Nothing says higher education quite like a well thought out rap video. There’s school spirit, enthusiastic personalities, insider info and (hopefully) a pretty good beat. Okay, so they’re usually pretty cheesy, but that’s part of what makes them so damn likeable.

Below are eight of the best rap videos to come out of colleges. Most are high quality productions (well more high quality than say a cell phone video) and most are seemingly by students. There’s no random dorm room freestylin’ here. And no DJ Scrilla either... mostly because he raps about practically every school ever.

Check them out:

Northwestern University

Mo Greene’s “Go U” is perfect for the first year in a long time that Northwestern didn’t completely suck at football. Let’s hope people are as enthusiastic for this rap when a bowl game goes back to just a distant dream. But, hey, it’s catchy.

Clarkson University

There’s a lot of numbers in this rap, but I’m willing to look past that part. For students, there’s plenty of insider comments and even I can appreciate the work that went into making this.

Trinity Western University

This guy looks like the least likely rapper of the bunch (and that’s saying something) and that’s what makes this so entertaining. That, and the fact that the rap is about how hard classes are and stuff. Not your usual rap material.

Vanderbilt University

This track’s set to the tune of 2Pac’s “That’s Just The Way It Is” and all I can say is, it’s very Vanderbilt. But it’s pretty well done.

Mansfield University

This video’s not like the others. It’s not a quality production and it’s not from anyone resembling a student. However, it had to be included for the sheer fact that the school’s music professor is rapping at convocation.

Indiana University

Apparently this video won first place in the Celebrate IU 2008 Student Video Competition. From that alone you know it’s high quality. We’ll let it slide that the lyrics could have come straight from the admissions office.

Florida State University

This Seminole rap is from 1988 and it shows. But that’s the best part about it. Man, do I love the ’80s.

Auburn University

The best part about this “War Eagle” rap is the guys in the beginning with the letters on their stomachs. It’s a nice display of school spirit, until you realize “Auburn” is spelled wrong. Other than that, a good rap.