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25 Unique and Fun College Party Themes

Never throw a boring party again!

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So, you've decked out your dorm with all the must-have back-to-school products, slayed your way through the first few weeks of the semester, and now you're ready to celebrate by hosting your very own party. Congrats, bestie, the fun is only beginning. When it comes to throwing a college party, the top priority is for everyone to have the time of their lives, and picking a fun theme will ensure just that.

What's there not to love about a good party theme? Go with an '80s theme, and everyone will love dressing up in their vintage '80s costumes and go absolutely nuts when Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" comes on. Or think of all the savage Instagram captions that will hit the TL after your meme party. And watch your friends tap into their most creative selves when they try to put together a fit for your holiday-themed party.

It doesn't have to be a super complicated theme, though. You can throw a graffiti party where all you'd need is a black light and for everyone to rock white t-shirts and bring neon highlighters or paint. Everyone at your school has some sort of loungewear, so a pajama party is an easy option if you want to keep things super simple.

No matter if you're throwing a party at your sorority house, putting a massive event together with your school's student government, or you're just turning up in your dorm with your suite mates, these 25 college party themes will help you and your friends have an epic party you won't be able to forget.

Taylor Swift Eras Party

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What better time to have a Taylor Swift Eras party than during the Eras Tour? Pick your fav Tay era, and dress in the overall vibe or color scheme.

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Western

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Yeehaw! You know the drill for this one. It's time to put on a cowboy hat and your best denim, and partayyy.

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Rave Party

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Glitter, neon, glow sticks, and EDM music on the aux are all musts for a rave-themed party. It's literally impossible not to have fun at a rave. Seriously, it's like scientifically proven.

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Prom Party

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Prom is one of the most magical moments from all four years of high school, so may as well relive it in college! You can even take it a step further and have everyone vote on a prom king and queen.

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Barbie and Ken

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Come on Barbie (and Ken), let's go party! Deck yourself out in pink and dress up as America's fav doll.

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Carolyn Twersky
Associate Editor

Carolyn Twersky is an associate editor for Seventeen covering celebrities, entertainment, politics, trends, and health. On her off time, she's probably watching Ru Paul's Drag Race, traversing NYC for the best donuts, or, most likely, enjoying time in her favorite place in the world: her bed. 

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Jasmine Washington
Assistant Editor

Jasmine Washington is an Assistant Editor at Seventeen, where she covers celebrity news, beauty, lifestyle, and more. For the past decade, she has worked for media outlets, including BET, MadameNoire, VH1, and many others, where she used her voice to tell stories across various verticals. Follow her on Instagram.

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Briannah Rivera
Editorial and Social Media Assistant

Bri is the editorial and social media assistant at ELLE.com. Before joining the team at ELLE, she worked as the editorial assistant for Seventeen.com and Cosmopolitan.com where she covered all things celebrity news and pop culture. You can probably find her sipping an oatmilk iced chai while searching for the best new makeup products or thrifting her entire wardrobe.

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