...Penn State University, according to the Princeton Review's 2010 college rankings that were based on an 80-question survey completed by 122,000 students on 371 campuses nationwide.

This is the first time Penn State has come in at the top of this dubious list, although it has been on the party school list the last seven years and ranked third in 2008. Last year's winner was the University of Florida. Conscientious grown-ups, namely university presidents, medical experts and parents who pay hefty tuition bills to these schools, deride this particular ranking as irresponsible and unscientific. Meanwhile, students cheer when their school is recognized as a party-hearty place to be.

"These rankings are not more than popularity contests," university spokeswoman Annemarie Mountz told The Associated Press, claiming there was a movement on Facebook to make Penn State the top party school. "It's a badge of honor at this point. Nationwide, kids want to pump their schools in these surveys," Mountz insisted to AP. "It's not connected to reality." Penn State also finished first in the categories "lots of beer" and "students who pack the stadium."

Top 10 party schools in the U.SA.:
1. Penn State University
2. University of Florida
3. University of Mississippi
4. University of Georgia
5. Ohio University
6. West Virginia University
7. University of Texas, Austin
8. University of Wisconsin, Madison
9. Florida State University
10. University of California-Santa Barbara

On the opposite end of this scale are the top 10 stone-cold sober schools:
1. Brigham Young University
2. Wheaton College
3. U.S. Coast Guard Academy
4. College of the Ozarks
5. Wesleyan College
6. U.S. Air Force Academy
7. U.S. Naval Academy
8. Wellesley College
9. Thomas Aquinas College
10. Calvin College

No. 1 schools in other categories you won't find on most lists:
Best Career Services: University of Florida
Best Classroom Experience: Pomona College
Most Accessible Profs: U.S. Military Academy
Most Conservative Students: Texas A&M University
Most Liberal Students: Warren Wilson College
Most Politically Active Students: George Washington University
Least Religious Students: Bennington College
Race / Class Relations Friendliest: University of Miami
Gay Community Most Accepted: New York University
Top Party Schools: Pennsylvania State University
Top Stone-Cold Sober Schools: Brigham Young University
Everyone Plays Intramural Sports: University of Notre Dame
Best Athletic Facilities: University of Maryland at College Park
Best Town-Gown Relations: Clemson University

About the book: "The Best 371 Colleges" ranks 371 schools in 62 categories, including admissions, financial aid, best professors, happiest students, best dorms and a "green" rating for environmentally-friendly practices.

--From the Editors at Netscape