Colleges and Universities with the Highest Student Enrollment

Often recognized for their dynamic athletic programs and expansive lecture halls, public colleges and universities generally accommodate more students compared to private institutions. While the prospect of attending a large college might seem daunting to some, these institutions typically boast a plethora of organizations and clubs, fostering connections among students with shared interests. This article explores colleges and universities with significant student populations. Enrollment totals are subject to change and encompass undergraduates, graduates, and, in certain instances, online learners. Many of these institutions operate across multiple campuses and provide a wide spectrum of in-person and online academic programs.

Understanding Enrollment Figures

Enrollment figures are tracked to provide a comprehensive view of campus scale. These counts include full-time and part-time students, as well as on-campus and online learners. Examining these figures helps prospective students, families, and advisors weigh the benefits and trade-offs of attending a large institution. Large universities often have extensive research facilities, a wider variety of majors, and a bustling array of student organizations. However, very high enrollment can lead to larger class sizes and a more impersonal experience.

Public Universities with High Enrollment

Public colleges and universities typically enroll more students than private institutions. Here are some public universities known for their large student populations:

Arizona State University (ASU)

Arizona State University has multiple campuses, including four in the Phoenix metro area - Tempe, Mesa, downtown Phoenix, and Glendale - with total enrollment exceeding 158,000 students. This includes more than 78,000 on-campus students and over 80,000 distance learners. The main campus in Tempe has the highest enrollment. ASU offers more than 850 degree programs, such as in education and teaching, architecture, entrepreneurship, business, and sustainability. Despite a large student body, the average student-to-faculty ratio is 18:1.

The Tempe campus of ASU serves roughly 65,200 undergraduates and 14,400 graduate students, primarily on campus. Students can access nearby metropolitan Phoenix via a 20-minute drive or an hour-long trip on the public light rail. All first-year undergraduates are expected to live on campus, where students select housing assignments based on their major. Academic programs available at Tempe include the W. P. Carey School of Business, the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, the Honors College, and the School of Sustainability.

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Texas A&M University

Texas A&M University enrolls more than 81,000 students, including about 62,000 undergrads and nearly 19,000 grad and professional school students. Beyond the 5,200-acre main campus in College Station, the university has branches in Galveston, Texas, and Doha, Qatar, as well as a health science center. Texas A&M has more than 1,300 on-campus student organizations, the oldest being the Corps of Cadets. The university also has more than 20 varsity sports with more than 650 student-athletes competing at the NCAA Division I-A level. Students can choose from more than 140 undergraduate degrees, 175 master's programs, and nearly 100 doctoral and professional degree programs.

Texas A&M University's campus has been located in College Station - one of the best college towns in Texas. Its nearly 75,000 students have access to over 140 undergraduate and roughly 270 graduate programs. Kyle Field, the Aggies' stadium, is the largest stadium in the Southeastern Conference.

The Ohio State University

While the main campus is in Columbus, The Ohio State University has five others within the state in Lima, Mansfield, Marion, Newark, and Wooster. These six campuses together enroll more than 67,000 students, most of whom are undergrads at the Columbus campus. Ohio State has 36 men, women and coed varsity sports and more than 1,400 on-campus organizations and clubs, including for e-bike users, tea lovers and followers of true crime. Students also have many opportunities for research, with 370 inventions created at Ohio State every year, per the university.

Roughly 46,000 undergraduates and 14,400 graduate students attend Ohio State’s main campus in Columbus, Ohio’s largest city and the fastest-growing metropolitan area in the Midwest. Students are generally required to live on campus for at least two years. The 150-year-old institution boasts an alumni network of over 600,000 and a powerful “Buckeye” spirit fueled by Welcome Weeks and a homecoming parade.

University of Central Florida (UCF)

Since the first day of classes in 1968, the University of Central Florida in Orlando has grown from a student body of nearly 2,000 to become the largest higher ed institution in the state. Students are largely enrolled in the university's science, engineering and computer science programs. Aerospace engineering is one of the fastest-growing majors and graduate programs at UCF, which calls itself "America's Space University" due to long-standing research partnerships with NASA and other space programs.

