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America's Fittest Colleges in America 2006
Editorial Content by Nate Millado; Research Conducted by The Princeton Review
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"I will never accept mediocrity."
The Dickinson College lacrosse team from Carlisle, Penn., recites this creed before every single game. But those words could pretty much sum up the "work hard, play hard" mentality of most Dickinson students. Take midfielder Bernie Nolan. As a member of the Phi Kappa Si fraternity, the 21-year-old senior lets loose on Saturday nights with a kegger-or two. But that doesn't mean fitness is all Greek to him. In fact, even though the season only runs from February to May, Nolan makes lacrosse a yearlong commitment, dedicating 20 hours a week to the sport through grueling practices and pounding weight workouts.
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It's Dickinson students' above-average ability to juggle six-pack abs with, well, six-packs, that shoots the Red Devils to the head of the class when it comes to being fit and active. But which other schools make the grade? What other colleges and universities have found the way to balance academic excellence with athletic acumen throughout the whole school body? To find out, Men's Fitness consulted with The Princeton Review for the second year in a row to discover which colleges and universities are winning the war against the nation's ever-expanding collective gut. And after surveying almost 12,500 students from the country's top institutions, we've narrowed it down to our dean's list of the 25 fittest. . . .
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Reader Comments:
I went to ACI and it definatley was a fit place, most students played sports for the college and if not we had access to a nice gym and weight facility.
-- Katie
Where is James Madison University in VA? When I attended there 10 years ago, they had amazing fitness programs and a fabulous rec center that included a climbing wall, state of the art exercise equipment and over 85 aerobics classes offered each week. Have they not kept this up?
-- Dara
Obviously you didn't stop in Atlanta to see Georgia Tech. With a newly remodeled Campus Recreation Center built around the ammenities for the Summer Olympics of 1996, there isn't a better fitness center in the country. Every treadmill, elyptical machine, and bike has a TV, we have an enormous rock climbing wall, several basketball and raquetball courts, an indoor track, the Olympic pool and we have the second largest outdoor turf fields in the nation. We even have a 4 story water slide, show us some love!
-- Chris (Georgia Tech)
Where is Dartmouth College? Phys Ed is a requirement there too, including one of the only schools that requires students to pass a swim test in order to graduate.
-- Jessica
How about military academies? They also have mandated PE classes and I know the US Air Force Academy has mandated swimming and water survival courses, boxing/wrestling, unarmed combat classes, and mandatory fitness tests every semester as well.
-- Kelly
Dara,
I teach at JMU, and I also go to UREC. Yes, it is still a fit place and the students are generally in great shape. UREC is packed and students run and walk in the streets. I agree-they should be on the list.
-- Anne
It's Phi Kappa Psi. Not Phi Kappa Si.
-- John
What happenend to University of Colorado? It was #6 last year and completely fell off the list this year.
-- Aaron
Whoops, someone forget to include the U.S. Military Academies! Those are THE fittest colleges in the nation, hands down!
Unless you were excluding them on purpose, in which case you should have made a note stating that.
-- Susan
I just looked at your list of fittest colleges. It does not suprise me that most of the fattest colleges are from Louisiana and Mississippi. I am from New Orleans, LA and I go to school at Mississippi State University. It is hard to blame colleges from these states because of the atmosphere they are in. I mean that these two states probably have the best food in the nation, whether it is seafood, barbaque, or fried chicken. If you look at the list of fattest states in the nation, LA and MISS are among the top. This is probably the reason schools from the south are at the top of the fattest colleges.
-- Ryan Morrison.
Does this list exclude military colleges? I see on the list Virginia Tech who does have a Corp of Cadets. What about Virgnia Military Institue and the Citadel?
-- Jason
I agree with Dara. I currently attend James Madison University in VA and believe it should be on the list. The recreation center offers practically everything, including online registration for any of its 60 different group fitness classes, adventure trips, as well as fitness and nutrition courses. The quad is a great outdoor place to exercise while having fun. There is plenty of Frisbee, football, and baseball, not to mention break dancing and tightrope walking. The dining facilities also add to JMU's fitness level, as they offer a wide variety of healthy foods, including many vegetarian and vegan options.
-- Kara
I think Boston College was mistaken for Boston University, common mistake, but be aware, they are nothing alike!
Boston University just invested hundreds of millions of funding into a brand new student village...of which the first phase built three beautiful additions: the 18-story Student Village apartments for upperclassmen; the enormous Agganis Arena; and the breathtaking FitRec center. The fitrec center has every piece of new Nautilus and Precor equipment known to man, and then some. Two full size basketball gyms. A huge indoor aquatic complex. Raquetball, squash courts. An elevated running track. Spinning/yoga/martial arts/dance classes and rooms. A 40' rock climbing wall, on which there are eight or nine ropes and dozens of routes. The best part, it is FREE for students! This beats any membership gym out there, and we can walk in, and use anything and everything in there so long that we are a BU student. Our dining options consist of many organic, fat-free, and health-conscious foods - the Sargent Choice meals are especially designed for such a purpose. And the fact that we are a city-style campus, integrated in amazing Boston, MA, we do plenty of walking. Seriously why were we over looked??
Take a peek for yourself, you'd be jealous! http://www.bu.edu/fitrec
-- Arthur P
How could you have missed Texas Tech University? Have you seen the Student Rec Center there? And look at the number of bicycles on campus at the dorms and class buildings. I look forward to the revised edition to this list.
-- Scott
I went to Grove City College and this article is so far from the actual truth at the school, about 20% of the campus is healthy. Yes the school makes you take fitness and wellness as a freshmen, but after that they do nothing for you excpet fill your body with that terrible food ( i see intake got a D+ from the study). The school does have a state of the art weight room and another state of the art room with all the aerobic excerise machines, but does that really mean that the school is healthy? They give students the OPPERTUNITY to work out like most schools do, but in no way are the facilities there used like they would be if this was truely a FIT COLLEGE.
-- Chris
Where did University of Kansas come in?
-- Sam S.
I'd venture to guess that the service academies (Navy, Army, and Air Force which are Division I colleges in their own right) and schools like them (VMI, the Citadel) are the top schools in the country. I'm assuming this survey was done without regard to them.
-- Jeremy
Boston College??? BC?
Last I remember the campus was filled with a bunch of pale sea cows.
-- Manatee
As a Wheaton College grad of 20 years ago, I can confirm that the college, in its phys ed requirements geared toward long-term healthy lifestyles and its amazing athletic facilities for a small college, really was a healthy place to go to school. Of course, nobody drinking or smoking also helped. All these years later, much of what I learned there has become habit. Good job, Wheaton!
-- Scott
Where are the Military Academies of the United States??? They have to be in great shape just to get in.
-- Andy
Dear Neal,
Today Show was excellent!! Keep this survey going (Fall AND Spring). Of the 115 colleges, did you ask Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana??? I teach in a Fitness/Wellness program here that is a requirement in the Core Course program. I know where you could get 2,000 more responses to the poll...
Even our president and her husband work out daily! Our Human Performance Lab is legendary - we even boast the Fisher Institute for Wellness. Come visit!!!!
Cordially,
Marge Hobley (OK. Melissa's MOM)
-- Marge Hobley
What about the Military Academies? They are by far the most fit colleges in the world. Every cadet does some form of physical training every semester. Cadets do summer traininf: survival school, airborne schools, etc... Someone missed the boat.
-- Steve
Are you kidding me ? You must have forgotten that the United States Naval Academy, The United States Military Academy (West Point ) and The United States Air Force Academy are Universitys.How many Universitys require their students to play a sport or exercise daily ? How many Universitys have fitness requirements just to get in ? How many Universitys have fitness requirements to stay in ? How many Universitys require their students to take a physical fitness test yearly. I would say you just plain forgot the top 3.The top 3 by a large margin.
