10 Happiest Colleges in America in 2026

What makes a college student truly happy? It's not always about prestige rankings or name recognition. According to thousands of students surveyed by The Princeton Review, happiness at college comes down to community, belonging, campus culture, and the small everyday moments that make a school feel like home. These 10 colleges top the list of the happiest colleges in America, and the reviews come straight from their own students. Whether you're a high school junior narrowing down your college list, a senior making a final decision, or a parent helping a student research their options, this guide breaks down what makes each of these schools stand out for student wellbeing, campus life, and overall quality of life.

Happiest Colleges in America

1. Texas Christian University

Location: Fort Worth, Texas Students: 10,915 Annual costs: $82,310 Students have said, TCU is full of "engaged, generally extroverted individuals who are optimistic about their potential to change the world,” as stated on The Princeton Review. The school provides a warm, welcoming environment that can only be described as “southern hospitality.”

2. Denison University

Location: Granville, Ohio Undergraduate students: 2,458 Annual costs: $93,400 Students at Denison attribute their happiness on campus to its small size and ease of meeting new people from different places. They say, "There is someone representing every personality, character, experience, and friendship style at Denison, so you are guaranteed to find a great group of friends."

3. Washington State University

Location: Pullman, Washington Undergraduate students: 21,923 Annual costs: $36,804 (in-state) and $53,910 (out-of-state) Washington State University provides a welcoming campus where “everyone is able to find a place where they feel they belong.” Students tell The Princeton Review that the “student body supports and uplifts each other both academically and socially.”

4. Taylor University

Location: Upland, Indiana Undergraduate students: 2,503 Annual costs: $51,918 According to results from The Princeton Review rankings, students on Taylor’s campus are “kind-hearted and joy-filled.” One student says, "The traditions, chapel, and classrooms, all bring us together, but the most mundane moments are where the raw, genuine interactions shine through."

5. Hillsdale College

Location: Hillsdale, Michigan Undergraduate students: 1,565 Annual costs: $49,409 The small-town campus feel enables students at Hillsdale to create and sustain friendships quickly and easily. They also state that while most students have similar values, it's also a campus that engages with disagreement positively. The Princeton Review sums it up this way: Students deeply value discussion and debate, finding that “disagreement...is a reason to improve a friendship, not to disintegrate it.”

6. Washington and Lee University

Location: Lexington, Virginia Undergraduate students: 1,916 Annual costs: $92,870 Students at Washington and Lee attribute the positive vibes on campus to a commitment to "Southern hospitality." The campus location allows students to experience the best of both worlds -- through the vast trail network in the nearby mountains to the small-town coffee shops and bookstores in Lexington. One student shared with The Princeton Review, "the school is full of opportunities to get involved and stay busy, no matter what you're into."

7. Auburn University

Location: Auburn, Alabama Undergraduate students: 24,931 Annual costs: $36,882 Students say that Auburn is a “welcoming place” with an “Old South small town feeling.” The Princeton Review records that sports “drive a ton of campus life and help unite the student body.”

8. Kansas State University

Location: Manhattan, Kansas Undergraduate students: 15,113 Annual costs: $26,346 (in-state) and $44,040 (out-of-state) Students tell The Princeton Review that their university feels like a family, or a small town. The body is very community-minded, and everyone is community-minded and very proud of the university.

9. Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Location: Geneva, New York Undergraduate students: 1,862 Annual costs: $85,772 Students tell The Princeton Review that Hobart and William Smith boasts a diverse, dynamic student body and therein lies its great appeal. One student said, “My housemates vary from individuals on the sailing team, to dancers, to student government members...yet everyone...still gets together to do house dinners and movie nights.... Our student body is engaged in campus life, but we are also committed to being involved with one another in rich relationships.”

10. University of Dallas

Location: Irving, Texas Undergraduate students: 1,427 Annual costs: $68,940 Students at University of Dallas tell The Princeton Review that the campus body is “very lively and friendly” as well as “bright and highly driven.” Another student adds, “There are so many things to do that I often find myself struggling to decide how to fit them all in!”

Should College Rankings Matter to You?

Rankings can be a great tool in the college admissions process. They can provide a starting point for students with no prior opinion on where they want to attend. You can search for schools by best financial aid or happiest students, finding the top schools with qualities that are most important to you. However, college rankings should also be used with a grain of salt. For instance, The Princeton Review is determined largely by student votes at those particular schools, so it is a bit biased. Essentially, it’s fine to use college rankings as part of your research, but don’t rely to heavily on the results to make your final college decision. Instead, go with your gut – or your heart or mind – after touring campuses, participating in admissions interviews, and completing overnight visits. Really getting to know a school is the best way to make an educated decision. Be smart about how you’re choosing your college – and why.

Frequently Asked Questions

From how happiness contributes to the quality of the education to which are the most affordable, we have answers to your common questions about the happiest colleges in America:

What makes a college the happiest?

Students that are happiest at their college place value on the satisfaction of their entire experience. This means they find contentment and fulfillment in the classroom, through extracurricular offerings, campus aesthetics, community engagement, and quality of room and board.

Are the happiest colleges the best colleges?

That is relative. If you're considering "best colleges" as those with prestige, they may not make the happiest colleges list. However, if you're a student or parent who values wellbeing and contentment over reputation, then the happiest colleges are absolutely the best.

Which happiest college is the most affordable?

While some of these colleges have high sticker prices, their generous financial aid packages cover much of the cost, making them more affordable. There are also a few public colleges that make the list as well, offering a great education for less money for in-state students. Kansas State is the most affordable with Auburn University coming in at a close second; both of which are public universities. However, Washington and Lee, which carries the highest sticker price, actually falls to a more comparable price to the public universities once financial aid is factored into net costs.

Do any Ivy League schools rank among the happiest colleges?

Typically, Ivy League colleges do not make the happiest colleges list, although they do top plenty of others. Some students would say that Ivy League colleges promote high academic performance and graduation outcome success over campus community and personal well-being, two factors that contribute greatly to student happiness on campus. That's not to say that you can't be happy at an Ivy League school. Ultimately, happiness during the collegiate experience is up to each individual student making the college choice that is right for them.

Find Scholarships for Any of These Schools

Attending a happy college is even better when you're not buried in student debt. Fastweb matches students with scholarships from over 1.5 million opportunities, including awards specific to the schools on this list.