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Located in Orlando, UCF is one of Florida’s 12 public colleges, offering 111 bachelor’s degrees, 98 master’s, and 33 doctorates.

University of Arizona

Total enrollment at the University of Arizona - designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution - is nearly 54,400, including almost 43,300 undergraduates and close to 11,100 graduate students. Most matriculating students are in-state residents. U of A has 23 residence halls plus some sorority and fraternity housing. All first-year residential students are required to live on campus. Students don't have to be on the Tucson campus, however, to get a U of A education. There are more than 150 fully online undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs - such as in animal and veterinary sciences, philosophy and religious studies, and engineering and technology - in addition to in-person academic offerings.

University of Washington, Seattle

About three-quarters of undergraduates at UW hail from the state of Washington, and half are STEM majors. Residence halls offer students nine-month and 12-month living arrangements, so students can live on campus through the summer if desired.

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

More than 39,000 undergraduates and nearly 16,000 graduate and professional students attend the University of Minnesota in the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. The school boasts more than 200 graduate and professional studies programs and 900 student organizations. Students can enroll in one of the University’s 17 colleges and schools, like the College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences, the Carlson School of Management, the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, or the College of Veterinary Medicine -the only veterinary college in Minnesota. Minneapolis is one of the country’s most bikeable cities.

University of Texas, Austin

The student body at UT Austin includes more than 41,000 undergraduate and 11,000 graduate students, representing 130 countries and all 50 states. Students at UT Austin get to participate in any of the more than 1,000 student organizations, 70 sororities and fraternities, hundreds of intramural sports leagues, and the largest student-run newspaper in the country.

University of Michigan

The University of Michigan enrolls roughly 33,000 undergraduates and 20,000 graduate students The school admits just 18% of applicants. Among those accepted, the average high school GPA is over 3.9. UM offers students access to more than 1,700 student-run clubs. It shines in research and sports, with one of the largest research portfolios of colleges in the country and over 400 Big 10 athletic championships. Tuition is higher than average for out-of-state students, but 1 in 4 undergraduates pay nothing after financial aid.

Pennsylvania State University, Main Campus

When Pennsylvania State University was founded in 1855, it was a small agricultural college. Today, it’s one of the largest universities in the country. Located in University Park, a few hours’ drive from Philadelphia, it houses roughly 14,000 students in its campus residence halls. PSU offers over 275 undergraduate majors. Plus, it might be the only university on this list with its own creamery and online ice cream delivery service.

Utah Valley University

Utah Valley University has more than 300 academic programs, ranging from certificates to master's degrees. UVU considers itself an open-admissions school, which means any applicant with a high school diploma or GED can attend. Total enrollment at UVU has been on an upward trajectory over the last few years, with the number of students now approaching 49,000. Among UVU's campus traditions are a fall semester kickoff known as Wolverine Fest; bingo night every fall and spring; a Halloween dance; and a craft night where students can bring their children, nieces and nephews, or friends to celebrate Valentine's Day.

Private Universities with High Enrollment

While private universities tend to be smaller than public colleges, some rival public universities in terms of size.

New York University (NYU)

It doesn’t get much bigger than the Big Apple, where nearly 60,000 NYU students are enrolled across over 400 programs. About 11,000 NYU students live in university housing in New York’s Greenwich Village or Brooklyn Heights. Students can find their community in the big city at the NYU Center for Student Life or among the 300 student clubs and organizations.

Liberty University (VA)

Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, is a private evangelical Christian school that incorporates faith into its curriculum and daily life. Residential students, for instance, are required to attend a faith-focused convocation every Wednesday and Friday throughout the academic year. The residential student population on the 7,000-acre campus exceeds 16,000, and unmarried undergraduates under age 21 are required to live on campus. Founded in 1971, Liberty offers certificates and associate, bachelor's and master's degrees in more than 700 programs of study.

Online Universities with High Enrollment

The largest primarily online universities are even larger than the biggest in-person colleges by enrollment.

Here are the top online Universities with the highest enrollment figures:

Western Governors University
Southern New Hampshire University
University of Phoenix
Liberty University
Grand Canyon University
Arizona State University Digital Immersion
University of Maryland Global Campus
American Public University System
Purdue University Global
Walden University

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