Jan 02, 2014 10:32 AM EST By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

When considering college, many factors apply to a student's choice, like campus size, location, offered majors, etc., but one may sometimes be overlooked: happiness.

The Daily Beast compiled a list of the 20 happiest colleges in the nation. For their list they used full-time freshman retention rates, as recorded by the National Center for Education Statistics, and survey information from College Prowler.

The retention rates are measured in a percentage and the survey ratings are a score from zero to ten.

Here are the Daily Beast's top ten happiest schools, visit their site for the full list of 20.

10. Kansas State University

Full-time Freshman Retention Rate: 82%

Best Student Health Center: 9.2

Best Overall Student Experience: 9.8  

Would Do It All Over Again: 9.9

9. The University of Texas at Austin

Full-time Freshman Retention Rate: 92%

Best Student Health Center: 9.5

Best Overall Student Experience: 9.7  

Would Do It All Over Again: 9.7

8. The University of Georgia

Full-time Freshman Retention Rate: 94%

Best Student Health Center: 9.5

Best Overall Student Experience: 9.7  

Would Do It All Over Again: 9.6

7. Brigham Young University-Provo

Full-time Freshman Retention Rate: 87%

Best Student Health Center: 9.1

Best Overall Student Experience: 9.7  

Would Do It All Over Again: 9.9

6. The University of Florida

Full-time Freshman Retention Rate: 95%

Best Student Health Center: 9.3

Best Overall Student Experience: 9.7  

Would Do It All Over Again: 9.7

5. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Full-time Freshman Retention Rate: 97%

Best Student Health Center: 8.8

Best Overall Student Experience: 9.7  

Would Do It All Over Again: 9.8

4. Florida State University

Full-time Freshman Retention Rate: 92%

Best Student Health Center: 9.0

Best Overall Student Experience: 9.8  

Would Do It All Over Again: 9.9

3. The University of Wisconsin

Full-time Freshman Retention Rate: 94%

Best Student Health Center: 9.4

Best Overall Student Experience: 9.8  

Would Do It All Over Again: 9.7

2. Stanford University

Full-time Freshman Retention Rate: 98%

Best Student Health Center: 8.9

Best Overall Student Experience: 9.7  

Would Do It All Over Again: 9.9

1. Texas A&M University

Full-time Freshman Retention Rate: 92%

Best Student Health Center: 9.3

Best Overall Student Experience: 10.0

Would Do It All Over Again: 9.8

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