Which colleges are happiest?

In my consulting practice, I rarely focus on college and university rankings of the kind published annually by U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review. These rankings are well-intentioned, but they have some inherent problems. First, they try to crunch a lot of data into a single ranking system. Second, they tend to produce predictable results, with Ivy League and NESCAC schools consistently dominating their lists. Third, and most important, they fail to take into account the unique needs of individual students. I much prefer to recommend schools to my clients based on "fit" as opposed to rankings.

That said, these annual lists can be fun and interesting to read, and they can lead to interesting discussion with my clients and with other people who strive to be up on the latest developments in higher education. One of my favorite lists to puruse is Princeton Review's list of "Colleges with the Happiest Students." This list is generated solely by asking students to self-report how strongly they agree or disagree with the statement, "I am happy at my school." It's not necessarily the most scientific approach, but it does have a certain directness and transparency that I appreciate. The top ten schools for Happiest Students for 2024 are as follows:

1. Texas Christian University
2. Kansas State University
3. Thomas Aquinas College (CA)
4. Washington State University
5. Emory University
6. Auburn University
7. Angelo State University
8. Wheaton College (IL)
9. University of Dallas
10. University of Richmond

Princeton Review evaluates a total of 389 colleges in its most recent edition, but it only ranks the top 10 in any particular category. If you're curious to hear of schools that score low on student happiness, here are a few that stand out from a variety of sources:

- Duquesne University
- Illinois Institute of Technology
- New Jersey Institute of Technology
- Queens College
- Truman State University
- United States Naval Academy
- University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Which of these colleges were you surprised, or not surprised, to see on these lists? Which college did you attend, and how happy were you? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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