Auburn University, located in the “Loveliest Village on the Plains,” is also home to the happiest students in the nation, according to The Princeton Review’s 2025 rankings released this week.
Auburn ranked No. 1 nationally in the “happiest students” category as part of The Princeton Review’s annual “Best 390 Colleges” rankings list. Criteria for the rankings was based on data from surveys of 168,000 students at the 390 schools featured in the review. The student survey included 89 questions, asking students about their life at their university, their fellow students and themselves.
“At Auburn, we are firmly committed to an exceptional student experience. We want our campus to be a place where all students can thrive, and this ranking affirms that we are on the right track,” said Bobby Woodard, Auburn’s senior vice president for student affairs. “The student experience goes beyond academics. Our students benefit tremendously from opportunities to make meaningful connections, hone leadership skills and grow personally and professionally.”
Princeton Review also ranked Auburn second nationally for “Best Athletic Facilities,” fourth in the category of “Town-Gown Relations Are Great,” sixth for “Friendliest Students” and eighth for “Best Quality of Life.”
The top ranking for happiest students comes as no surprise to Jack Hilton, Auburn’s Student Government Association president.
“My time at Auburn has been incredible,” he said. “Students get a first-class education, much of which comes from taking advantage of the endless opportunities to get involved. Auburn takes student feedback seriously, and it creates a campus that truly feels like home.”
Auburn senior Sara Lipe, a public relations major, agrees.
"As a senior at Auburn University, I have had the privilege of experiencing firsthand why Auburn has been recognized as having the happiest students,” she said. “There's a saying often heard on campus: ‘If you love Auburn, Auburn will love you back.’ I believe that Auburn is recognized for having the happiest students because you don't just find a school but a community that breathes life into those words, creating an environment where every individual can feel seen, valued and deeply connected.”
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