A California university that is home to several Nobel laureates has also earned the distinction of being the best party school in the United States, according to a recent ranking.
UC Santa Barbara ranked No. 1 on a list of party schools in the U.S. for 2025, published by Niche, an educational research and ranking site.
To calculate the rankings, Niche, which uses a database of nearly 500,000 college student reviews, took into account student surveys about the party scene, bar access, sports rating, Greek life rating and restaurant access.
Comments from current and former students describe the university as an institution that “combines academic rigor with a relaxed coastal lifestyle” and praise the “vibrant student community.” More than a half-dozen Nobel Prize winners in economics, physics and chemistry, including David Card, Alan J. Heeger, Herbert Kroemer and Shuji Nakamura, have taught at UC Santa Barbara over the years.
“I used to be a hardcore partier, but living in Santa Barbara/Isla Vista helped me gain new healthy outdoor habits and learn to be more responsible,” one student wrote. “There are so many activities you can participate in around town and on campus that aren’t parties… It’s literally heaven on earth for an 18-21 year old, as long as you don’t overdo it.”
But one person, who described himself as a parent of a former student, gave the school only two stars and complained that students “are partying all day long.”
“College students are partying, but UCSB is out of control,” the person wrote.
One of the most well-known holiday events is “Deltopia,” an unsanctioned spring break party that takes place in April. The party, which became popular among UC Santa Barbara students who live in Isla Vista near campus, was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic but resumed in 2022, resulting in multiple arrests and citations during the weekend-long event.
In 2014, an estimated 20,000 people attended Deltopia, which led to a riot that left dozens injured and more than 100 arrested. The UC Santa Barbara Student Association issued a statement at the time saying that “the stereotype and image of the ‘wild party’ exists because we, the students, allow it to exist.”
This year and last year, Santa Barbara County officials closed Isla Vista beaches in anticipation of Deltopia. Last year, more than 150 people were issued citations and 23 were arrested.
The most recent Deltopia marked the highest number of citations issued in the event's history with 256, according to The Daily Nexus, a campus newspaper.
