time enrollment: 19,360
- Acceptance rate: 7.2%
Northwestern University is known for its fast pace of study and endless tests, so why is it also one of the happiest universities?
One important reason is the beautiful view of the campus. Northwestern’s main campus is close to Lake Michigan. You can see beaches, seagulls, sailing boats and so on at school. Northwestern University is rich as well. Alumni donations over the years have been considerable. Northwestern’s total endowment market value reached $13.7 billion in fiscal 2023. With financial support, schools can better serve students in all aspects. Northwestern also attaches great importance to students’ development. Students are not restricted by specific subjects. They can choose to take courses that interest them.
5. Rice University
- Location: Houseton, Texas
- US News university ranking: 17
- Full-time enrollment: 7,998
- Acceptance rate: 8.7%
Rice University is known as a research powerhouse. It has also been awarded No. 1 for best quality of life, No. 1 for competition/classroom interaction, and No. 1 for best college in Texas for salary potential.
Rice offers 11 residential buildings for students. Adhering to the principle of “mixed residence of different majors and grades”, each accommodation has its own canteen and public space. It is also very liberal in its management, allowing students to decorate without damaging the structure of the dormitory.
Because the occupied area of the school is not large, compared to other universities, the students here are more united and the professors are very nice to their students!
6. Duke University
- Location: Durham, North Carolina
- US News university ranking: 7
- Full-time enrollment: 17,425
- Acceptance rate: 6.3%
Duke University is located in the south of North Carolina. The natural environment here is beautiful, with rarely rainy and warm winter. It is regarded as one of the most livable places in the United States. The school is also consistently ranked among the “most beautiful college campuses in the United States”. The campus is full of pastoral, classical and exquisite scenery.
Duke’s teaching insists on small classes, and the campus atmosphere is very good. It also accommodates many international students and accepts students of different nationalities, races, religions, life experiences and perspectives. It is definitely one of the happiest colleges in the US.
7. Tulane University
- Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
- US News university ranking: 73
- Full-time enrollment: 14,472
- Acceptance rate: 11.5%
Although Tulane University‘s overall ranking is low, its medical school and law school in the United States have gained high reputation. Its business school is one of the founding schools of the American Association of Business Schools (AACSB), offering students a wealth of internship opportunities. Tulane often has surprises for students. For example, on the fall opening day, the school will build a small playground and set off fireworks to celebrate the return of students and the arrival of new students.
8. Vanderbilt University
- Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- US News university ranking: 18
- Full-time enrollment: 12,486
- Acceptance rate: 6.7%
Vanderbilt University has abundant financial support and research resources. It is even praised as the New Ivy, the Harvard of the South.
The school’s scenery is very beautiful. Most campus buildings are Gothic style, and art statues are everywhere. The Peabody building complex on campus is even listed as a national historic monument. Vanderbilt University has more than 20 restaurants with different tastes, in order to meet student’s demands. The student accommodation has a large recreation room, independent study area, kitchen and other facilities, and some are equipped with central air conditioning. In addition, during the exam week every year, the university will set up a free Shower room and massage service for students who stay up late to study hard.
9. University of Southern California
- Location: Los Angeles, California
- US News university ranking: 28
- Full-time enrollment: 42,969
- Acceptance rate: 12%
University of Southern California is very willing to spend money on infrastructure. Thus, facilities on the campus are wonderful. The school has spent $700 million to build a luxury dormitory — USC Village, with various restaurants, shopping malls, gyms, and other leisure facilities. Campus scenery is also impeccable. USC is located in California, which is known as “sunshine city”, so students can always enjoy the good weather.
10. Yale University
- Location: New Haven, Connecticut
- US News univeriity ranking: 5
- Full-time enrollment: 6,749
- Acceptance rate: 4.6%
At Yale University, all undergraduate freshmen will be randomly assigned to 14 student apartment buildings. Each building is equipped with restaurants, libraries, computer rooms, gyms and other amenities. Some also has student-run coffee shops, dancing rooms, pottery studios and other facilities. Students’ extracurricular life is very rich.
