College New Year’s Eve Ideas, a young woman posing during new year's

College New Year’s Eve Ideas That Beat Netflix and Actually Get You Laid

Picking the best college New Year’s Eve ideas to have a great time and (hopefully) get laid is no simple process. There’s tons of stuff to think about when you’re planning a party, and getting it all sorted out is part of your college experience. Don’t worry, though, we’re here to help out.

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We want you to shape your life into one that brings you as much joy as possible. There’s no right or wrong way to do college and relationships, just what you enjoy. So, we want to share some great college New Year’s Eve ideas that can help you have an awesome time and maybe spend a little more time with that one person.

Fun College New Year’s Eve Ideas

These college New Year’s Eve ideas are all good ways to spend time before the ball drops. We’ve made sure to pick out some celebrations that don’t cost too much money, and can ideally be planned and executed while studying and sleeping.

  • Attend (or Throw) a Party: Partying is (obviously) the classic way to ring in the new year. There’s usually a New Year’s Eve party happening somewhere on campus, and tracking it down can lead to an unforgettable night. If a massive party with a party-loving crowd doesn’t quite sound like your kind of night, don’t be afraid to say no and throw your own. Having a smaller gathering with your best friends can be just as much of a party, and can lead to a super crazy night all the same.
  • Do a Destination NYE: A destination New Year’s Eve celebration might not sound like the most affordable of our college New Year’s Eve ideas, but you can certainly do it on a budget. If you’re looking to travel a long way, save by booking something last-minute with a travel agent. Alternatively, a road trip to a campsite can be affordable and intimate if you do it with the right people.
  • Track Down Some Old Friends: If you’re back in your hometown for New Year’s Eve, then you’ll likely be away from the party scene that colleges exude. That’s okay, though, you can always find some old friends to catch up with. As NewYearsPR suggests, try catching up and sharing your college experiences! By investing some time in these relationships, you can make the night way more meaningful.
  • Go Clubbing: Going clubbing is one of the best ways to ring in the new year. Having all those excited, drunk people around you while you’re dancing your troubles away sets you off on a great note! Plus, the intimacy of all those people in a small location (plus the kiss at midnight!) can certainly lead to going home with someone.
  • Throw a Costume Party: Costume parties can sometimes have a slightly juvenile or silly reputation, but they can be great fun. Look for a party that has a theme you particularly enjoy, and you’ll be able to chat about the theme with anyone who’ll listen. If you like horror movies, for instance, look for a spooky costume party to ring in the new year. If you’re throwing a party, you can decide on the perfect theme for you!
  • A Close Friends Around the World Party: An around-the-world New Year’s Eve party is a simple idea: at the hour, you celebrate the new year ticking over in another country. Because of time zones, it’s always happening somewhere! To get everyone pleasantly drunk, try getting in a range of spirits to do a shot with each countdown. Before long, you can have an unforgettable night!
  • Fancy Cocktail Night (on a Budget): Doing too much drinking is a prevalent part of being in college. If that sounds like your college experience so far, you might want to keep it going! To have a budget cocktail night, pool all the alcohol you and your friends have, and see who can come up with the tastiest drinks. It might not be the fanciest of our college New Year’s Eve ideas, but it can definitely be great fun.
  • Rent a Limo: This might sound kinda cheesy, but with great tunes, a few drinks, and the right people, this can be great fun! Make sure it’s a limo company that lets you drink in the back of the car, and make sure your friends all agree to pay the deposit if they end up vomiting. Blog IndyWithKids suggests having a New Year’s Date night where a limo takes you on a bar crawl! That could be a lot of fun, especially if you know a few great spots that are doing NYE events.

Shooting for the stars might be a little too much for most New Year’s Eve celebrations, but shooting higher than Netflix definitely isn’t. Take the time to go through our list of college New Year’s Eve ideas, adapt them for your preferences, and have an incredible night!

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