-- MIKE CONATSER
I can't believe University of Michigan at Flint is on a list of the worst. I attend this school and they have a great rec center with many activities and good equipment. I love it there.
-- Andrew
I guess West Point and the rest of the Military Academies were left off the list? As a West Point Grad, I'd put my school up against any of them.Almost 1/3 of our total grade point average was taken from physical fitness requirements.
-- Rob C.
UM football? Most rigorous training program known to man.
-- Victor
I'm assuming that since the Military Academies are military fitness is expected and not to be recognized? At least make note that they weren't included, and if they were you are sorely mistaken.
Take the entire student body of the United States Military Academy at West Point and line them up with Dickinson and you will find that Cadets are stronger, faster, and healthier.
-- Cody
Your list is very askew from reality. There are several institutions where the student bodies (pun intended) would stand out from those which you've mentioned. Why? Because the students have to.
1. Norwich University (Vermont)
2. The Citadel (South Carolina)
3. Virginia Military Institute (Virginia)
4. United States Military Academy at West Point (New York)
5. United States Naval Academy (Maryland)
6. United States Air Force Academy (Colorado)
7. United States Coast Gaurd Academy (Connecticut)
-- Rob
Where's Wyoming??
-- DB
I've visited Lehigh University. It is built into a fairly large mountain. You have to be in shape to go there. LU should have made the top 25 list on geography alone!
-- Peter
I think these are skewed. Although there are some people down south and Texas that are way overweight, there are many more fit people in those regions. The really heavy people are bringing the average up. I have never seen so many people who are 20 or 30 pounds overweight until I moved to the Boston. They just do not have as many people up here who are extremely overweight. However there are less people that are in terrific shape.
-- Jason Cyrus
Where are the military academies? Has political correctness forced you to omit them? The Air Force Academy is famous for its universal fitness program. And Army is not far behind.
-- Don
Where does Miami University (Oxford, OH) sit on the list?
-- Ben R.
Maybe it's not PC, but did you ever consider the Military Academies?
I would think they would out "fit" all other schools combined.
-- Dave
Hmm, I guess the rigorous physical training, mandatory intramurals, intense physical fitness testing as a graduation requirement, and outstanding athletic facilities of the United States Air Force Academy, Naval Academy, and Military Academy at West Point don't measure up.
-- John Kopecky, USAF Academy 2002
You forgot to even include the 4 service academies that require fitness to even stay enrolled?
-- Eric
I guess VMI, Citadel, US Military Academy, US Naval Academy, US Air Force Academy, US Coast Guard Academy are all populated by a bunch of lardos that just sit around eating potato chips all the time.
Any list of the 'Fittest Colleges' that doesn't include any of thse institutions is complete crap.
-- Richard Hubbard
What about the students at the U.S. Naval Acadamy, West Point Military Acadamy, and the U.S. Air Force Acadamy? Are we not properly training our future military officers?
-- Jonathan
Why didn't any of the military academies (West Point, Annapolis, Air Force Academy, Coast Guard Academy, Merchant Marine Academy) make the list?
-- Anonymous
I was gonna say something about the military schools, but I think you fine people have it covered. At least have a sidenote that they weren't included in the study. They clearly were not.
-- Lance
Looks as though a fair number of readers have beaten me to the punch. I would have to think that the service academies should head a college fitness list of this sort. The selection process excludes canditates with significant health or fitness shortcomings. A very high percentage of new cadets/midshipmen have excelled in high school sports. All of the academies have heavy year-round PE requirements, frequent fitness testing and mandatory intramural sports. The athletic facilities at the US Air Force Academy, a school of 4,000, may be the best in the nation. More importantly, they are in use constantly. Even the military training programs at the academies have a significant fitness component.
Ed Quinn, USAFA '72
-- Ed Quinn, USAFA '72
Dickinson #1 fit campus ... possibly that's why they have one of the country's top D-III women's cross country programs and one of the region's top men's programs.
-- DC fan
I guess that the Food at the USAF Academy must have been their largest pitfall. On average, Cadets consume 5000+ Calories per day (Breakfast Casserole, MItches Mountain and flank steak, I miss them all) All I know is that within 60 days of graduation I had gained around 20 lbs, so they must have been doing something right!
-- Brad Kasprzak - USAFA 2002
I don't think anybody would confuse Boston College for Boston University. That monstrosity is clearly very different. I don't think a lot of you are taking into account that students participated in a survey and the rankings reflect the percentage of students who exercise regularly. BC doesn't have much chub on campus. Oh and obviously the military acadamies are the most fit...that's a given, so who needs to see them ranked?!
-- Jennifer
I don't think anybody would confuse Boston College for Boston University. That monstrosity is clearly very different. I don't think a lot of you are taking into account that students participated in a survey and the rankings reflect the percentage of students who exercise regularly. BC doesn't have much chub on campus. Oh and obviously the military acadamies are the most fit...that's a given, so who needs to see them ranked?!
-- Jennifer
IT IS SIMPLY RIDICULOUS THAT DARTMOUTH COLLEGE IS NOT IN THE TOP 10 OF THE "FITTEST COLLEGES." HAVE YOU CHECKED THE NUMBER OF ATHLETES IN THE LAST OLYMPICS THAT WERE FROM DARTMOUTH?? AND, YES, THERE ARE PHYS ED REQUIREMENTS AND A SWIM TEST, IN ORDER TO GRADUATE.
-- Kat
For all you military academy advocates, try reading the full posting of this article and clicking on the link "unsung heroes". Men's Fitness explains that student fitness at these institutions are seen as mandatory (i.e., not elective) and directly related to their admission to these fine institutions. There is no question that all military academy student bodies will be more fit than any other student body. But, their admittance to these schools is in part dependant upon an already established fitness level. Thus, this would make these school more an exception than the rule when conducting a survey such as this. And also why the publisher recognized this in a separate section.
-- Demetrick
For all you military academy advocates, try reading the full posting of this article and clicking on the link "unsung heroes". Men's Fitness explains that student fitness at these institutions are seen as mandatory (i.e., not elective) and directly related to their admission to these fine institutions. There is no question that all military academy student bodies will be more fit than any other student body. But, their admittance to these schools is in part dependant upon an already established fitness level. Thus, this would make these school more an exception than the rule when conducting a survey such as this. And also why the publisher recognized this in a separate section.
-- Demetrick
Hey Folks - hmm, seems that your respective institutions might not rank on the "Smartest Students" list either. Perhaps if you took a moment to open all the links to the right of the list (specifically the Unsung Heros link) you would see that Army, Navy, Air Force, etc. are excluded because being fit is considered part of the students' job. These are in essence officer training schools, where the same level of professionalism is expected of the students as would be with any other member of the armed forces. So, of course they are in spectacular shape, it's not an option. At all of these OTHER instituations, however, the student body takes the initiaitive to seek out and utilize the fantastic resources available to them. They make a choice to be fit. (From a proud Colgate grad.)
-- Sarah
A physically below-average student at any service academy is in the top 5% at most Division 1 schools....and off-topic, the same is true academically. Shame on you!
-- Adam USNA '00
Considering the shape of the US Air Force Academy cadets, being at 7200ft elevation, I don't think there are many, with the exception of West Point and Annapolis, that could keep up with them.
Then again, the military service academies might not have been included because they are, indeed, so much more than any college. :-)
-- Jim
BU Student...BC was not mistaken by BU at all. Have you been to this campus? It's pretty damn fit.
-- Katie
I goto Ithaca College currently, and you guys really nailed it! For our small school, amost everyhere packs the gym.
-- derick
I echo the points raised about the absence of the military academies. For shame - they should have been included.
Here's a few other thoughts to ponder:
1. How can only one school in the top ten from last year's list make it to the top ten of this year's list (U. Vermont)? Did the rest of the group just start drinking beer and eating pizza?
