What do you need for Jewish life to thrive on campus?

Start with having lots of Jewish students — the fact that you need a minyan of ten people to properly pray shows how much Judaism values coming together. Add thriving Hillel and Chabad chapters to provide a wide variety of popular religious and cultural programs — or just a place to hang out. There should be lots of options for Jewish fraternities, sororities and extracurricular clubs. The community should have lots of synagogue options, both for places to pray and to pick up Sunday school jobs. And of course, what kind of Jewish community could exist without kosher food?

In other words: When it comes to thriving Jewish life, we think you need all of the above.

The Forward College Guide weighed all of these factors and more to determine the Jewish Life score for our university rankings.

There are many, many schools that provide a positive Jewish experience for students. But here are the 18 schools that scored the best:

6) Washington University in St. Louis — 30.17/34

NOTE: For our rankings of schools that have the best Israel atmosphere, click here.

Image by Kurt Hoffman

Contact Aiden Pink at pink@forward.com.