These 30 Colleges Are Helping Students Be More Relaxed And Productive

Time Money places the University of Notre Dame at second for sports lovers. But the college also places at 17^th on Niche for best student life experience in general. US News ranks it at joint 18^th for best first-year experience, and MSN claims that it is the best college for student life in Indiana. This college is certain to appeal to a very specific student. Religion and athleticism are two of the college's most notable traits. This feeds through into the college's residential system. 75% of its students live in the college's residence halls, which all have strong religious and sporting communities present.

Niche.com places this college at 14^th for the best student life. Even better, Her Campus places it at second. Rave places it at 28^th. Time Money places it at sixth. US News places it at 30^th. MSN names it the best student life college in North Carolina. And a closer look at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's campus life shows that the college is implementing a range of interesting and unique study/life solutions. For instance, the college is involving dogs ever more frequently in both academic and relaxation activities. The college believes that the dogs have brought an incredible new energy to their campus.

UCLA places at seventh on Niche.com, 17^th on Business Insider, 22^nd on Rave and12^th on Time Money. And the college's success can be defined by one word: Optimism. An optimistic approach is at the heart of the college. "We define ourselves in our own words and our own ways. That's optimism," explains Tyrone Howard, the college's dean for equity and inclusion, the graduate school of education & information studies. UCLA's optimism website goes on to state that this approach allows people to hope, become their best selves and learn from their failures. It's easy to see how this optimism leads to success in students!

This college places at 19^th on Business Insider, 10^th on Niche.com, sixth on Her Campus and 16^th on Time Money. However, the University of Southern California could well place significantly higher in future years, as it has recently opened the USC Village. The college's president proudly claims that the village, "offers students the very best in residential life - a home away from home that nourishes their intellectual, creative and personal growth." This state of the art resource has combined world-leading professors, resident assistants, a fitness center, lounges, shopping and dining areas and more into one place.

Placing at ninth on Niche.com, fifth on Rave, 25^th on Time Money, joint 46^th on US News and15^th on Princeton Review is the University of Wisconsin. MSN also names it the top Wisconsin based college for student life. And if you look at the college's focus on fun, you can't deny that it's a great place to live. There are nearly 900 student organizations and many enjoyable events. But what about the focus on studying? The college currently has a range of programs focused on addressing potential issues to study, such as an initiative focused on social justice, an initiative focused on high-risk drinking and an initiative based on sexual violence.

Texas's creative oasis, Austin, has a great college. University of Texas, Austin ranks at joint 56^th on US News, 20^th on Time Money, second on Rave and fourth on Niche.com. These rankings are all the more impressive once you consider that the college has an incredibly large student body compared to many other entries on this list. With over 51,000 students, it has approximately 300% more students than our number one entry. Keeping so many students happy and productive is a challenge, but University of Texas, Austin is more than managing it. It's doing this through Student Success, one of the world's most comprehensive programs for ensuring that students are set up for an incredible career. This program has led to a 15% increase in four-year graduation rates at the college in recent years.

Princeton tops US News's listof college professional sourced recommendations for best first-year college experiences. MSN also states that it is the best college for student life in New Jersey. Elsewhere, Niche.com ranks it 36^th, and Time Money ranks it at 19^th. Princeton's website shows that its students are both dedicated and enjoy many activities on offer. For instance, Akil Word Daniels studies electrical engineering but also plays softball, and Naoum Fares studies psychology but also sings in an a cappella group and advises other students. Additionally, Princeton's freshmen seminars will get all newly admitted students up to speed and enjoying their time at the college in the best possible way.

Bowdoin College ranks at 25^th on Niche.com, seventh on Princeton Review, 10^th on Time Money and is MSN's top student life college in Maine. As the college dean Tim Foster, states, Bowdoin is about educating people in more than just the subjects that they are studying. It has strong links to its local community and organizes many outdoor activities. The overall purpose of this is so that people who graduate from the college are, "at home in all lands and all ages." One of the ways that Bowdoin achieves this is through the Joseph Mckeen Center for the Common Good. This center lets students enhance their learning through engagement with the public.

MSN states that this college is the best place to study in the state of Georgia. Three other methodology lists are incredibly consistent with University of Georgia's national rankings, with Niche.com, Time Money and Rave ranking it 13^th, 15^th, and 14^th respectively. The University of Georgia has managed to gain such strong rankings through its experiential learning approach. Every student must undertake experiential learning activities such as studying abroad, faculty-mentored research or service learning while at the college. This approach has led to countless students graduating into incredible careers. The college has even compiled several stories of its amazing students, which show how the students have fun and achieve lots!

Ranking at third on Princeton Review, 37^th on Niche.com and 35^th on Rave is Kansas State University. Additionally, MSN ranks it as the best college for student life in the state of Kansas. However, Kansas State University isn't content with these rankings. It has outlined a plan to become recognized as one of the top 50 research colleges in the US by 2025. Luckily for students, creative activities, the experience of students and athletic opportunities are at this plan's heart. This means that studying and living at the college can only get better!