2. Why is the #1 school on this year's list not even on last year's list?
3. What happened to last year's #1 school - it didn't even make this year's list.
Something must be flawed in the research process. Seems like they didn't survey the same group twice or ask the same questions. The survey also seems to rely heavily on self reported subjective criteria, not objective criteria observed by a third party (like body mass measured by the student health services). Men's Fitness - you can do better.
-- Michael
ummm military schools were included in the rankings and are not in the top listings which is why we're losing to Iraq
-- Andy
I saw this story on CNN today and immediately went to your web site to add my comments, but I can see that they would only reiterate the overwhelming opinion that this "survey" (conducted by the Princeton Review, experts in this field no-doubt) included a huge oversight.
But moreover, the really sad fact is that even if Men's Fitness were to print a retraction or add some sort of caveat to the story, it would not be broadcast on CNN and would be relegated to a by-line in an upcoming issue or buried somewhere in the back (on page 65).
I would like to think the editorial staff at MF might know better or include their own "research" on the matter. Better yet, pick out 4,000 students of any college in the world (and not even at random - make them the fittest students in the school) and line them up with the entire student body of any of the service academies. That might actually demonstrate something worthwhile.
-- Jeff S, USAF Academy 1989
The cadets at the nation's service academies are by far subjected to the highest physical fitness standards in the nation, with required fitness testing, intramural or intercollegiate participation and PE classes every semester. I took the survey for this website so I don't see why the Air Force Academy hasn't been included.
-- Katy
Calm yourselves.... "The Princeton Review for the second year in a row to discover which colleges and universities are winning the war against the nation's ever-expanding collective gut. And after surveying almost 12,500 students from the country's top institutions"
They surveyed students.... clearly no one on here has ever taken an entry level course on marketing and data collection.....
I hardly think the article is trying to down play the military academies.... maybe they had better things to do than be surveyed.... HA
-- MA native, Roanoke College Grad
" When ranking the Fittest Colleges, we looked at students' responses to 17 questions grouped into one of two different sections."
Ummm .... so you never sent a reporter to actually VISIT the colleges? I guess that could be a problem, because you might get a more accurate result.
-- Richard Hubbard
Without a doubt our military academies require their students to be physically fit and in the short term are very good at it. In other words, these students are required by a drill instructor to exercise or face severe penalty in the form of? You guessed it right, more exercise. What makes the list above so unique is that the students at these institutions choose to exercise which in turn will promote lifetime fitness and not just fit individuals for the short term. How may students (forced to exercise) will choose exercise when they leave the service academy? The key is intrinsic motivation which I would have to believe the colleges and universities above have instead of extrinsic motivation which is often the case within the military.
-- Michael Maina
California Instutute of Technology (Caltech) is #20? Is this a joke?
-- Mark
California Instutute of Technology (Caltech) is #20? Is this a joke?
-- Mark
Laughable to exclude the service academies--so much for research. Just to remain at USAFA, a cadet must demonstrate their fitness twice per year in a physical fitness test (male mins are 7 pull-ups, 7'standing long jump, 30 push-ups, 55 sit-ups, and 2:00 for a 600-yard run. Female stds are tough, too. All five events must be completed in a total of less than 15 minutes from start to finish. Oh, and they have to also pass a 1.5 mile running test (at 7kft altitude), with men required to run it in under 11:15. If even HALF of the students at Dickinson or any of your top schools could do this, I'd buy a lifetime subscription to your magazine. USMA, USNA, and USCGA are comparable. Oh, did I mention MANDATORY intramurals for non-intercollegiate cadets EVERY semester, and MANDATORY PE classes every semester? Got those at LessDickinson?
-- Zoomie 81
This ranking is BS. I went to Caltech and I can tell you that place can physically take a toll on you. No one ever sleeps and half the students don't even eat breakfast. I don't know what they're basing these ratings on but if Caltech is #20. They definitely need a sleep category in there.
-- Den
They did include all the miliary schools so stop arguing that. Look under the "Unsung Heroes" section. Clearly, they care about them. The top 25 list would mostly be comprised of those milliary school's. So yes, of course they would be on the list. Their physical training is far superior to any other universities or liberal arts colleges. Even at small schools like Gettysburg College and Dickinson College, there are ROTC programs. But they are small and are nothing in comparison to WPMA, U.S. Naval Academy, and USFA.
-- J.D.
As a Citadel grad I assure you that cadets from the Citadel, VMI, and all of the federal academies will run circles around students from any of the schools on your list.
It was a good idea, but you should give credit where it's due.
Have a good day.
-- Rob, Citadel 04
Yeah, what happened to the University of Colorado?
-- Anonymous
I am from Santa Clara University!!! Cool!
-- Laurence
I attend a school that Men's Fitness listed as one of the worst in the Midwest. While it freaked out the administration into "action", nothing has really changed. Meanwhile, it is well-known that the student population doesn't really approve of the food services used. How can my school start using the same food services as the top rated schools (I think this would make a large difference, more so than the planned construction of a new student center or improvement of our under-used gym facilities)?
-- Grace
How did BYU go from being #1 last year to not making the list this year?
-- Marie
Ditto on the Service Academies..required to be fit just to get in and manitain required tests to keep each student that way.
-- Keith
I stongly disagree with the gate in the deuce hole. Its a chubby chasers paradise!
-- Ash
I'm giving another shout out to James Madison University in Virginia. I attended JMU and was a graduate assistant at UREC...which is quite frankly the best student fitness center in the country...bar none! I definitely think you should've looked a little harder at JMU.
While I'm at it, I agree that the service institutions should have either been on the list OR should've had a separate category. Those fellas bust it every day for our benefit...how about a special story on the grueling life of a military student...
-- Greg Whitesell
I concur with the above comments pointing to absence of the nation's military schools on the list, the least of which would make the volleyball player at Dickenson look like a couch potato.
These colleges have a far higher percentage of former high school varsity athletes, ALL students are required to be involved in at least one intercollegiate sport, 'PE' is a requirement through all four years AND there is a minimum requirement for physical fitness training through out the week. Add in the demands inherent to a grueling military culture and not a single college on your list comes close.
Larry Williams, Virginia Military Institute 1982
-- Larry
Omission of the service academies makes your list meaningless. 100% of cadets and midshipmen participate in intramurals or intercollegiate sports. No other undergrad institution can match the service academies. Plus I would expect that a much higher percentage of academy alumni are more fit than any other college alumni.
-- Richard Bruce
The military academies were not overlooked, they have a page all of their own as a tribute to their second-to-none fitness accomplishments. Check out the entire story.
-- Bryan
The military academies were not overlooked, they have a page all of their own as a tribute to their second-to-none fitness accomplishments. Check out the entire story.
-- Bryan
As an alumna of Mary Washington, I can say that I agree with it being on the list. The school just built a new, state of the art fitness center. I graduated more than 10 years ago, but even with the old fitness center, I can safely say that it was always crowded. Intramural sports were very popular, and all students were required to take two semesters of P.E. I can also say that having grown up near JMU, that it too, should be on the list. The Rec center is HUGE. You drive right past it on I 81.
-- Maggie
How many schools other than the service academies require all students to do push-ups, sit ups, and run 1.5 miles to ge in and twice a year to stay in, require every student to participate in a sport every semester and have world class training facilities and provide every student with 3 balanced meals every day. GO NAVy BEAT ARMY, AIR FORCE and EVERYONE.
-- Joe
Come see us at UAB next year. In a state where obesity is a serious problem, UAB offers a state of the art recreation center for students, faculty, staff, and alumni. All ages, stages, and sizes of folks partipate in the center's classes and use the best in fitness equipment. Also check out our continuing study on rigerous exercise and life quality in senior adults. UAB is committed to improving health and fitness practices in our university community and throughout our region. Give us a look.
