College students who want to party often feel pressure to join Greek life. At many schools, fraternities and sororities effectively control the social scene on campus. They host all the parties, and to get in, you have to be a member or know people who are.
Unfortunately, Greek organizations can be expensive, and they aren’t for everyone. There are many ways to enjoy the college experience without joining a fraternity or sorority. That’s especially true for students who attend colleges with robust party scenes but no Greek Life.
This guide covers the best party schools without Greek life. These colleges include Connecticut College, College of the Holy Cross, and Grinnell College.
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Best Party Schools Without Greek Life
On many college campuses across the country, the Greek scene is synonymous with the party scene on campus. Because the frats and sororities host all the parties, students who aren’t members or don’t have an “in” — a friend who belongs to a house, for example — can be left without anything to do on Friday and Saturday nights.
This is especially true on college campuses with overwhelmingly large Greek scenes and no corresponding bar or house party scene. Small residential liberal arts colleges with high Greek participation rates are particularly tough places for independents to party, as the high percentage of on-campus living precludes off-campus house parties and the small student body size doesn’t leave many people left once you account for the Greek members.
Fortunately, there are a handful of schools with solid party cultures and no Greek scene to be found. At these schools, it isn’t just that the Greek participation rate is low. It’s that there are no frats or sororities, period. If you want to party but don’t want to have to pledge to do it, these schools are worth a look.
Here are our six top party schools without Greek life.
Connecticut College
- Location: New London, CT
- Female-to-male ratio: 59/41
- Percent of students living on campus: 98%
Connecticut College is a private liberal arts college in New London, Connecticut. It was founded in 1911 as the Connecticut College for Women and became coeducational in 1969. The college has an enrollment of about 1,900 students.
The school is known for its academic rigor and its commitment to social responsibility. Its student body, while largely wealthy and supplied in large part by posh Northeastern prep schools, leans decidedly left politically. In recent years, ConnColl has been ranked as one of the best colleges in the country for students who want to pursue a career in public service.
There are no fraternities or sororities at Connecticut College, but that doesn’t mean the party scene on campus isn’t robust. Student organizations, clubs, and sports teams throw dozens of parties throughout the year. Students also get together for more low-key gatherings in dorm rooms and on-campus apartments.
There are also many off-campus options for students looking to party. The city of New London has several bars and even a couple of clubs, while nearby Mystic, a popular tourist destination, supplies more entertainment choices.
All in all, Connecticut College is a great place for students who are looking for a lively social scene that isn’t attached to a Greek system.
College of the Holy Cross
- Location: Worcester, MA
- Female-to-male ratio: 55/45
- Percent of students living on campus: 87%
College of the Holy Cross is a small, private Jesuit liberal arts college located in Worcester, Massachusetts. The college has about 3,100 students and offers a rigorous academic program. The campus is beautiful, with old buildings and plenty of green space. The student body is diverse and friendly.
As is the case at many Jesuit schools, there is no Greek life at the College of the Holy Cross. But that doesn’t mean students can’t have full social calendars loaded with parties every weekend. Many of the student-run organizations on campus — and particularly the sports teams — fuel the party scene. There are also several bars and restaurants near campus.
As for what the party scene looks like at Holy Cross, it’s pretty diverse. You can find anything from small, intimate gatherings to wild ragers. The school’s Catholic affiliation means that you’ll find some students who don’t drink, but there are also plenty of students who do. Whatever your scene is, you can find it at Holy Cross.
If you’re looking for a big night out off campus, head to Main Street in Worcester. This is where most of the bars and clubs are located, and it’s always packed on weekends. If you want something more low-key, there are plenty of options on campus. Students often gather in dorm rooms or apartments to drink and socialize. There’s also a big party scene at the off-campus apartments near campus.
Grinnell College
- Location: Grinnell, IA
- Female-to-male ratio: 53/47
- Percent of students living on campus: 88%
Grinnell College, located in Grinnell, Iowa, is a private liberal arts college known for its rigorous academics and commitment to social justice. It regularly ranks as one of the top 10 to 15 liberal arts colleges in the entire country by U.S. News. And with an acceptance rate that hovers under 20%, it’s also one of the most difficult to get into.
