Online guide picks OSU among best and happiest colleges

Oklahoma State University has earned a place among the 200 best colleges in the country and also ranks among the top 20 “happiest” colleges in the U.S., according to the latest online rankings from thedailybeast.com.

 The website analyzed nearly 2,000 four-year, degree granting colleges and universities in the U.S. to pick OSU, which it ranked 15^th among the happiest colleges in the country based on its retention rate for full-time freshmen (80 percent), the quality of its student health center (9.2 out of 10 points), best overall student experience (9.6 out of 10), and willingness among graduating students to do it all over again (10 out of 10).

 The website used publicly available data from several sources and information from an online guide created by students (collegeprowler.com) to develop “The Daily Beast’s Down + Dirty Guide to the Best Colleges,” which the website describes as a survey based on what students actually care about—getting a good job and making a good living.

 The specific criteria used and the weight it received in the rankings as well as sources included: future earnings (20%, Payscale.com), quality of education (20%, National Center for Education Statistics – NCES), affordability (20%, NCES), on-time graduation (10%, NCES), campus quality (10%, College Prowler, US Department of Education, Sperling’s Best Places comfort index), activities and clubs (5%, U.S. News and College Prowler), nightlife (5% College Prowler), diversity (5%, NCES) and sports (5%, College Prowler and U.S. Dept. of Education).