-- Blazer
I went to SUNY New Paltz... why are we not on the list? Must be because of me... I am a fat kid. LOL
-- Sana
Go Gusties!
-- Philip
What about Williams College?
-- Fred
GOOOOOOOOOOOOO GUSTAVUS!
-- Gus
Aside from the military institutions, I think this list is very fair.
To address the numerous entries refering to JMU, Ga Tech, UAB, etc., that stress the quality of a rec center, this list is not the top 25 schools that have one nice facility. The University of Virginia made the list because it has a new Aquatic and Fitness Center, but also has Slaughter Recreation Center, Memorial Gymnasium, North Grounds Rec Center, Snyder Tennis Center, the Outdoor Recreation Center, and The Park available to all students. Furthermore 94 percent of the undergraduate student body elects to participate in intramural recreational activities. There is more to being a fit college than having one nice facility.
-- Daniel
Washington and Lee University is in the mountains and our cross country team has the hardest course in the state of Virginia (with Harrisonburg's Peak View Farms rated 2nd) and I see people on varisty teams and not on varisty teams filling up the gym. You can always see a good group of people running down the many trails and on the course. I think that if Roanoke made the list (with their terrain being prety falt and me not even knowing they had a gym) then W&L should have.
-- Regina
Where did Northwestern go? We were number 5 last year. Did we all start smoking, drinking, and stop working out?
-- Andrew (NU '08)
I go to SCU! Yes we do have a great gym, great sports, great (healthy) food. Go Broncos.
-- karen
First: A big "Thank You" to all the members of the armed services.
Now: two words - "The Dub"
UNCW is a fit campus, just take a walk around. Every student is required to fulfill a physical education credit. I went to grad-school at JMU (with Dara and at UREC) and worked at UVA (in the AFC). I'll put the UNCW student in that contest everyday and twice on Sunday. The beach drives these students to a high level of fitness. I invite everybody to come on down to Wrightsville Beach and Wilmington, NC!
-- Bob-o
Gustavus Adolphus definitely deserves this award.. congrats Gusties!
-- Gustina
Another shout out for JMU... with a large percentage of the student body in either Varsity or Club Sports programs as well as the awesome UREC facility with a brand new sport turf playing field; the large population of students who walk, run, or bike to class; and the large variety of healthy dining facilities on campus, and the large population of Army ROTC students; JMU should not just be a part of this list, it should be toward the top. Factor in JMU's ability to both work out and play hard (featured in Play Boy magazine's top party schools) JMU has earned its place on this list.
-- Kelly
Students at service academies are not trained by drill instructors as was mentioned above. Almost the entire student population goes down to the gym on their own almost every day in addition to intramurals and PE classes. I understand that the service academies were mentioned in another section, but it still makes the list inaccurate as they are 4 year universities as well. Students here have to take the initiative or they won't be able to make it, which still takes a great amount of motivation and self-discipline as time here is VERY limited. Go Air Force! Beat Navy this weekend!
-- Kate
Not only is UW-L one of the fittest, it's also one where 20 year old college men are most likely to drown in the river. Make it 8 in about as many years... sad.
-- J
Hey what happen to UCLA Its fit there. Cal tech how they get in the top! Weres usc and Organ State.
-- Joey UCLA
check out Pepperdine University. You cant tell me with all those hills that everyone has to walk everyday doesnt put them on the list. nobody drives and the campus is built on hills. I have yet to meet one person from there whom hasnt been fit.
-- Aaron
W&L? With all due respect Regina, you've got perhaps 10 minks on the cross country team and they're cheered on by the guys spilling beer over the balcony every night at the KA house and others in 'Red Square'. Paleeze! :D
-- Larry
i love gustavus and all the fit bitches. go gac.
-- Adam
where's San Diego State...? If you're an Aztec going to SDSU, you have one of the only 24 hour-a-day recreation centers in the country. Were else can you workout at 2:00 am...?
-- --Monty
What happened to Western State College in Gunnison Colorado. Only Athletes and Snow bums go to this college and the school sits at 7800 feet. Are you kidding me!
-- Ryan
Nice to see a Georgetown students are finally getting recognition for all the walking we do! But seriously, this campus is so hilly it is a workout just getting to class. That being said, almost everyone goes to the gym very regularly, and eating healthily is frequently on the students' minds.
So where's the list for the fattest colleges? Did that get discontinued?
-- Dan, Georgetown University
Apparently some people confuse having exercise facilities with having a fit student body... Colgate has adequate weight racks and cardio machines, but it is the fact that the equipment is used by almost every single student here that makes us worthy of # 2.
-- Nick Franzen
Hey...no UCONN??? The students there are healthy...drinkers that is!
-- James
Where are the chiropractic colleges like Life University, almost every student is a health or wellness freak?
-- Raphael
What surprises me more than anything is the awful spelling and grammer use by the college students responding.
-- Tina
I go to Washington & Jefferson College (#14), For a small campus, our facilities are amazing. I think its 3/4 of the school participate in some sort of sport or intramural activity. That is how amazing we are. Go Presidents.
-- David
I graduated from the underachieving University of Missouri-Rolla a few years ago, and I can assure you fitness is the least of your concerns. Fitness isn’t a priority because its not priority for the people who attend this school. People here use linear algebra as a drinking game and passing organic chemistry is considered a major turn-on. A majority of the guys I went to school with were relatively fit and still are today. Of course a majority of them (85%) now design jet aircraft parts for Boeing in St. Louis.
-- *jojo*
Have you heard of a little city called boulder, colorado???? One of the healthiest places in the country, home to the University of Colorado... as well as pro olympians, triathletes, cyclists, skiers, boarders, and runners. Anybody and everbody who is healthy lives and go to school there... do some research before you say a school in Penn is the fittest. This is why I subscribe to Mens Health!!!!
-- Quentin
How the hell is Penn State not on this list?
-- Neil
It is obvious you have conducted minimal research.
And......it is more obvious that the University of Oregon should have been on or near the top of your evaluation.
The UofO has a long reputation as one of the very top track teams in the nation, to say the least of the ranking football program.
Not bad for a small state school with an enrollment of 15,000 students.
You are probably not aware that the first jogging publication was written by University of Oregon track coach Bill Bowerman........and the first jogging shoe was invented in his basement along with Phil Knight,CEO of Niki, who at the time was on the UofO track team.
Did you also forget about Fontaine?
Fitness is a lifestyle at the University of Oregon
And yes........it IS Phi Kappa Psi
Jack (retired sports magazine alumn)
-- jack
Great job Washington & Jefferson!
Gooooooooooooo Presidents!
-- Kathie
University of Oregon students get a free pair of Nikes from Phil Knight every quarter (not really), We'd run CIRCLES around those beer swilling party schools. That's why we're called "O" U!!!
In actuality, they filmed the movie Animal House here on campus at OU and maybe that's closer to the truth. Oh, well. :-)
-- Anonymous
BC and BU are SO NOT the same and could not have been mistaken in any way. I went to BC 10 years ago and the school has been pumping crazy money into their athletic and recreational facilities ever since. As a result, SO many more students partipate in the school's DIVISION I athletics and club sports program.
More BC students on and off campus appear to be more fit than when I was there, that's for sure.
Keep on, Eagles. You will always be better than that safety school down Comm. Ave.
-- --Joy
If this list were to have any credibility, it would have been titled: Fittest Schools not including Military Academies. The first part of the article should have described the rigorous physical training at the Academies and explained how these schools are in a whole another level when it come to fitness. When I was there PE was REQUIRED with GRADED activities which included boxing, wrestling and gymnastics not to mention the dreaded indoor obstacle course.
Someone who looks at or scans the article just see the top 10 on their list will not get a true picture Addressing the Service Academies as "footnote" instead of a headline is yet another example of the lack of recognizition of the extraordinary efforts of our men and women in uniform.
