The 55 Biggest Colleges in the United States

The 55 Biggest Colleges in the United States SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips You might be interested in attending a big college, but just how big are you thinking? Some schools have over 40,000 undergraduates, making them the size of a small city. These schools can provide great opportunities to students, but they can also be a little overwhelming. In this article, I’ll give you a list of the 55 biggest colleges for undergraduates in the US along with student feedback about what it’s really like to be part of such a large college community. Why Are These Colleges So Big? Most of the biggest colleges are public state universities. It makes sense that these schools attract the most students because they provide incentives for students who live in the state to attend. The largest schools are located in the most populous states. Thus, California, Texas, and Florida (the three most populous states in the US) are home to many of the schools on this list. These schools are also large because they are meccas for academic research and offer a wide variety of programs to students. Being located in populous states means that these universities must cater to diverse groups of people, leading to the creation of more academic options and research facilities that encourage even more students to enroll. It’s essentially a cycle of increasing returns for the schools. Public universities also have the resources to grow their campuses and facilities through government support. There are some very large private colleges, but it’s difficult for them to rival the size of government-funded public universities. Other circumstances have contributed to the growth of big private colleges, from wealthy alumni to religious connections. For example, Brigham Young University- the private college with the largest undergraduate population- has grown so large mainly due to its affiliation with the (rapidly expanding) Mormon Church. What’s It Like at a Huge College? Here are some testimonials from students about what it’s like to attend three of the largest colleges in the country. Texas AM University â€Å"I don't regret one moment, because I loved the overall camaraderie of the school- they don't call it the friendliest campus in America without reason!† â€Å"I am a theatre major at Texas AM, a program most people are unaware even exists. It is tough being in a small department in a large school, but simply due to the Aggie Network and facilities present for all students, even those of us in small departments are learning as much as we possibly can.† â€Å"Students have access to different student services, like a writing center that will help with papers and research, a testing center that will help you to study better and make learning easier, an on-campus health center, and even small things that make huge differences like 300 free prints a semester in the computer center and access to free programs at the recreation center.† â€Å"Texas AM is an excellent university for those students who love or don't mind traditions.† The administration building at Texas AM Purdue University â€Å"I really enjoy the classes I am taking, and the social life is awesome! There is definitely something for everyone. Whether you are wanting to get involved in Greek life or maybe just a few clubs, it all is available at Purdue. Being able to attend Big Ten sporting events isn't so bad either.† â€Å"Purdue has something to offer for everyone, no matter where they come from, what their major is, or what their interests are. It is a well-rounded university, full of students who are proud to study there.† â€Å"I used to think I wanted to go to a small school, but at Purdue, you get both the big-school and small-school experience. Attention in classes (sometimes you have to seek it out, but it's there), but huge atmosphere where the possibilities are endless.† A fountain on Purdue's campus UCLA â€Å"It will be entirely up to you to do homework problems and to go to office hours for questions and insight. Self-motivation, especially in science and math courses, is a key factor to success here.† â€Å"At UCLA, the world awaits. Shy and overly reserved people will miss out on all that the school has to offer.† â€Å"At this university, I am receiving the total package: academics, research, and world-renowned athletic programs. I can honestly say that the balanced undergraduate experience I am obtaining is worth every penny.† â€Å"With hundreds of student organizations available every year, UCLA makes it easy to find one’s niche.† â€Å"The diversity here is truly astounding, with people from all types of backgrounds, and you truly gain a more global perspective.† The UCLA campus At these schools, you can expect virtually endless resources, diversity, and extracurricular activities, but you have to be willing to get yourself out there and be self-motivated. If you’re a driven, outgoing student, you’re likely to thrive at a huge college. Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. The Biggest Colleges (Public and Private) I’ve included two lists: one for the biggest public colleges, and one for the biggest private colleges. The public colleges below have more than 25,000 undergraduates, and the private colleges have more than 15,000 undergraduates. I did not include colleges where a large portion of the student body is composed of online students because this doesn’t create the same environment as a school that has a huge on-campus population. All schools below are arranged by undergraduate enrollment, from largest to smallest. In addition, all enrollment statistics are for fall 2018 unless otherwise noted. Biggest Public Colleges in the US by On-Campus Undergraduate Enrollment College Undergraduate Enrollment University of Central Florida 58,913 Texas AM University - College Station 53,743 The Ohio State University - Columbus 46,820 Arizona State University - Tempe 42,844 UT Austin 40,804 Penn State University - University Park 40,363 Michigan State University 39,423 Utah Valley University 39,397 Florida International University 37,047* Rutgers University - New Brunswick 36,039 University of Florida 35,491 University of Arizona 35,223 California State University - Northridge 34,900 California State University - Fullerton 34,468 Texas State University 34,200 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 33,673 University of Alabama 33,028 Indiana University - Bloomington 32,991 Purdue University 32,672 Kennesaw State University 32,274 University of South Florida - Tampa 32,238 University of Washington - Seattle 32,099 Texas Tech University 31,957 UCLA 31,577 University of Minnesota - Twin Cities 31,455 California State University - Long Beach 31,447 University of North Texas 31,347 University of California - Berkeley 30,853 University of Maryland - College Park 30,762 University of California - Davis 30,718 San Diego State University 30,392 University of Wisconsin - Madison 30,360 University of Michigan - Ann Arbor 30,318 University of Colorado Boulder 30,152 University of California - Irvine 29,736 Temple University 29,672 Iowa State University 29,621 University of Georgia 29,611 Florida State University - Tallahassee 28,728 University of Texas at Arlington 28,329 California State University - Sacramento 28,317 University of Texas at San Antonio 27,988 Weber State University 27,465 San Josà © State University 27,271 Georgia State University 27,190 Northern Arizona University 27,078 University of Cincinnati 26,932 University of South Carolina 26,733 San Francisco State University 26,436 George Mason University 26,192 *Fall 2019 data Biggest Private Colleges in the US by On-Campus Undergraduate Enrollment College Undergraduate Enrollment Brigham Young University 31,441 New York University 29,406 University of Southern California 19,907 Boston University 18,515 Northeastern University 18,448 More Resources for Researching Big Colleges If you know you're interested in attending a big school but aren't sure which one is right for you or are worried about how different it will be from high school, consider checking out the following books: Princeton Review's The Complete Book of Colleges and the Fiske Guide to Colleges - These huge, comprehensive tomes include information about hundreds of colleges across the US, so you can easily compare and contrast your options. Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania by Frank Bruni - If you're stressed about finding the perfect school, check out this argument for being a bit more relaxed when planning your future. The System: The Glory and Scandal of Big-Time College Football by Jeff Benedict and Armen Keteyian - If you're interested in a college with a big sports program, this deep dive into the scandals of college sports is essential reading. Educated by Tara Westover - This memoir describes the author's journey from her isolated, abusive childhood to college at Brigham Young University and graduate school at Cambridge. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell - This popular novel recounts Cath's difficulties adjusting to college life in her first year at University of Nebraska. What's Next? Is a big college the right choice for you? Read my article on deciding whether big or small schools will work better for your goals and personality. Worried about increasingly higher tuition price tags? Find out how much it really costs to attend college. Another decision you'll have to make before you apply to college is how far away you want to go. Check out this article on whether you should attend college close to home. These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: