Which U.S. colleges have the highest number of undergraduate students? Using data from the 2017 enrollment of ranked schools, U.S. News and World Report compiled a list of the colleges with the highest undergraduate enrollment. Read on to discover which 10 schools made the list.
Michigan State University
Undergraduate Enrollment: 38,996
Located in East Lansing, Michigan, Michigan State University is home to the Spartans. Part of the Big Ten Conference, one of the oldest Division I collegiate athletic conferences in the country, MSU is renowned for its top sports teams. One of the biggest games of the year is its annual match-up against The University of Michigan, in which the two schools duke it out for possession of the coveted Paul Bunyan Trophy.
The University of Texas at Austin
Undergraduate Enrollment: 40,492
The University of Texas at Austin is an impressive school in both size and stature. Its urban campus is comprised of 437 acres and it offers more than 100 undergraduate degrees for its large population of students. It’s also a selective admission process, with only 40% of applicants gaining entrance to the school. Known for its popular Greek system and diverse student body, this top Southern school also has seven museums and seventeen libraries spread across the campus.
Broward College (FL)
Undergraduate Enrollment: 40,754
Located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Broward College is a regional college with highly affordable tuition. Not only was it named one of the Top Ten Community Colleges in 2018 by the Aspen Institute, but it was also named one the most affordable colleges in Florida. According to U.S. News, in-state tuition costs $3,537 for the 2018-2019 academic year, which makes it a great option for Florida residents.
Pennsylvania State University — University Park
Undergraduate Enrollment: 40,835
Known to most as “Penn State,” Pennsylvania State University — University Park has a top reputation for academics and athletics. The school boasts over 70 fraternities and sororities and 1,000 clubs and organizations for students to enjoy in their free time.
Arizona State University — Tempe
Undergraduate Enrollment: 42,427
Although Arizona State University — Tempe has a long-held reputation as a “party school,” this stereotype is not set in stone. For example, ASU notably did not make Princeton Review's Top 20 List of Party Schools, which took into account use of alcohol, hours spent outside of the classroom and the popularity of each school’s Greek system. Regardless of its party school status, ASU does have some of the most undergraduates in the country on its large Tempe campus.
Liberty University (VA)
Undergraduate Enrollment: 45,754
Liberty University, a private Christian university in Lynchburg, Virginia, was founded by Baptist minister and televangelist Jerry Falwell in 1971. Boasting a campus of more than 7,000 acres, the school offers on-campus and online degrees, with over 280 online programs available to its large population of students.
The Ohio State University — Columbus
Undergraduate Enrollment: 45,946
Outside of academics, sports are a huge part of campus life at The Ohio State University — Columbus. Home to the Ohio State Buckeyes, the school’s football team is also part of the NCAA’s Big Ten Conference. The university’s football stadium, affectionately called “The Shoe” has been likened to the Coliseum of Rome. Costing over $1 million dollars to build in 1922, the Shoe seats 100,000 football fans during a home game.
Florida International University
Undergraduate Enrollment: 47,586
Founded in 1971, Florida International University offers a unique college experience for its diverse set of students. This urban university is divided between two campuses, Modesto A. Maidique Campus in West Miami-Dade County and the Biscayne Bay Campus in North Miami. It was also ranked #100 in the U.S. News Ranking of Top Public Schools, a notable accomplishment for such a young university.
Texas A&M University — College Station
Undergraduate Enrollment: 53,065
Founded in 1876 as an all men's agricultural and mechanical college, Texas A&M is now a co-ed, public institution. Students at A&M are nicknamed “Aggies” and with over 50,000 of them in undergraduate programs, it’s clear that everything is bigger in Texas. The university also has a campus located in Doha, Qatar, where 500 Aggies are enrolled, according to U.S. News.
University of Central Florida
Undergraduate Enrollment: 56,972
Although the University of Central Florida is based in Orlando, this massive university has 10 regional campuses across the state. And according to an Aviation Week Workforce Study, UCF has produced the highest number of graduates to be hired by aerospace and defense companies. But with such a large amount of undergraduates studying engineering and computer science at UCF, it should come as no surprise that many of these students go on to do well in their fields.