-- Joe
come on guys.........TEXAS A&M has the best rec center in the country....w/o out a doubt...its constantly packed....and not many fatties there
-- Joseph
No Sacramento State? Ever been on campus in the Springtime? Ever seen co-eds running, and biking on the river trails? Or all the hoties in small bikinis floating down the river? When its hot there, the clothes come off and those tight, hot bodies show it all!
-- Brian
I've noticed a lot of complaints on this list. I would like to address these gripes. First, for those who complain that the military schools are not on the list, please see the "unsung heroes" section that is so well hidden in the "America's Fittest Colleges 2006" box. Second, for those who dont understand why their college didnt make the list, it seems your justification is that your campus has a nice facility and your students exercise. These two things do not a healthy person make. I went to a school that had both of these things (Vanderbilt), but we did not make the list. Thinking about it, its justifiable. As the survey (see "The Nitty Gritty") indicates, binge drinking, smoking, diet, and amount of sleep equally contribute to health and fitness. I remember plenty of students performing pooly in these areas (esp. the first and last). I appreciate this list and would one day like to tour these campuses to see just how they live.
-- Justin
HAHa SCORE!!! GO UC-Santa Cruz!! Seriously Hills hills and forest whats more to like
-- Mike
What about the U.S. Air Force Academy, West Point, or Annapolis. I think we have them all beat. GO Air Force, Beat NAVY!
-- Ajay
Ok, so everyone thinks the school that they go to should be on the list, and lets just leave it at that... no more of this 'what?! How could you have forgotten this school? We have this and that and the other thing! We also have tons of runners and bikers, and all this other stuff' They simply made a list of the TOP most athletic schools, I am sure that just about everyschool has a great athletic program/ rec program, so just calm down
-- Heather
Senior Military Schools? I'm pretty sure they have a higher number of "fit" students then lets say Dickinson College. I think there may be something wrong here. Try again!
-- Rob
I've noticed a lot of complaints on this list. I would like to address these gripes. First, for those who complain that the military schools are not on the list, please see the "unsung heroes" section that is so well hidden in the "America's Fittest Colleges 2006" box. Second, for those who dont understand why their college didnt make the list, it seems your justification is that your campus has a nice facility and your students exercise. These two things do not a healthy person make. I went to a school that had both of these things (Vanderbilt), but we did not make the list. Thinking about it, its justifiable. As the survey (see "The Nitty Gritty") indicates, binge drinking, smoking, diet, and amount of sleep equally contribute to health and fitness. I remember plenty of students performing pooly in these areas (esp. the first and last). I appreciate this list and would one day like to tour these campuses to see just how they live.
-- Justin
Western State? okay if you have an 800 SAT! Not just fit people but fit minds make the list
-- joe
Where is San Diego State? We have got to rank in the top 5. The ARC ( Aztec Recreation Center) gym is open 24hoursand is crowded 18 of the 24 hours a day.
-- matt
YES WE AT DICKINSON ARE NUMBER ONE!!!
-- Alanna
Our fitness center here at THE Ohio State is huge. I'm sure we're not one of the fittest schools, but I have no doubt that we've got one of, if not the best fitness centers in the country.
-- Jared
Uh, yeah I go to West Point and just got done working out after studying, drilling, and school. I'm waking up at 0520 tomorrow to go for a run, like many other cadets do every day to maintain a high physical standard. During the summer, while everyone in other colleges are out on break drinking, we were marching around the woods with 50-100 lbs of gear on. I seriously doubt that any of the schools on that list come close to this academy in fitness, to say otherwise is a complete joke. Other schools may have fit people, but the other 50% of them are couch potatos, at the service academies everyone is fit or you get kicked out.
How about this, instead of a survey why don't we have each school take an APFT (army physical fitness test)? Wouldn't that make a good article? It's fair, and performance based. It'll separate the us from those other colleges like you wouldn't believe.
-- Rob
I haven't seen any actual data that should allow you to publish this list. You can't possibly be serious.
-- jamie
You should have included James Madison University in Virginia. Girls work out atleast 4 hours a day to maintain those tight bodies. How could you make such a mistake? I'm never reading Men's Fitness ever again and I'm telling my Bosnian friend Sasa to cancel his subscription indefinetly.
-- Ryan
I'd like to add the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire to this list. We also have phy-ed requirements plus we have a very large hill that separates the dorms from the rest of campus. Climbing up that every day with a backpack full of books will definately get people in shape.
-- Megan
So, how did CSU Long Beach go from the Top 25 fittest list to one of the fattest in one year? Laff.
-- psg
Ya, where is SDSU on this list? Not only does San DIego State have the best gym but the most fit kids workout there.
-- Frederick
OK...You really missed the boat. There are several comments already about the service academies on all the madatory physical fittness requirements, but just walk around any of the academies in and out of the gym during "free-time," and you will see hundreds of cadets/midshipment working out. ...Eating healthy...they MUST consume 5000+ calories/day or they would all be in couseling for eating disorders.
-- A
TCU baby! I'll take it. It's higher than our BCS ranking
-- vin
And what about the service academies?? Naval Academy, West Point.... oops
-- Rachel
Whoever compiled this list obviously overlooked the lesser known yet perennially fit-as-a-fiddle student body at Oral Roberts University, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Obsessed with exemplifying its "Body, Mind, and Spirit" campus mantra, ORU in past decades required all students to meet specific body-fat percentage guidelines in order to earn highest marks in mandatory physical education courses. A few years and a few law suits later, the school has relaxed this policy, however, the fat calipers continue to catalouge the physical progress of every student on an annual basis.
With certainty, ORU sets the bar for physical fitness standards amongst American colleges through policies such as the following:
1. Mandatory timed and graded 3 mile field test to be completed every semester by every student. (12 mile cycling and 1 mile swimming variations optional.)
2. Full year of mandatory health, nutrition, and physiology lecture with discussion groups for incoming freshmen.
3. Mandatory health and physical recreation activity course for every student during every semester of enrollment. Students not meeting this requirement in any semester must take an additional course in a subsequent sememster in order to matriculate.
-- David
These rankings are not completely accurate but I am sure they are close to some degree. College students at the United States Naval Academy, also known as Midshipmen, are by far the fittest and most in shape students in the country. Without a doubt, USNA should be #1 on the list.
-- Brian
interesting that 5 of the top 25 are virginia schools - and all of them are public except for richmond.
-- whooot
Reading this list didn't cause too much of surprise with me however I agreed with many people who are wondering where are the military academy. Their students are well-fit. Yet they were not mention at all. I go to Rutgers Uni and they don't require their students to take Fitness program. I know NJIT does. I think some school should require their students to take a fitness program as a requirement in order to graduate. With Obeseity being a serious problem in the states, we should encourage everyone to be more active.
-- Cristina
Yeah, seriously, how did BYU drop from number one last year to nothing? Did someone just skip them altogether?
-- Randall
How about the military academy? Um yeah, you guys missed that one
-- Chris
I guess you fat bastards at UT, A&M and Tech just didn't have what it takes. Put down the weed and twinkies and hit the gym for god's sake! Fat people make me sick! SIC'EM BEARS! BU! BU! BU!
-- Anonymous
I would certainly question why the military academies are not on the list either. Please make note of the schools or types of schools you exclude, assuming they were excluded. Also as a West Pointer, I would gladly put the average cadet against the average student at most places in terms of fitness.
-- Jeremy
I also believe that Williams should have been included on the list: 40% of the student body is involved in intercollegiate athletics. Moreover, if seeking to balance "academic excellence with athletic acumen" , of all the NCAA member colleges and universities in the country only one has been ranked first nationally in academics (U.S. News & World Report) and athletics (Directors' Cup) in the same year. Williams College has now completed this feat in three consecutive years (2004, 2005 & 2006). In fact, Williams has won the Directors' Cup for 8 straight years, and has been first in academic reputation in US News for 16 consecutive years. They also have a phys ed requirement (and the swim test). Peace!
