Nothing is more exciting or entertaining than going to a themed party in college.
A themed party brings a certain cool and fun vibe to any college mixer or gathering and enables students to show off their creativity in finding the perfect costume.
With college parties being such a big part of college life, it's important you do it right and create one that everyone will remember, or at least try to the following morning.
Here we look at the best college party themes and ideas for your next college party featuring fun and unique party ideas that make good party themes for college.
Best College Party Themes
- Graffiti Party - (aka blacklight party) This is where everyone brings a marker and wears white shirts and writes on each other. Some also use a highlighter and black light combination that makes all markings glow. The cool thing about the black light/highlighter combo is that you can't really see what is written until you are in the black light. Some parties will keep the normal lights on during most of the party while everyone writes on each other, then toward the end, flip on the black light to see what people wrote. It makes for some entertaining reads!
- Decades Parties: 60's, 70's or 80's. Dress up like that era and play that decade's music: 70's - Hippie themed.; 80's - Ideas are endless here. Dress up as an icon from the 80s: Ghostbusters, etc.
- Mardi Gras - Beads being tossed, shirts going up and liquor going down, this is always a wild one.
- Luau - Hawaiian shirts, bikinis, grass skirts and drinks served out of coconuts. People love the Hawaiian vibe. This is a good party theme to throw in the spring, right before summer starts to get people in that summertime mood. Be sure to bring the piña coladas and Malibu Rum!
- Foam Party - You just rent a foam machine and people walk around rooms that are covered in foam. People end up getting quite slippery, so you never know what will happen! This is one of the coolest parties you can throw, though you almost have to have a linoleum or hard floor. A foam party is a guaranteed good time.
- Pimps and Hoes - A classic party theme and another party for girls to wear revealing outfits: girls dress provocatively and guys dress like pimps. Though seeing a pimp hat gets old, it's interesting to see what outfits girls will show up in.
- Margaritaville/Buffet Bash - (aka beach party) Jimmy Buffet/Beach theme. Bonus if you bring in sand for this one. There have been stories of people throwing these kind of parties in houses about to be torn down. What you do is bring in a bunch of sand to your place of party and crank the heat all the way up. This is a really cool party theme to do in the winter.
- Toga Party - This Greek classic would make John Belushi proud. Though it may be overplayed a bit, it can still be a kick every now and then. For guys it's a great way to show off muscles, while girls...well it's a great way to show off everything else they are showing off on this list.
- ABC Party - Anything But Clothes. Party goers must show up in "Anything But Clothes". Use your imagination here: Duct Tape, plastic bags, towel, cardboard box, etc.
- Casino Night - Bring out the gambling addict and the party animal in everyone. Sometimes these type of parties may have a serious feel to it and you may have to act proper and classy, but nearly everyone becomes competitive when they're drinking.
- White Trash Party - Now you have a reason to wear that torn up wife beater with holes in public.
- Pajama Party - Also goes by "kegs and eggs" - wear pajamas and stay up all night until you cook breakfast in the morning. At least you'll be all set when you're ready to pass out at this party.
- CEOs and Office hoes - A classy formal attire party with a little provocativeness involved. In a way, this is the white-collar pimps and hoes party.
- Cops and Robbers - Pick partners and be handcuffed all night. Though handcuffs are optional, this is a good one for that good girl/bad boy combo, or the bad girl/good boy combo. Either way, bandits will be making out tonight.
- Club - Girls will enjoy any type of club atmosphere where dancing is involved.
- Cowboys & Indians - (aka Wild West party) Pretty self-explanatory: dress up as either a Cowboy or Indian at this theme party.
- Rags to Riches - You dress up in rags or riches and at first you sit outside and drink cheap beer. You can't go inside until the cheap keg is done, then you go in the house and have the expensive beer/wine/etc.
- Angels & Devils - A costume mixer. It's always interesting to see which girls dress up as what.
- "Head banger's Ball" - Black leather/chains type costumes.
- Catholic School - Girls dress like Catholic school girls, plaid skirt and all, boys in shirts and ties. They each get a partner, one person is hall monitor and gives out detentions, one person is principal and you get sent to the office if you get detention. If you get detention, punishment is to take whatever shot the principal gives you. Confessing your sins the next day...optional.
- Bikers and Babes - No, not the mountain biking kind.
- Disco Party - Though we wouldn't recommend playing disco music all night nor wearing roller skates while drinking.
- Shower Party - You can throw a shower party if you have a huge shower room with lots of showers (Greek houses). People come in swim attire and a keg is usually brought in. Girls where bikinis or white T-shirts, as the close proximity to water makes for a nice wet T-shirt contest.
- Alcoholics Party - Everyone gets a "Hello my name is ________" sticker and writes a name on it.
- Rave - Like you are at a club. Bring your glow sticks!
More College Party Theme Ideas
- Alice in Wonderland Party
- Aliens and Astronauts
- Anything But Cups Party
- Anything But Human Party
- Apocalypse Party
- Arabian Nights
- Around the World Party
- Athletes and Mathletes
- Barbarians and Librarians
- Bohemian Party
- Boston Tea Party
- Camo Party
- Candyland Party
- Catalina Wine Mixer Party
- Caveman Party
- Come as you were Party
- Construction Night
- Country Club Party
- Day of the Dead Party
- Denim and Diamonds Party
- Derby Days
- Disney Party
- Dungeons and Drag Queens
- Dynamic Duos
- Egyptian theme party
- Everything But Cups Party
- Flashlight Party
- Fright Night
- Funny Hat Party
- Future Party
- Game of Thrones Party
- Gatsby Party
- Glamping Party
- Golf Pros and Tennis Hoes
- Grammys Party
- Group Costumes Party
- High School Stereotypes Party
- Hippie Party
- Holidays Party
- Hollywood Party
- I can't believe you wore that Party
- Jail Break Party
- James Bond Party
- Jello Wrestling Party
- Jersey Shore Party
- John Hughes theme Party
- Lingerie Party
- Masquerade Party
- Meme Party
- Movie Theme Party
- Murder Mystery
- Music Festival Party
- Olympics Party
- Pool Party
- Red Carpet Party
- Redneck Party
- Risky Business Party
- Rock ‘N Roll Party
- Rome in the Foam
- Rumble In The Jungle Party
- Seven Deadly Sins Party
- Sexy Historical / Political Figures
- Sexy Hospital Party
- Snowpants or No Pants
- Spring Break Party
- Superheroes Party
- Tequila Mockingbird Party
- Tight And Bright Party
- Twister Party
- Ugly Sweater Party
- Under The Sea Party
- Wedding-themed Party
- Wizard Party
- You Are What You Eat Party
Non-Costume Party Themes
- Bonfire - Great outdoors fun and a great way to burn and get rid of any scrap wood or spare couches you have. These are even better during cold winters. (Just don't get drunk and try and jump over the fire.)
- Spodi or Spodee-odee - While not a costume party, a Spodi party is still a party favorite mixed of your favorite fruit, juices, and alcoholic beverages. You will definitely feed your daily Vitamin C/alcohol crave here.
- Luge - You carve channels in a huge ice block and pour alcohol down it (with optional mixer). Your mouth (placed at the bottom end of the ice luge) then receives a perfectly chilled shot thanks to the ice. Pretty cool idea, just take it slow and pace yourself.
Also See:
Best Party Schools
Best College Traditions