It’s not all about work and studying for those in the college environment. Even students set some time off on certain nights to watch their favorite TV shows. While ESPN happens to be on almost 24/7 in most of the campus televisions (college football is huge in almost every campus you go to), there are a number of students who turn their TVs on for other primetime shows.

Overall, an average college student keeps track of at least 3-4 shows, whether religiously or when he finds time for it. Some of the shows have already finished running their course (while others are returning after the winter break), but it still doesn’t hurt to put them in this list of top 30 due to the re-watch value the shows possess. Still some others are only found in channels such as HBO and Showtime, both of which don’t usually show on campus, but that’s what catching up on Hulu is for! Plus, most of the channels—like ABC and Fox—now actually let you stream past episodes in case you missed the showing.

In any case, these are the top shows that the students are watching (or should be, anyway).

24 (Fox) – An action and drama series, 24 is a popular espionage show, following Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) in “real-time” mode. Each episode highlights approximately 44 minutes of the characters’ lives, which sets a unique style to the show. Season 8 will be premiering on January 2010.

30 Rock (NBC) – Who doesn’t love a little Tina Fey-created humor? 30 Rock is a comedic story of a head writer attempting to manage the staff of a particular variety show. The series currently highlights a principle cast of 13, including Fey. It is currently running its fourth season.

The Big Bang Theory (CBS) – Meet Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons), Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki), Howard Wolowitz (Simon Helberg), and Raj Koothrappali (Kunal Nayyar), the four most adorable—or most frightening, take your pick—geeks on primetime television. The show mainly follows physicists Leonard and Sheldon and their geekfest as well as their interactions with bombshell neighbor Penny (Kaley Cuoco). The Big Bang Theory is currently running its third season.

Bones (Fox) – Just one of the ever-popular crime drama series, Bones follows Dr. Temperance “Bones” Brennan (Emily Deschanel) and Special Agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz), who solve crime cases using forensic anthropology, the study of human remains. Bones is in its fifth season.

Castle (ABC) – Novelist Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) and detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) band together to solve crimes. After being brought in for a crime case that copied actions from his latest literary work, Castle becomes duly inspired once the case has been solved. The show is relatively new, and is now in its second season.

CSI (CBS) – A group of criminologists attempt to solve murders using intricate lab work to examine physical evidence left at the crime scenes. The series has garnered multiple spinoffs, including CSI: Miami and CSI: NY. It has been picked up for its 10th season and is currently running.

The Daily Show/The Colbert Report (Comedy Central) – You can’t really talk about one show without mentioning the other, hence their being grouped together. Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert are both television personalities with their separate late night talk shows. Both are political satirists (Colbert’s character is notably an egomaniacal right-wing patriot), and both provide their audiences with hysterical material.

Desperate Housewives (ABC) – Taking place in fictional Fairview, the series follows five very different—yet scintillatingly attractive—women all living in Wisteria Lane. The show features a voice-over narration of Mary Alice Young (Brenda Strong), a housewife who commits suicide at the pilot episode of the series. In most cases, each housewife holds secrets bordering from mundane domestic disputes to criminal actions. Desperate Housewives is on its sixth season as of September 2009.

Dexter (Showtime) – Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) works as a blood spatter analyst by day and is a morally-governed serial killer by night. Dexter struggles with his urge to kill; with the help of his father Harry (James Remar), Dexter quenches his thirst for murder by getting rid of the town’s “trash”: the uncaught murderers. The show has just finished its fourth season and will have a 12-episode showing of the fifth in 2010.

Doctor Who (BBC) – A British television science fiction series dating origination from the 1960s, this show has sparked a worldwide interest after its revival in 2005 (starring Christopher Ecclestone as the title character). The series itself follows The Doctor—a 900-year-old Time Lord from now-defunct Gallifrey—and his female companions in their travels through space and time. The show currently stars David Tennant as the 10th reincarnation of the doctor, soon to be succeeded by Matt Smith as the 11th Doctor in 2010.

Family Guy (Fox) – This animated sitcom was created by Seth MacFarlane and revolves around a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois Griffin, children Meg, Chris, and the diabolically lovable Stewie, and Brian, the family dog. It is in its eighth season.

FlashForward (ABC) – FlashForward has gained momentum these past few months. The science fiction series tells the story of a phenomena where everyone on Earth loses consciousness for 137 seconds. In that time span, people get a glimpse of their lives in the future. Led by Stanford Wedeck (Courtney Vance) and Mark Benford (Joseph Fiennes), FBI agents try to determine what happened. The next 14 episodes of its first season is scheduled to show in March 2010.

Friends (NBC) – While the series has already ended, there is no doubt that Friends has become one of the most popular sitcoms of American television. The story revolves around six friends who from time and time again live together and share their triumphs and woes. All of the main cast members have become household names after the ten successful seasons of this show.

Glee (Fox) – A post-modern musical series akin to—though more tasteful than—High School Musical, Glee follows a group of very different high school students who are all in the same glee club. A variety of songs have been sung and revised by the Glee cast members, ranging from classic rock, to pop, to hip hop, and to showtunes. The show will return on the air on April 2010 to finish out its 9 remaining episodes of the first season.