-- ephman
SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE! That's all iv'e got to say...
-- Dee
I cannot believe that MF didn't place any military academies on the list. USAFA is 7,258 feet above sea level...try training there! Oh, and by the way, that's far far above that of West point or Annapolis.
-- Ian, USAFA '97
You guys are smoking dope. There are no schools more fitter than the service academies, and their competition - the other non-official military academies. No school on your list could boast a higher fitness rate than these schools.
A physical test is required every semester, and it is by no means easy.
To say that any civilian school averages higher "fitness" than a military school is just flat out goofy. These are the schools where we get Delta Force, SEALs and other special forces leaders.
While I see that you include them in the "exceptions", they are really the leaders. They are grouped above and beyond any other school. The "Dickie U" crowd can chime in under the least fit of any academy grad.
-- Laurent
Looks like you missed the mark and have been raked over the coals by plenty of Service Academy grads. I would only add to Rob C.'s remarks above by stating: I would not only put my school up against the others, but we could take them all on at the same time and still smoke 'em. West Point '89
-- Mike
Ooooooooo.....You totally bypassed the College of Charleston---its a mini South Beach on campus! We made the list last year!
-- owen
where did indiana university go? it was on the list last year and its not like we're less fit
-- steven
I have to admit that Colgate really shouldn't be on this list. The facilities there are pretty pathetic. I would have to disagree with the person that said that physical fitness is part of the job at the service academies. I was impressed seeing the Academies.
-- Colgate grad
I would like to echo an earlier question: how did BYU go from 1st? to not on the list???
-- Brock Andersen
How did the University of Hawaii rank?
-- Kevin
This survey is skewed. Military Academies off the list. Rich. Surveys sometimes leave off the obvious, but this hole you could drive a truck through. If you have "The Fittest Colleges in the US" and leave off the "Fittest Colleges in the US" or the US Military Academy @West Point, the US Naval Academy @Annapolis, the Air Force Academy in Colorado, the Coast Guard Academy, Merchant Marine Academy then this is TRULY NOT the list of fittest colleges in the US!! The cadets at these colleges should be at the TOP OF THE LIST, NOT OFF THE LIST!!!
-- Danute
Good to see UC Santa Cruz there - that's where I learned to love being outdoors. Amazing campus setting, great gym (with views of Monterey Bay!) and just about every recreational sport that you can think of... mountain biking, rock climbing, spelunking, surfing, hiking... just a few of the things that I tried when I was there!
-- Marisa
A LOT of bitter commentary. Go Zags!
-- Pete
12,500 students? That's like half of one smaller scale university.......for all the schools in the nation......nice study....no, really.
-- James KSU
How could Cal State U. Long Beach habve been ranked 20th most fit schools in the nation in 2005, and the number 1 fattest most unfit school in 2006?
-- Adam
Funnier than the list itself are all these comments. All you military academy people have your knickers in a twist, which is a riot. That you would take such a survey to heart is laughable to begin with (do our fine military academy graduates REALLY care or need Men's Fitness to make them feel good about themselves? if so, i am scared!). It becomes even more laughable to see people go on and on when in fact the magazine made a special point to acknowledge the fitness of military academy students.
Let it go people. Let it go.
-- Hooba
People PLEASE... when a survey like this, where all they do is shove a list of questions in some college students hand and ask about the fitness levels at their respective colleges.. cant you see its simply about selling magazines and filling space? This list has as much merit as when we pay for gov. sponsored TESTING on timing of ketcup flow. I am sure at Dickinson they are kicking back a few brewskis and firing up the grill to honor their healthy lifestyles. LOL
-- Billy
Maybe USAFA and USCGA and other institutions like this didn't get included on purpse ... just a guess!?!?! haha, chill.
-- Ben
Maybe USAFA and USCGA and other institutions like this didn't get included on purpse ... just a guess!?!?! haha, chill.
-- Ben
Maybe USAFA and USCGA and other institutions like this didn't get included on purpse ... just a guess!?!?! haha, chill.
-- Ben
Kate, In response to your remark that cadets at the service academies and military colleges are not being trained by 'drill instructors', that's not quite accurate. The cadets, themselves, are the drill instructors. At VMI the 'drill instructors' are called the 'Cadre'. As a member of the cadre during all three of my upper class years and a former Marine as well as the son of a Marine, I can tell you that there is absolutely no difference between a Marine gunny and an upper class cadet performing the same function in the training of first year cadets.
But your comment is correct with respect to upper classmen. By this point, there's no need for a drill instructor or 'Cadre' particularly when the upper classmen ARE the drill instructors.
Larry Williams, VMI '82
-- Larry
Maybe USAFA and USCGA and other institutions like this didn't get included on purpse ... just a guess!?!?! haha, chill.
-- Ben
Maybe USAFA and USCGA and other institutions like this didn't get included on purpse ... just a guess!?!?! haha, chill.
-- Ben
Where the hell is Tarleton State, its only the greatest and fittest college in the nation!!!
-- Rog
So I'm guessing a lot of people are upset about this list. Personally, I consider it too hard for a school to be labeled anything. I go to the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point which has physical fitness requirements to graduate and nutrition guidelines for students if they want them. I doubt we were even were looked at. But I don't care and neither should anyone else. Everyone who has half a mind automatically knows that service academy students kick butt (in no way, shape, or form would I put myself up against a serviceman). And if your school isn't on the list and it still is cool for phy ed, and phy fitness who cares. The list can't have everyone be number one and in all actuality there are too many schools that have awesome programs to really make this list a worry to anyone! Just go out and exercize and have fun with what your campus has to offer. Servicemen Kick Butt!
-- Patricia
Maybe USAFA and USCGA and other institutions like this didn't get included on purpse ... just a guess!?!?! haha, chill.
-- Ben
I think you forgot Columbia University. Before I graduate I had to take two semesters of PE to graduate and pass a swim test! They also have a state-of-the-art recreational center and healthy on-campus eateries. I loved it there!
-- Raz
just because you have sweet facilities doesn't mean you are sweet. Check yourselves.
-- Matt Scheelar Gonzaga '04
Larry,
I attend the Air Force Academy, and while upperclassmen do most of the training they are not the same as drill instructors. However this only applies to the freshmen. The upperclassmen are responsible for their own physical fitness. As a freshman though, I still felt it necessary to exercise on my own as well in order to be in good shape at this altitude.
-- Kate
I love myself!! I work out so hard, and I am super duper glad to see GAC on this list!
-- Tanny
Where is Harvard? Hey, we may not be on the list, but at the end of the day we're smarter and more successful than the rest of these chumps.
-- Anonymous
Where is Harvard? Hey, we may not be on the list, but at the end of the day we're smarter and more successful than the rest of these chumps.
-- Beannie
I am so glad to see Baylor University on this list!
We definitely are extremely fit.
Everyone exercises on campus and I haven't really seen that many large people.
I am satisfied with this list!
Keep up the good work, Men's Fitness!!
-- Allyson
I wish I were as fit as most gusties...
-- gac girl
Not only does Columbia have the swim test/PE requirements, but we have to walk mostly up and down four to five flights to get to every class!
-- Adil Ahmed Columbia '09
Speaking from experience, although Colgate students appear fit and healthy, it is a school that does not foster a healthy and responsible environment for students regarding drugs and alcohol. Although many students experiment with substances in college, Colgate needs to find a way to curb the drugs and alcohol. For any smart young adult with common sense who is going to college with the main objective to get an education, no matter how chisled the students appear, it's not an attractive situation! However, to give Colgate some positive feedback, I do commend the school for their variety of fun and unique PE courses that make use of the nature around the college. Overall, the people at Colgate may appear healthy and fit physically, but it doesn't take too long to find out that the bulk of the student body is not very appealing on the inside. To be blunt, the students -- and for that matter, the faculty -- have serious personality and attitude issues when it comes to appearance. In fact, it's quite depressing.
