INDIANAPOLIS -- A new survey of college campuses shows binge drinking is more prevalent among students in Indiana than those across the nation.

The survey by the Indiana Collegiate Action Network found that 48 percent of college students in Indiana reported binge drinking, compared to 40 percent of students nationally, 6News' Renee Jameson reported.

In the survey, 19 percent of college students said they missed class or an assignment because of drinking, while 17 percent said that they got behind the wheel after drinking.

"There are a lot of factors that contribute to binge drinking. Peer influence is a big one, of course," said spokeswoman Lisa Hutcheson. "We know a lot of students said the easiest place for them to get alcohol is from older friends, or on-campus parties or off-campus parties."

There is a bright spot for Indiana University, where the number of students who said they consumed more than five drinks in one week dropped more than 12 percent in the last three years.

IU officials said education is key.

"Students behavior is formed at about the first six weeks that they're on campus. So when we front load these interventions with these prevention programs and public education campaigns and so forth, we alter their behavior," said Dee Owens with the IU Alcohol-Drug Information Center.

IU requires all new and transfer students to take an online course that discusses alcohol abuse.

More than 5,000 students took part in the Indiana Collegiate Action Network's survey last spring.