Newsweek Ranks WVU Top Party School - Beckley, Bluefield & Lewisburg News, Weather, Sports

West Virginia University is known as a leader in many areas, both inside and outside of the classroom. To the chagrin of administrators and joy of some students, it's made another list.

Newsweek and the Daily Beast rank WVU as the top "Party School" in America.

WVU is no stranger to these type of lists, though. The Princeton Review ranked WVU number six in their party school list last year and the number eight "Beer-Drinking" school, which factored into the Newsweek results.

It also looked at the number of on-campus arrests and disciplinary actions taken for drug and alcohol violations.

That means the notoriety WVU gained for its appearance in the St. Patrick's Day "I'm Schmacked" video wasn't factored into the 2012 list.

WVU released a statement Tuesday, after the results were released, stressing it's accomplishments in academics, research, outreach and athletics.

"Some of the best universities in the country typically find themselves on these types of lists because they, like WVU, enjoy a campus life rich with both academic and social opportunities," it states. "As always our first priority is, and will remain, the academic achievements and success of our students."

The ranking lists 1,501 disciplinary actions for alcohol, and 104 for drug. It also tallies 551 on campus arrests for alcohol and 205 for drugs.

One positive WVU administrators can draw from the rankings is that they catch the drug and alcohol offenses happening on their campus.

"…the Department of Education numbers used in this report include non-students," the university statement reads. "They reflect, however, that WVU strictly enforces laws regarding alcohol and drug abuse in order to help ensure a safe college campus."

Newsweek and the Daily Beast also ranked schools as most liberal and conservative, most stressful, happiest, most beautiful, least and most affordable, and most and least rigorous. Each category has it's own methodology. You can check them out here.

The Princeton Review rankings have not yet been released for 2012, but are expected later this month.

To view the full list of rankings from Newsweek and the Daily Beast visit http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/features/2012/college-rankings.html.