Who studies the most? It is a question that can bring back memories of school bells, hurried trips home, and the familiar relief of leaving the classroom behind. College may offer greater academic freedom, but for many students, the day does not end when the final lecture does.In the United States, the hours after class can bring a demanding second shift of assignments, problem sets, laboratory work, reading, and exam preparation. At some colleges, this study culture is particularly intense. According to The Princeton Review, California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena ranks No. 1 among US colleges where students report spending the most time studying outside class. The ranking is based on student responses collected for The Best 391 Colleges: 2026 Edition, published in August 2025.
Caltech tops the list
The Princeton Review surveyed around 170,000 students across 391 colleges about their college experiences. One of the questions asked students, “How many out-of-class hours do you spend studying each day?”Based on their responses, Caltech emerged as the institution where students reported the highest levels of study time.The result is perhaps unsurprising given Caltech’s reputation for rigorous science and engineering education. The Pasadena institution is known for its demanding academic environment, where students routinely engage with advanced scientific and mathematical concepts.But the ranking is based on self-reported study hours, not independently tracked data. The Princeton Review also did not publish the average number of hours students at each college reported studying.
The five colleges where students study the most
1. California Institute of TechnologyLocation: Pasadena, CaliforniaCaltech takes the top position in the Princeton Review’s “Students Study the Most” category. The university’s intense STEM-focused curriculum makes it one of the most academically demanding environments on the list.For students drawn to physics, mathematics, engineering, and the sciences, the institution offers an environment where classroom learning can extend well into independent study and research.2. Harvey Mudd CollegeLocation: Claremont, CaliforniaAnother California institution occupies second place. Harvey Mudd College is particularly known for combining science, technology, engineering, and mathematics with a broader liberal arts education.Its appearance near the top alongside Caltech highlights the strong academic workload associated with several specialised STEM institutions.3. Franklin W. Olin College of EngineeringLocation: Needham, MassachusettsAt No. 3 is Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering. The Massachusetts institution has a distinctive engineering-focused academic model and a relatively small student body.Its position demonstrates that intense study habits are not limited to large research universities. Smaller institutions can also cultivate demanding academic environments.4. Grinnell CollegeLocation: Grinnell, IowaGrinnell College breaks the STEM-heavy pattern. A highly regarded liberal arts institution, Grinnell’s presence at No. 4 shows that students can report substantial study commitments even outside specialised engineering and science programmes.5. Rose-Hulman Institute of TechnologyLocation: Terre Haute, IndianaRounding out the top five is Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, another institution with a strong focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.Its fifth-place ranking reinforces the broader pattern: several colleges where students report heavy study schedules have academically intensive STEM programmes.
What the ranking really means
The Princeton Review ranking should not be read as a definitive list of America’s “hardest” colleges. It measures how much students say they study outside class, rather than academic difficulty, grades, or learning outcomes.Still, the findings offer an interesting glimpse into campus culture. At these five institutions, students themselves report spending significant time beyond the classroom with their books, assignments, and coursework.And at the top of that academic marathon stands Caltech, where, according to The Princeton Review’s student survey, the studying does not stop when the lecture does.