-- Former Colgate Student
I am California bred and proud that 3 universities that are "fit" are from the Golden State. Kudos to them!
May be CSU Fresno (a.k.a. Fresno State) will be added to this list next year. A state-of-the-art student recreation center was open last year. In addition, the campus does have an intramural sports program for all students to participate. Plus, alcohol is banned throughout campus, even on college game days. Have I scored brownie points?
-- Melanie, CSU Fresno
its true ..baylor does have some fit people !
-- anonymous
Harvard was my safety school fool, oh yeah and Lehigh sucks.
-- Devin
NORTHEASTERN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-- Anonymous
Not only can the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse out fit you but we can also out drink you. Just because we like to have fun doesnt mean we arent motivated to look good.
-- A
It's great to see Roanoke College on the list, although it does help when one of the graduates has the last name of Belk that helped to pay for the great fitness center. The food is absolutely amazing too, with a great variet that sometimes include crab legs and prime rib.
-- Jason
I'm not sure why Vermont is on this list. And in the top 5, no less. I considered myself very active in Rec/Intramural Sports and definitely had fun. But there wasn't equal involvement by the student body.
-- Catamount, UVM Alumni
BC is so fit that we can have regular fans who have never played a football game in their life, join the team as a kicker and enjoy a perfect game on national television versus a top-25 team. That gives you an idea of how fit BC is.
That and the fact the gym is packed 24/7. BC definitely needs a new rec center. People still head out in droves no matter the weather, how busy they are with work, or how hung over they are and despite the quite crappy facilities. That's a school determined to be fit.
-- Ryan
I'm glad to see Roanoke made the list -- I owe my 8-pack, 24-in biceps, and enormous pecs to my undergraduate years at the nearly 24-hr bast gym.
-- Tom S.
Texas A&M International University, people from around the world working hard everyday, Mens Fitness rocks !!!
-- Maza
for all those people who think JMU should be on the top 25, your crazy. Last time I checked, having the highest STD rate of any college campus is not a healthy campus at all.
-- Samantha
Springfield College
-- BLT
Stop complaining you tards that didn't get on the list. we're just better.
-- K.N.
I'm not sure if you know anything about the service academies but I go to the U.S. Naval Academy and I can guarantee you that it is the most fit college in the country. I know for a fact that NO other college in the country goes through Plebe Summer like we do at the academy. You definitely want to rethink that list guys.
-- Jake Cross
First off, clearly they didn't include the service academies on purpose, if you looked into the research a bit and not just the article then you'd find that out. Secondly, I go to Dickinson and they promote well-ness (not just physical fitness, but emotional well-being) like it's their job. We have "healthy" alternative signs over every food pick-up place in the caf that suggest things to eat such as fish, nuts, and fruits. Our fitness center may not be the newest, but it's got everything you could want - and we have a small student body so we get to use them whenever we want as well. I dunno, just thought I'd put my two cents in to try to educate every1 on why we are the best!! Haha
-- Chris
I can count the obiese at Gonzaga with two hands, we are all very fit, and 95% of us play intraumurals and other clubs sports.
-- JM Gonzaga '10
Clearly Military Academies were not included in the study. If they were, the list would be Naval Academy, West Point, Air Force Academy, Dickinson, etc. Academies have mandatory physical activities everyday from 3:30-5:30, obstacle course and swimming tests every semester, PE classes that include Boxing (2 years), Wressling, Judo, etc. The entire regime is physical. No disrespect to the colleges on the list (congrats), but the three academies are in a different league all together. Seems like quite an oversite by the author, but I didn't see an asterisk in the title.
-- Kevin
Cal State Long Beach is definitely not a fat school. If you weren't at least somewhat physically fit , you would not even be able to attend classes! First, all the parking is a mile away from your classes so you have to walk really far, even run if you're late to class. And second, you have to climb up this huge hill everyday to reach most of the campus classrooms. I've actually lost weight just walking to class everyday with no other effort. So, I don't see how my school could possibly be so "unfit".
-- Cindy
Have you completely ignored the Service Academies, ie. US Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, West Point and US Coast Guard Academy? If you are not physically fit, you do not get commissioned. Being fit is not a choice, it is mandatory. Maybe you should conduct a separate poll just for them. It would be insightful.
Thank you.
-- Pat
go 'gate
-- Anonymous
You're all just jealous that your school didn't make the cut. Not everybody can be on top.
Go Gate for sure!!!!
-- Josh K
Current grad student at Wheaton, and am also pleased to see Wheaton on the list. For a small school, Wheaton's fitness facilities are fantastic, and their cafeteria selections are well-balanced. As I walk around campus, it's nice to see very few people who have succumbed to the notorious "Freshman 15".
-- Yen
My only problem with this list is that Boston College was too LOW. It easily should have been #2 if not in the top spot. Pilates is part of the core curriculum for everyone at Boston College but the School of Education. Some business classes are taught with everyone on the treadmill and in others you have to be passed the fitness ball in order to speak. Well done, Men's Fitness. Well done, in deed!
-- - Mamaroneck
How about Miami OH?! It's your lucky day if you find someone here with over 10% body fat! And it's impossible to even MOVE in the Rec Center when it's light out...and it stays crowded even at 2am! There are people waiting at the door at 6am to be let in. And lets not forget about the food...not one item on the menu that is not "low fat"! I think Miami OH should at least be in the top 20!
-- Chris
As someone who attended Va Tech as an undergrad and is now a grad student at UC Santa Cruz, I can attest that both institutions offer great facilities and programs.... but I think this survey is too inclusive. It should have been broken down further into "types of fitness." For instance, as an east coast person (DC) I found it really surprising that -- yes, this is true!!! -- there is NO FITNESS SCHEDULE FOR STUDENTS !!! at UC Santa Cruz. By that, I mean there is no pilates, kickboxing, spin, step, etc for students. I was appalled when I got here and discovered this. At Virginia Tech there was something insane like 40-50 classes PER WEEK offered. The gym was constantly hopping and boasted the latest and greatest in terms of machines (weight and cardio) and very new locker room equipment, mats, etc. The new facility in McComas at VT even had a raised indoor track that I ran on during the winter, not to exlude the outdoor track around the soccer field.
Now, here's the difference. UC Santa Cruz has a FABULOUS outdoor track that is 800m and OVERLOOKS THE MONTEREY BAY. It encompasses a huge field where people are outside playing sports all day. The outdoor 50m pool is heated throughout the year. The recsports office offers something insane--I'd say at least 100 offerings every quarter--of outdoors hikes, camping, mountain biking, surfing, sailing, kayaking, rock climbing, you name it in there. This is mostly because in Santa Cruz you are next to three fantastic state parks (I do trail runs on them all the time) as well as next to the Bay with a heavy water sports culture, and just down the road from Big Sur. AT THE SAME TIME I am appalled by two things. Mostly, I can't believe the lack of regular, weekly classes for students. The gyms in CA are atrocious for monthly fees and are not easily accessible for those who live on campus. What gives???? Secondly, I am also surprised by the number of students NOT taking advantage of the nearby parks, the track, and the pool. And where is the supposed on campus nutritionist and support base this survey supposedly counts as a measure of fitness???? They are inaccessible to students as far as I can tell. At VT it was easy to find these people and seminars were always offered, but here the schedules are always "for faculty and staff" but not for students!
-- Amanda
At first I was goin to get on here and appeal for the University of Georgia to be on the list, until I read about the service academies being left off the list as well. I will not appeal for my university until you do the justifiable thing and add those schools to the list.
