Student Life at Minnesota State Mankato ranked third among the top-10 rated colleges and universities in Minnesota according to a recent statewide poll posted on the Niche website.

Minnesota State Mankato ranked third behind the Twin Cities campuses of the University of Minnesota and the University of St. Thomas, in first and second place respectively. Minnesota State Mankato was the only school within the Minn State system to make the top 10 list.

Niche, formerly known as College Prowler, provides comprehensive information and rankings on colleges and universities across the country.

Rankings for Campus Life examines students’ polls in such areas as housing, dining, campus quality, safety, sports, clubs and activities, party scene and Greek life.

On the national scale, University Dining ranked #67 among 1,361 schools for Best College Food in America. In other student ratings, 83 percent of students felt safe and secure on campus; 59 percent felt varsity sports played a big part in campus life. Among campus residents, 70 percent of students said “the dorms’ social atmosphere is great,” Niche stated.

Among campus activities, Homecoming, Welcome Week and Men’s Hockey Games ranked in the top three respectively. As for the party scene, only 7 percent said there were raging parties nightly. Another 38 percent said there were lots of options between Wednesdays and Saturdays with most parties (32 percent) on weekends.