MSN considers the University of Florida to have the top student life experience in the Sunshine State. Also, Niche.com places it at 18^th nationally. Time Money places it at seventh for sports lovers, and Rave places it at 40^th in the country for fun. Another thing going for the University of Florida is that it has one of the highest acceptance rates on this list, at 46%. And the college uses this high acceptance rate to its advantage. As the site states, "it's not about the accomplishments of an individual; it's what we can accomplish together." This collaborative spirit continues into student careers; 70% of its undergraduate students find or plan employment in Florida.

OSU is the best college for having a great student life in Ohio, according to MSN. Nationally, it ranks at 22^nd on Niche.com, 18^th on Time Money, 10^th on Rave andjoint 54^th on US News. And Ohio State University has invested heavily in ensuring that students have a great and fulfilling experience. Its Office of Student Life has more than 40 departments dedicated to ensuring that every student's unique needs are met. It has employed over 6,500 people to ensure that this demand is met. This means that while OSU has the highest student enrollment on this list, standing at over 66,000, the needs of students do not get lost.

Princeton Review states that Tulane University has the ninth best quality of life for students. Elsewhere, the college ranks at 50^th on Niche.com, 42^nd on Rave, and MSN names it the best student life college in Louisiana. It's easy to see how a college based in the party city of New Orleans must be fun for students, but what about study? Well, Tulane has some innovative programs that ensure its students get the best education. For instance, it requires all students to participate in community engagement and offers interesting classes about the local area, such as one that focuses on New Orleans's music and culture. Also, the college prides itself on having the most flexible degree programs, letting students take whatever classes they want once they're admitted.

This college has the best student life experience in the state of Illinois according to MSN. Business Insider also ranks it 18^th in the country. Niche.com places it at 26^th. Rave places it at 15^th, and Time Money has it at 44^th. Although the towns of Urbana and Champaign are small, the university has plenty of interesting resources to keep students entertained and educationally engaged, including four theaters, over 10,000 works of art, a museum of global culture, 470,000 square feet of recreational space, a 1,500-acre park and much more.

Colgate University manages to feature in the top 10 of two methodology lists. Her Campus places it as the ninth best work hard, play hard college in America. Business Insider is even more generous, placing it at sixth. Time Money lists it at 22^nd. However, Niche.com places it at 103^rd. The other lists do not include it. Colgate University has a very dedicated approach for ensuring that its students are both relaxed and productive. It has a liberal arts core curriculum that allows, "students to develop as citizens and leaders who can engage thoughtfully and flourish in the careers they want." Additionally, the college is proud of its division 1 athletics and beautiful campus.

This college places at 27^th on Rave, 11^th on Niche.com and fifth on Princeton Review. Some of Princeton Review's other rankings show why Virginia Tech's students have such a good quality of life and are so productive. The other rankings state that Virginia Tech has the sixth best food of any college in the nation and the 11^th best alumni network. Eating well and seeing successful alumni on a regular basis are sure to be encouraging! If this weren't enough, it regularly hosts events as part of an initiative named InclusiveVT that are designed to be inspiring to all people. The events are based on the themes of community, diversity, and excellence.

This college ranks at 15^th on Business Insider, 13^th on Princeton Review, 68^th on Time Money and joint 32^nd on US News. College of William & Mary is the perfect mix of the old and the new. It's the second oldest institution of higher learning in America, but it has also implemented many innovative programs for students. And it celebrates cultures from across the globe. For example, students participate in a Hindu festival of colors every spring by throwing colorful powder at one another. As for its studying credentials, on top of its hundreds of years of experience, College of William & Mary has an 11 to one student/faculty ratio, which allows students to gain extensive help and assistance from professors.

Indiana University is joint 90^th on US News's national universities list, however the academics the publication interviewed put it in the top 30 for first-year experience. Also, Rave lists it as the 12^th most fun college in America. Time Money places it at 69^th, and Niche.com's student-led reviews place it at 28^th. Indiana University's approach to creating a fun and educational work environment has led to, "revolutionary ideas and unexpected collaborations," for 200 years. And you may not think it, but Indiana University's hometown, Bloomington, is an incredible place. In fact, Forbes ranked it the number one city for work/life balance!

27. College of William & Mary

The methodology lists' rankings of the University of Iowa vary wildly. It is as high as third place on Rave. Also, MSN names it the best place to study in the state of Iowa. However, it ranks at 51^st place on the student review led Niche.com. It is also 53^rd on Time Money. It does not appear on the other methodology lists. And while Iowa City isn't the most famous place in the world, it's surprisingly great! In fact, it's often voted as one of the best places for people to live in America. As University of Iowa's website states, "It's where small-town hospitality meets big-city amenities." Also, the college is committed to diversity and the exchange of different ideas, meaning that most people would benefit from the college's educational approach.

For students studying complex technology-related subjects, it's important to be in a great environment. Luckily, the Atlanta based Georgia Institute of Technology offers just that. Atlanta is an expanding and vibrant cultural center of the south. Business Insider places this college at 16^th for work hard/play hard colleges. Niche.com places it at 29^th. Time Money places it at 50^th. And Georgia Institute of Technology puts its students' strong work ethic down to the college's balanced atmosphere, which offers sports, traditions and over 400 organizations.