In terms of food, Yale’s dining hall collects materials from worldwide, and provides thousands of kinds of food for students to choose from every day. One of the most popular dining rooms is the Swiss Room on the second floor of Berkeley Restaurant. It is said that every ingredient here is carried from Switzerland. Students can eat authentic Swiss food without leaving school.
With such good housing and food, it’s no wonder Yale students are happy.
Colleges with the unhappiest students
Nowadays, students are under considerable pressure. They have to face the pressure of study, employment, sometimes even economic pressure, emotional pressure and so on. Under such circumstances, more and more students become unhappy and even suffer from mental diseases such as depression and anxiety. Some schools do not take effective measures in time, resulting in students living very unhappy lives. Here is a list of the unhappiest universities, as voted by netizens from Reddit.
| Rank | Colleges | Number of Reddit Upvotes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Simmons University | 436 |
| 2 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania | 428 |
| 3 | Duquesne University | 419 |
| 4 | Emerson College | 406 |
| 5 | United States Military Academy | 400 |
| 6 | Transylvania University | 398 |
| 7 | Illinois Institute of Technology | 397 |
| 8 | United States Naval Academy | 379 |
| 9 | California State University, Stanislaus | 375 |
| 10 | Wesleyan College | 372 |
How to build happiest colleges?
There are many reasons why students are under tremendous pressure. Some are family factors, and some are social factors. But whatever the cause, universities can take steps to ease students’ stress. So what exactly should colleges do?
- Beautify the campus environment.
If the campus is large enough, the college can consider planting various plants, so that students have different plants to see in different seasons. If the campus is coastal, then the school can make full use of the advantages by creating observation decks, and seaside walking paths. Students can take a walk there in their spare time.
- Improve colleges’ facilities.
Schools should be as well-equipped as possible, with gyms, shopping malls, study rooms, dance studios and so on. It’s best to set up a relief room. When students feel stressed, they can come to this room to release their pressure.
- Hire professional psychological counsellors.
Colleges should hire professional psychological counsellors to provide free psychological counselling to students. This can make it easier for students to seek professional help in time, and also allow the school to better understand the real demands of students.
- Improve your accommodation.
Many universities in the United States have a long history, so their dormitories are mostly old. Schools should try their best to decorate students’ accommodation and improve their quality of life. However, after all, the house is so old that it is still difficult to meet the students’ requirements. If you want to pursue a better quality of life, you can ask for our help. We offer many US student accommodation, and online consultants will answer your questions 24/7. uhomes.com is your best choice to improve your life in the United States.
- Hold more activities.
A rich campus life is an important aspect of relieving students’ pressure. In addition to the activities held at important festivals, schools can also hold some special activities. For example, setting off fireworks to welcome new students at the beginning of the semester, holding street dance competitions, skateboarding competitions, and dancing parties.
Final thoughts on colleges with the happiest students
As seen from the above, Brown University ranks first among the colleges with the happiest students in the United States, and most of the rest are prestigious universities. This may be because elite schools are more likely to give students a sense of self-identity. And the learning atmosphere of famous schools is better. Elite schools are well-funded, with better facilities, more scholarships and more activities. But this is not to say that students in other schools are unhappy. In the final analysis, happiness depends on one’s state of mind. As long as you can balance study and life, you can get happiness. Hope every student can spend their college days happily!
FAQ
According to Ivy Coach, Brown University is the happiest university in USA.
University of California — Los Angeles (UCLA) offers the best student life.
They are all top universities, and the campus scenery is beautiful. They are well-funded, and often hold activities.
According to relative researches, the top 10 happiest major in college are listed.
- Humanities
- Sports and exercise science
- Engineering
- Natural sciences
- Mathematics
- Computing
- Accounting, finance and business
- Media and communication
- Arts and design
- Modern languages
Princeton University is the prettiest of the Ivy League universities.
To improve your quality of life, you can ask for our help. We offer plenty of US student accommodation, and online consultants will answer your questions 24/7. uhomes.com is your best choice to improve your life in the United States.
