UW-Madison ranks fifth among top US party schools in new list
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is one of the country's top party schools, according to a new USA TODAY ranking.
With college football season about to begin, USA TODAY ranked the top party schools across the United States by averaging the results of seven different online lists, including Niche.com and The Wall Street Journal.
UW-Madison ranked fifth, just ahead of West Virginia and just behind Georgia.
The school's high ranking likely comes as no surprise to many, considering its reputation for pre-Badger game tailgates, Greek life and the annual Mifflin Street Block Party. Niche, a school rankings website, also ranked UW-Madison fifth among party schools and fourth in Greek life. Madison as a whole has previously ranked among the top cities for beer drinkers.
More: Want to be a Badger? It's getting harder to gain admission to UW
Hamilton High School students Liana Nickel, 17, and Nicky Tshimanga, 17, attend a workshop by MPS and UW-Madison for incoming seniors ranking in the top 5% of their class, at the Alexander Hamilton High School College and Career Center on Aug. 18, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Hannah Schroeder / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)Tammy Hart asks a question about college admission alongside her daughter Summer Hart, 17, and husband John Hart, during a MPS and UW-Madison workshop for incoming seniors in the top 5% of their class, at the Alexander Hamilton High School College and Career Center on Aug. 18, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Hannah Schroeder / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)Malik Farr, associate director of outreach and recruitment at UW-Madison, gives advice on the college admission process and financial aid during an MPS and UW-Madison workshop for high-performing incoming seniors at the Alexander Hamilton High School College and Career Center on Aug. 18, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Hannah Schroeder / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)Students and parents ask questions about college admissions and financial aid during an MPS and UW-Madison pilot workshop for incoming seniors in the top 5% of their class, at the Alexander Hamilton High School College and Career Center on Aug. 18, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Hannah Schroeder / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)Irving Barra, director of strategic partnership at All-In Milwaukee, speaks about the organization's college program during an MPS and UW-Madison pilot workshop for incoming seniors in the top 5% of their class at the Alexander Hamilton High School College and Career Center on Aug. 18, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Hannah Schroeder / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)Nicholas Sandoval-Morales, 17, of Pulaski High School listens to a presentation with his college and career center adviser, Adelina Benavides, during an MPS and UW-Madison workshop for incoming seniors in the top 5% of their class at the Alexander Hamilton High School College and Career Center on Aug. 18, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Hannah Schroeder / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)Students attend a workshop hosted by MPS and UW-Madison for incoming seniors in the top 5% of their class at the Alexander Hamilton High School College and Career Center on Aug. 18, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Hannah Schroeder / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)Rosie Yang, senior recruitment coordinator at UW-Madison, advises Ella Navidad, 17, during an MPS and UW-Madison pilot workshop for incoming seniors in the top 5% of their class at the Alexander Hamilton High School College and Career Center on Aug. 18, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Hannah Schroeder / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)Rosie Yang, senior recruitment coordinator at UW-Madison, advises Ella Navidad, 17, during an MPS and UW-Madison workshop for incoming seniors in the top 5% of their class at the Alexander Hamilton High School College and Career Center on Aug. 18, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Hannah Schroeder / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)Payton Beverly, left, multicultural outreach coordinator at UW-Madison, advises Tammy Hart, Summer Hart, 17, and John Hart during an MPS and UW-Madison workshop for incoming seniors in the top 5% of their class at the Alexander Hamilton High School College and Career Center on Aug. 18, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Hannah Schroeder / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)Paul Compton, left, interim senior associate director for recruitment outreach and communications at UW-Madison, advises students Liana Nickel, 17, and Nicky Tshimanga, 17, during an MPS and UW-Madison workshop for incoming seniors in the top 5% of their class, at the Alexander Hamilton High School College and Career Center on Aug. 18, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Hannah Schroeder / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)Students attend a workshop hosted by MPS and UW-Madison for incoming seniors in the top 5% of their class at the Alexander Hamilton High School College and Career Center on Aug. 18, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Hannah Schroeder / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
Francesca Pica and Claire Reid contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: UW-Madison ranks fifth among top US party schools in new list
