25 colleges where students study the most hours a week

Princeton University is one of the colleges where students study the most.Oleg Kovtun/Getty ImagesCollege students all over the country are studying hard, but some are putting in more hours.The Princeton Review surveyed students about the number of hours they study a week.The survey found the most studious college is the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.Depending on which college you attend, you might spend more time hitting the books than your peers elsewhere.Many of the colleges on this list — which ranks schools by how much students study — have rigorous curricula, small class sizes, and an interdisciplinary approach to learning.The list is from the Princeton Review's "The Best 391 Colleges," which surveyed 170,000 students at 391 colleges about their experiences and was published in August 2025.The following ranking was compiled from college student responses to the question: "How many out-of-class hours do you spend studying each day?"Based on the responses, the Princeton Review published a list of the 25 schools where students study the most, but did not share the average number of study hours reported by students at each college.The results are based on students' self-reported study hours, so they reflect respondents' estimates rather than time that has been independently tracked.Here are the 25 colleges where students reported studying the most outside class, ranked from No. 25 to No. 1.25. Rice Universityhapabapa/Getty ImagesRice University offers over 50 undergraduate majors across disciplines such as business, humanities, and natural sciences. Its student-to-faculty ratio for undergraduates is 6-to-1.One student told the Princeton Review: "People work on the weekdays and during the day on weekends, and then on Friday and Saturday everyone does something fun, whether partying or spending time with friends."24. University of Puget Soundivanastar/Getty ImagesThe University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington, offers over 50 undergraduate majors, and all students participate in an experiential learning opportunity, such as study abroad or an internship.Students at Puget Sound said in the survey that they are "very dedicated to their studies" while also invested in extracurriculars.23. Hamilton CollegeHamilton College's Sage RinkPatrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty ImagesHamilton College, in Clinton, New York, offers an open curriculum with 44 majors and 58 areas of study. The school says on its website that almost 70% of people graduate with two majors or a major and a minor.One person told the Princeton Review that Hamilton students are "friendly and academic, but not cut-throat or competitive in any way."22. Webb InstituteSean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty ImagesWebb Institute, in Glen Cove, New York, offers a dual bachelor's degree in naval architecture and marine engineering. Students begin studying their major on the first day of college.The curriculum is intense; students said in the survey that they usually can have a day off on the weekend if they are on top of their studies.21. Gonzaga University: Don and Melinda Crawford/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty ImagesGonzaga University, in Spokane, Washington, offers 16 undergraduate degrees across a wide range of majors, minors, and concentrations. The average class size is 22."My best professors...encouraged us to draw connections on our own, and taught according to what struck us as important," one student told the Princeton Review about their Gonzaga experience.20. Amherst CollegeSuzanne Kreiter/The Boston Globe via Getty ImagesAmherst College in Massachusetts offers students 43 majors and an open curriculum. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 7:1, class sizes are small, and students and professors are close.Students in the survey said the open curriculum provides a lot of "space and freedom to take a variety of classes" and that it's an "academically rigorous undergraduate education."19. Washington University in St. LouisPhilip Rozenski/Getty ImagesWashington University in St. Louis has nine different schools, including the School of Medicine and the Olin Business School. It also offers opportunities for interdisciplinary studies.A student told the Princeton Review that the classes are "very rigorous and challenging."18. Bowdoin College: Catherine Robotis/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty ImagesBrunswick, Maine's Bowdoin College, prides itself on face-to-face, specialized learning. Chalkboards are still in use, and every first-year student has to complete a writing seminar.Survey respondents said students are generally "academically competitive" yet supportive.17. Colby CollegeColby College Museum of ArtGordon Chibroski/Portland Press Herald via Getty ImagesColby College, in Waterville, Maine, says on its website that courses go beyond the classroom, with experiential learning, research, and project-based problem solving part of its teaching.Students in the Princeton Review survey said that the "classes are very rigorous a

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