In the realm of college life, happiness plays a crucial role in students’ ability to succeed academically. According to a recent ranking, the alma mater of Apple’s Chief Executive Officer, Tim Cook, stands out as the happiest university in the United States.
Emotional stress has been identified as one of the primary reasons students consider dropping out, as indicated by a recent Gallup poll. Attending a university that fosters happiness can ignite students’ passion for learning and potentially reduce negative emotions.
If you are on the lookout for such a school, The Princeton Review’s latest ranking of the happiest universities in the United States might provide valuable insights.
The Princeton Review ranked universities based on students’ level of agreement with the statement “I am happy with my school.” The results revealed that Auburn University in Alabama topped the list as the happiest university for students. Public records show that Apple CEO Tim Cook earned his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from this university in 1982.
Here are the top 10 happiest universities for students:
1. Auburn University: Located in Auburn, Alabama
2. Kansas State University: Located in Manhattan, Kansas
3. Taylor University: Located in Upland, Indiana
4. University of Dallas: Located in Irving, Texas
5. Thomas Aquinas College: Located in Santa Paula, California
6. Texas Christian University: Located in Fort Worth, Texas
7. Washington State University: Located in Pullman, Washington
8. Marist College: Located in Poughkeepsie, New York
9. Emory University: Located in Atlanta, Georgia
10. Angelo State University: Located in San Angelo, Texas
Auburn University has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top 50 public universities. The university maintains high levels of research activity and offers outstanding teaching standards, providing bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in arts and sciences, agriculture, architecture, business, engineering, nursing, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine. In 2022, the university enrolled 31,764 students.
“I loved my experience at Auburn University,” said 25-year-old Carolina Williams, who chose Auburn University over Yale University in 2017. “I made great friends there. I joined some incredible organizations that provided me with amazing experiences,” Williams told CNBC Make It earlier this year.
“You can actually go to professors and say, ‘What are you researching? Can I help you?’ And the answer is yes,” Williams said.
Many students at Auburn University, including Apple’s CEO Cook, have achieved success after graduation. According to Payscale data, the median starting salary for Auburn University graduates in their first 5 years of work is $69,700, while alumni with over 10 years of work experience have a median income of $126,100.
In second place, Kansas State University boasts over 150 years of tradition and accomplishment, offering more than 250 undergraduate programs and courses across three campuses, as well as various global online courses. The university has comprehensive agricultural and research facilities.
One student noted that leadership opportunities are always within reach at the university. Regarding management, the communication of resources for students is excellent, and the school places significant emphasis on demonstrating the value of the fees paid by students and listening to feedback on fee/service prices.