Now my school, UGA has a world class fitness center as well as a studenty body over 50% that is actively involved in improving their physical fitness. Compliment that with access to nutrional planners as well as personal trainers, UGA is an advanced physical center amongst universities across the nation. Your survey of college was incomplete and as a consistent reader of your magazine I find this article disgraceful to many universities across the nation. At least do 1-100 and not 25, maybe then someone could have given you the benefit of the doubt.
-- Foster
WOW, lots of people are a little bitter abou their college not being on the list, now aren't they. People- it's ok. I think its a great list. Did anyone think that just MAYBE they did not only look at the athletes' habits, but the overall school? Plus, if you don't like the article, do a little reaserch instead of whining!
-- Gina, Roanoke College '04
Baylor deserves top ten. We've got awesome gym facilities and the students take full advantage. Its all abs running through the trail around campus. Having said this, there is a good bit of vanity around campus.
-- Mark, Baylor U '06
VMI is for fat kids
-- Mike Harris
We have the largest recreational gym/ facility around, concerning colleges. Besides, Us Liberal, and Liberal conservatives are Neo-healthy. Not all in Texas are fat, drunk cowboys, maybe, but you will find none of those in my arena, or the UT facilities!. Friggin U.T.'s Gregory gym is 3 stories with climbing wall and all, and a big ace heated pool and all that jazz!.
-The Gimp
-- Hook Em, Hook Em; Hell yeah!
I go to Penn State and I remain in the best shape ever becuase the Physical Education classes are amazing and working on a farm have allowed me to develop the amazing body I have. We are.....PENN STATE
-- Matthew James Waner
Where's Minnesota's fat ass?
-- Brother
What about the Bradley University Belt Buckles!!
-- -Earl
I'm glad that Gustavus Adolphus made the list. I'm attending college there next fall.
-- Brian
I graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College, and my little sister from TCU. Their rec center is absolutely unbelievable. GAC's is what I would call "meh". I have no idea how we made this list. But whatever. Go Gusties. Take that Horned Frogs!
-- Mike
I am a cadet at West Point. I'd like to see any random sampling of any college including the other academies to keep up with us... PT is free!!!
-- Jon
I'm a student at the University of Mary Washington and am incredibly pleased to see us on the list. To all the JMU folks out there, you may have all the facilities in the world, but upon my visits to the campus, I don't think of fitness. What makes a school fit is the percentage of students who live an active lifestyle. Unfortunately, this whould favor small colleges in which a sizeable percentage (about 1/10 here) are varsity athletes, not to mention club sports and regular fitness junkies, which we have in droves. I myself am a huge gym rat, and while we do have plenty of fitness space for everyone, it's the students themselves who really put us up here. For a school as small as ours, (4300) to see new faces all the time in one of the athletic facilities really speaks for us. All in all, great list, it's really nice to have so many great Virginia schools up there.
-- Jeff King '07
How can you put on the Freshman 15 in a place like these. How will Macdonalds survive?
-- Aaron
I believe Washington and Jefferson college Should be # 1, they are all meat heads, like 80 % of the campus are athletes
-- Dan
UW-LaCrosse is one of the most fit schools I had ever visited. You can't look out a window on campus without seeing someone running by. The Rec. Center is always bursting with people and with the surrounding bluffs, Mississippi river, Mt. LaCrosse and a golf course 2 blocks from campus there are ample outdoor opportunities to stay active like: hiking, biking, climbing, blading, water/snow skiing, and golfing. Go eagles!!!
However I don't think I would put any of the schools on the list above any of the military schools. But then the survey would be no fun because it would always be the same schools. If you are complaining about not being on the list and you go to a military school, just know that you are more fit and that you don't need a magazine to tell you so.
-- Ang
Your all just sore losers, just stop whining and realie the truth here babies
-- Anonymous
Thanks Ang. haha
-- Rocky
So I went and check out the comments from the 05 list. Plenty of my brothers in arms pointed out your glaring error last year. At what point do you realize that the military academies need to be considered? Once is a mistake. Twice is unacceptable. Better luck next year guys.
-- Vince
I happened to stumble upon this post looking for a ranking of exercise equipment. You are all losers for arguing about who has a fitter school and need to just worry about yourself and get a life.
-- Jeff
No doubt some deserving colleges did not make the list. Maybe the Princeton Review should try collecting different data next time. Using American College of Sports Medicine testing protocols and established norms simply test the subjects on the health related components of fitness (body composition, flexibility, muscle strength, muscle endurance, and cardiorespiratory fitness). The sample should be chosen after health screening. Then a competent (certified) fitness professional would conduct field tests to collect the data. It is possible that the whole list will change. One final word to my fellow Keydets, “Never Say Die!”
-- Darrell
i think this is very good
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and awesome
-- asthon kay
Ě saw one of your magazines and there was an article on the front page saying how to go out with 3 girls at a time and dont get cought,if I was a mom, a wife that could buy a magazine like that its offensive how you put an article{in my opinion} that is suggesting to cheat on a girl, wife, how a fitness magazine suggest such a ridiculous thing ; I must admitt I did't read the article,which may proove me wrong, but my opinion is that what you sell sometimes is the cover, the articles that you may be attracted to read. Going out with tree girls might burn calories but i'ts not a good thing to show the future kids and present the moral values that we need to preserve and motivate in creating helthy kids not only mentally but fisically with al the sickness going around such as AIDS. Maybe I'm exagerating but it's just an opinion of something that caught my eye and may be amusing for some people but fitness magazines are not playboy magazines. Not saying sex isn't healthy but promoting sex with many girls or boys may have some consecuences.
-- Danna Martini
I got two words for you my friends and they are in French:
Notre Dame.
I have never seen such a spartan health-crazed, sports-obsessed place in my life
-- Sean
The Citadel # 1
-- Joe
where is UCSB...thats where its at!
-- dan
JMU has students who fill the UREC every day all day. the vast majority of students engage in activities of all kinds. Volleyball and Tennis are two faviorts. To keep JMU out of the top ten in 2007 would be criminal.
-- Paul
Obviously, the federal academies, the Citadel and VMI were excluded from this survey. As for what order they would fall into, I would just like to point out that VMI had the top commissioning cadet in both the Army and the Marines last year. . . take that academies!
-- Anonymous
I'm a little Disappointed to see Salisbury University fall off the list in 06. I'd like to know where they would up in the final count. I still think the fitness at my alma mater has a lot to do with the proximity to the ocean...
-- Anonymous
^^The last two top commissioning cadets in the AF have both come from the Academy...2Lt Brandon Stoops '07 and 2Lt Andy Gray '06. Take THAT!
-- Matt USAFA '07
BC? Half the guys there are on steroids and the facilities are a joke.
-- Anonymous
Let's think about the whole survey. Men and women at the service academies are not concerned about the short term accomplishments of posing on the beach during spring break, but rather investing in their future with a degree which carries immense prestige. Unfortunately, maturity comes to some later than others.
-- Anonymous Service Academy Grad'
I AM A SUBSRIBER OF MF ,AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE IMPORTANT INFO THAT YOU PROVIDE. P.S. 204 UPPER MARKET
-- DERRICK BOSWELL
you'd be hard pressed to find better looking/better shape students than UC Santa Barbara. Fitness level is definitely a function of sunshine and beatiful women.. all the more motivation to stay in shape.
-- Anonymous
If Dickinson College is the most fit college in the country, we have some problems. The students there study hard, and that's about it. If you traveled a few miles down the road to Gettysburg, you'd realize that making Dickinson # 1 was a mistake. Gettysburg has much better fitness programs for their sports teams (who happen to have won more overall championships than any other school in their conference for the last 10 + years in a row "dickinson" being one of those schools) and the student body never stops working out. It's a shame G-burg isn't in contention as a top school, because if someone had actually visited both schools and compared, it isn't even close.
-- Rob
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