July 28, 2009 Vermont colleges rank "high" in annual surveys Play video

(NECN: Any Huneke, Middlebury, VT) - For the college-bound student this has become a bible of sorts: The Princeton Review's annual guidebook, which ranks the top schools around. 'The best 371 colleges- 2010 edition' came out Tuesday and Vermont has held its own in a number of categories.

Middlebury College, for example, made the top 20 for professors, classroom experience, study-abroad programs, career services, and campus food. Students here, according to the survey, also hit the books frequently.

St. Michael's College, the survey says, has a very healthy relationship with the community. And- it gets high marks for quality of life.

The Princeton Review emphasizes that all the schools on the list have great academics. That being said, the survey did explore some non-academic areas, such as beer drinking and marijuana use. And in that category in particular, the University of Vermont did very well.

This is not UVM's first time in the 'Reefer Madness' category, in fact, it's claimed the top spot before. This year, it's number 3.

Kaitlin Healy\UVM Junior "Honestly, it doesn't surprise me. UVM is set in such a liberal state... not to mention a state that has winter seven months out of the year."

Speaking of liberal, Bennington and Marlboro colleges ranked high in that category. The two campuses are also among the gay-friendliest; encourage the most classroom discussion, and have the most "Birkenstock-wearing, tree-hugging, clove-smoking

Which seems to fit well with the reputation Vermont has earned as a 'green' state. And the reputation Middlebury has earned as a green college, making the book's new green rating honor roll.

Jack "It really is an important part of how this institution sees itself."

What's not an important part of campus life? Religion- at least at Pennington College, which reportedly has the least religious students in the nation.

So- what does this all mean?

Well, if you go to school in Vermont, you'll likely mingle with liberal, studious, accepting, secular, and/or environmentally minded students. Who also happen to be high on college life.