The Princeton Review, among others, have consistently weighed in on which colleges are “party schools,” among other labels. The Review’s announcements are based on non-scientific surveys; any college student can check off if their school is a party school.

But that does not leave parents of college-bound students with an effective guide to whether a college might be a party school as opposed to being a place of serious learning.

One journalist, Craig Brandon, started the ball rolling with his book, The Five Year Party, so I considered the top party schools in the Princeton Review against his criteria, I found Brandon’s criteria for a party school to be inconsistent with the academic numbers (test scores, graduation rates, retention rates) for the schools in the Review, so I looked further.
As a former urban planner, as well as a marketer, I examined demographic and housing issues that may truly contribute to a college or university’s reputation as a party school. I also provided some easy ways for parents and students to gather more information on their own.

The whitepaper is here.

I hope this will be helpful for your stories. I would also like to share any  new ideas that you have as to how parents and students can determine if a college or university is a party school.