Grinnell doesn’t have Greek life on campus. The college instead focuses on fostering a close-knit community through its residential life program. All students are required to live on campus for all four years at Grinnell except under rare circumstances. The college also has a strong student government and more than 100 student organizations.
The party scene at Grinnell is robust but laid back — introverts often thrive here. Grinnellians tend to lean far to the left politically, and as such, they eschew labels and organizing themselves into cliques. It’s more of an “anything goes” mentality. You’ll see jocks partying it up with theatre kids, nerds hobnobbing with stoners, and so forth.
Rice University
- Location: Houston, TX
- Female-to-male ratio: 51/49
- Percent of students living on campus: 69%
Rice University is a private research university located in Houston, Texas. The school is known for its highly selective admissions process (its acceptance rate is now under 10% and keeps falling), as well as its competitive academic programs.
Rice University is also home to a vibrant student life, with a variety of clubs and organizations available to students. The school is also known for its annual “Rice Day” celebration, which features a variety of events and activities for students to enjoy.
Rice University’s Residential College System is its replacement for Greek life. The system is set up so that there are 11 different residential colleges, each with their own dorms, dining halls, and social events. This allows for a more personal and intimate party scene, as opposed to the large and impersonal parties often found at schools with Greek life.
It also isn’t selective — every student gets placed into a residential college upon enrolling at Rice. The vast majority end up loving their college, but on the off chance yours is a bad fit, you can petition to switch. Unlike in a Greek system, no students “fall through” and fail to find a group.
The residential colleges host their own unique events throughout the year, such as themed parties and concerts. This variety ensures that there is always something going on for students to enjoy.
Hendrix College
- Location: Conway, AR
- Female-to-male ratio: 51/49
- Percent of students living on campus: 89%
Hendrix College is a private liberal arts college in Conway, Arkansas. Hendrix was founded in 1876 and is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The school is known for its rigorous humanities programs, liberal student body, and vibrant dorm culture.
The college has eight residence halls, each with its own personality and atmosphere. There’s the “party” men’s underclassman dorm, the “party” women’s underclassman dorm, and then two underclassman dorms — one male, one female — that historically have catered to quieter, more laid-back students. There’s also a coed underclassman dorm that is often stereotyped as the “stoner” dorm — but this isn’t always accurate and can vary from year to year.
Upperclass students typically live in the college-owned apartments, lofts, and townhouses on and near campus. Students frequently host parties at these residences, as well.
New College of Florida
- Location: Sarasota, FL
- Female-to-male ratio: 67/33
- Percent of students living on campus: 74%
New College of Florida is a public liberal arts college with fewer than 1,000 students. Located in Sarasota, Florida, the school has been named one of the nation’s “Public Ivies” and is ranked among the top 100 liberal arts colleges in the country by U.S. News & World Report.
New College students enjoy a close-knit community and plenty of opportunities to get involved on campus. When it comes to partying, there’s no shortage of things to do in Sarasota — from beaches and nightlife to festivals and concerts.
New College has a unique culture and is known for its laid-back atmosphere and strong academic programs. For many years, it was known as one of the most liberal schools in the country, with a massive LGBTQ scene and a glaring dearth of conservative or even moderate students. Amid declining enrollment and financial problems, however, the governor appointed a new Board of Trustees in 2023 and set a goal to remake the school in the mold of Hillsdale College, a private liberal arts college in Michigan that fiercely protects free speech and is known for its conservative and libertarian leanings.
To give an idea of how liberal New College is, the professors don’t even give grades. Instead, students receive “narrative evaluations” — lengthy writeups that discuss the strengths and weaknesses of their performance over the semester — at the end of each course.
There are a number of student-run clubs and organizations on campus, and students can often be found relaxing in one of the many hammocks around campus, throwing frisbees, or playing chess on the massive life-size chess board that fills the lawn between two campus dorms.
The college does not have Greek life, nor have students traditionally wanted it. It remains to be seen if that will remain the case given the cultural shakeup at the school. Instead, students make their own fun. “Walls” at New College of Florida are a big deal. These are campus-wide parties that typically involve house music and lots of dancing. Drugs and alcohol are known to be prevalent at these events, but there is precisely zero pressure to partake.
