Overview

• Niche’s 2025 list evaluates nearly 2,000 colleges using student surveys on life, party scene and athletics alongside federal data on retention and graduation.
• University of Georgia tops the survey while the University of Alabama rises to No. 5, moving two places above Yale University.
• Auburn University secures No. 13 nationwide, outperforming institutions such as the University of Florida and Virginia Tech.
• Both Alabama schools earn A+ grades for campus quality and student life, with UA receiving a B− safety mark and Auburn a B+.
• Local reports emphasize how campus traditions—from Jordan-Hare Stadium tailgates to UA’s Greek life—underscore each school’s spirited culture.