Gossip Girl (CW) – People try to deny all they want about not watching this series, but deep down inside everybody loves a good gossip, especially when it doesn’t concern them. The purpose of the blogger “Gossip Girl” (voiced by Kristen Bell) is to highlight the glamorous, though tumultuous, lives of Manhattan socialites, particularly those of the Upper East Side. Gossip Girl is currently running its third season.

Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) – One of the popular medical dramas, the show starts by showcasing the lives of five surgical interns and their mentors in Seattle Grace Hospital, a fictional teaching institution in Seattle, Washington. The show has gained millions of viewers as the series progressed, and is currently one of the most watched primetime shows, with its sixth season still on air.

Heroes (NBC) – “Save the cheerleader, save the world” has become a popular phrase linked to this science fiction drama series. The show revolves around various extraordinary characters and their day-to-day activities after finding that they possess superhuman abilities. The style of the story is done in a comic book manner, all featuring short episode arcs that paint a bigger picture. Heroes is due to return with its fifth season in January 2010.

House (Fox) – Sure, no patient particularly loves a cocky, sarcastic, and obnoxious doctor on his bedside, but everyone seems to adore the charm and intellect of Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie). This is a mystery medical drama, akin to Sherlock Holmes; only, instead of solving crimes, House comes up with diagnoses of patients with enigmatic symptoms. The show is currently running its sixth season.

Law and Order (NBC) – This police and legal drama series is currently the longest-running primetime show and has spanned a series of spinoff franchises: including Law and Order: Special Victims Unit and Law and Order: Criminal Intent. The story follows a group of officers and prosecutors representing the criminal justice system.

LOST (ABC) – The show features a large ensemble cast playing survivors of a plane crash. Stranded on a mysterious island, each character’s life unfolds, as they try to stay alive in an island full of hostile opposition. The series has won numerous awards and is a top show of all time. LOST is scheduled to return for its sixth season in February 2010.

Mad Men (AMC) – Set in fictional advertising agency Sterling Cooper in New York City, the show follows creative director Don Draper (Jon Hamm) and the lives of people from his office during the 1960s. Its critical acclaim has been due to its authentic history and style. A fourth season is scheduled to air sometime in 2010.

NCIS (CBS) – Short for “Naval Criminal Investigation Service,” the police drama revolves around a team of special agents investigating crimes that involve the US Navy and Marine Corps. The show was a spinoff from JAG, and has since gained popularity, running in its seventh season.

The Office (NBC) – The mockumentary comedy series is actually an adaptation of an older BBC series. The show features the lives of office employees in fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. The show is shot using a single-camera setup, and the characters are openly aware of the camera throughout the series. The Office is currently in its sixth season.

Project Runway (Lifetime) – Originally a Bravo-syndicated show, the sixth season found its way into Lifetime. Project Runway is a reality television series hosted by supermodel Heidi Klum. Contestants compete against each other in the field of fashion design for a chance to showcase their designs in the annual New York Fashion Week at Bryant Park. Tasks have included the creation of wrestling outfits, pageant evening gowns, and garden party clothes made of plants and flowers. Season 7 is due to premiere in January 2010.

Scrubs (ABC) – American comedy drama Scrubs takes place at a teaching hospital and follows the daydreams and colorful vignettes of Dr. John “J.D.” Dorian (Zach Braff). The show was originally aired on NBC and was later picked up by ABC for an 8th season. The ninth season has been premiered, with a new set of main characters.

Seinfeld (NBC) – Created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the sitcom stars a fictionalized version of the title character, set predominantly in the Upper West side of New York City. The show follows Jerry’s friends in humorous aspects of their lives. Seinfeld lasted nine seasons.

The Simpsons (Fox) – Noted as the record-holder for the most number of episodes by an American animated show, The Simpsons now celebrates its 20th anniversary and is still a popular series for a large range of audiences. The show satirizes the middle class American lifestyle and focuses on the Simpsons family. Season 21 is currently running.

Smallville (CW) – Based on DC Comics’ Superman, the series tells the story of high school student Clark Kent in Smallville, Kansas, before he becomes the Man of Steel. The latter seasons focus a bit more on Clark’s time at The Daily Planet. Smallville has garnered popularity within the younger audiences, particularly those aged 18-34. It is presently airing its ninth season.

South Park (Comedy Central) – Aimed for mature audiences for its dark humor, the animated sitcom follows the story of four children: Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, Eric Cartman, and Kenny McCormick. Plots range widely from episode to episode; the only constant is that the show takes place in a fictionalized Colorado town with various sets of characters. A contract has been signed to produce episodes through 2011.

Star Trek (CBS) – This science fiction show has spanned a multi-billion dollar franchise and a popular cult following, winning 31 Emmy Awards during its run. The show follows a crew of humans and aliens in their travels through space aboard The Enterprise. Along with numerous sequels, Star Trek has spawned film releases, including the current blockbuster hit of the same name (starring Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto, with special guest Leonard Nimoy).