You may have heard that the University of Iowa recently slipped to sixth in the Princeton Review’s annual rankings of top party schools. Regardless of whether you are elated or dismayed at this news, among more salient measures the Review has also deemed the UI to have the fifth-happiest students. Although I’m not sure that you can accurately measure a school’s party scene or level of happiness, because they are both qualitative estimations that lack concrete data, I do concur with the Review in proclaiming the UI to be one of the happiest schools.

To formulate its rankings, the Review surveys students from 381 of the best colleges and universities, asking them a wide array of questions designed to uncover students’ opinions of their schools. The survey is quite comprehensive, consisting of 80 questions pertaining to elements of the academic structure and college life. When it comes to happiness, some of the most important criteria include academic rigor, student support services, campus facilities and aesthetics, friendliness toward minority groups, town life, extracurricular activities, social scene presence, and campus climate. So if we take a closer look, might students find the UI to be happy place?

First and foremost, the UI has a relaxed feel. Unlike many prestigious universities, the UI is situated in a small urban center allowing students to experience a different lifestyle from that of those in big cities. It’s hard to put into words, but somehow balancing between a city and a rural environment enables Iowa City to exude a chill vibe that puts one at ease.

Perhaps the location of the UI in Iowa City can partly explain the high level of happiness. One of the biggest assets of the UI is that it lies in the heart of downtown Iowa City. This lends students the opportunity to enthrall themselves in the social scene rather than be isolated from enriching experiences. After class, simply by walking a few minutes, a student can stop by a bar for a drink, grab a bite to eat, or visit a shop.

Furthermore, the UI provides a world class, high-quality education without the pressing demands that an Ivy League type of institution imposes. At Iowa, students acquire a sound education while bypassing the relentless requirements that necessitate stress at top-tier academic schools. This phenomenon is sure to interplay with the prevalent party scene at Iowa as well. Unlike Ivy League schools and their counterparts, the UI delivers an education focused on more than just academics. Arguably, recreation and camaraderie are two integral ingredients to living a life of leisure. It is no coincidence then that the UI offers ample doses of both ingredients. From the prevalence of biking to the state-of-the-art Rec Center, recreational activity runs deep in the UI. Moreover, the existence of big-time Division 1 sports teams benefits students, student-athletes, and fans alike. Sports can foster camaraderie that works to bond people together; therefore, students have something in common with one another that they can use to escape from the stresses of academics.