Douglas Olsen
The United States is home to some of the world's largest universities, with booming athletic programs and large lecture halls. Public universities tend to enrol more students than private institutions, and some student bodies even exceed the populations of small US cities. Texas A&M University, for example, has a student body of almost 60,000, while Florida International University in Miami has around 44,000 undergraduates. Arizona State University enrolled almost 65,200 students in the fall of 2023, making it the largest university in the US by enrolment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| University with the most students | Arizona State University |
| Number of students | 65,200 |
| University with the second-most students | Texas A&M University |
| Number of students in the second-largest university | 60,000 |
| University with the fewest students | California State University–Fullerton |
| Number of students in the smallest university | 37,000 |
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What You'll Learn
Arizona State University has the most undergraduates
Arizona State University (ASU) has the highest number of undergraduates enrolled out of all universities in the United States. In Fall 2023, the university enrolled almost 65,200 undergraduate students, the most out of 1,190 colleges that reported data to U.S. News in an annual survey.
ASU is a public institution founded in 1885. It offers a highly customizable academic experience, with over 400 undergraduate degrees and more than 450 graduate degree programs and certificates. The university is spread across four physical locations in Maricopa County, as well as locations in Lake Havasu, Hawaii, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. The Tempe campus in Maricopa County alone had an in-person enrollment of 79,478 students in Fall 2022.
ASU has a strong focus on innovation and entrepreneurship and is recognised as the country's most innovative school by U.S. News & World Report. The university consistently ranks highly in critical measurements of student success, groundbreaking research, and impact in the communities it serves. ASU's faculty includes Nobel laureates and Pulitzer Prize winners, and its students work directly with top researchers and leaders in their fields.
ASU also prioritises accessibility and diversity. In Fall 2023, 42% of ASU undergraduates were first-generation college students, and 7,300 first-year on-campus students identified as minorities, the largest percentage in the university's history. The university offers a range of scholarships, including the New American University Scholarships, which 80% of Arizona resident first-year students received in 2023.
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Texas A&M University has a large student body
The university's main campus in College Station, Texas, spans over 5,200 acres, with an additional campus in Galveston, Texas, and an international branch in Doha, Qatar. Texas A&M offers degrees in more than 130 courses of study through 18 colleges and has over 1,000 student organizations. The university's students, alumni, and sports teams are known as "Aggies", and its athletes compete in 18 varsity sports.
Texas A&M has a long history, founded in 1876, and has seen significant growth and diversification over the years. Initially a college with 7,500 students, Texas A&M expanded its student body by admitting women and minorities, and by 1972, on-campus housing was dedicated for women. In 1976, the student body elected its first Black student body president. Since then, Texas A&M has more than tripled its enrollment, growing to over 45,000 students from all 50 states and 75 other nations.
The university has a student-to-teacher ratio of 19:1 and a freshman retention rate of 92%. Texas A&M's College of Engineering has the largest enrollment, with 29.6% of the student body, followed by the College of Liberal Arts and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, enrolling 12% and 11% of students, respectively. The university also sends over 5,600 students to 110 countries each year through its Education Abroad program.
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Brigham Young University is the largest private college
Brigham Young University (BYU) is a private research university located in Provo, Utah, at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains. It was founded in 1875 by religious leader Brigham Young and is the flagship university of the Church Educational System, sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). With a total undergraduate enrolment of 32,221 students in the fall of 2023, BYU is among the largest private colleges in the United States.
BYU offers a wide range of academic programs, including liberal arts, engineering, agriculture, management, physical and mathematical sciences, nursing, and law. It has 186 undergraduate majors, 64 master's programs, and 26 doctoral programs. The university is organised into 11 colleges or schools at its main Provo campus, with some colleges defining their own admission standards. BYU also administers four satellite campuses in Jerusalem, Salt Lake City, Washington, D.C., and London, in addition to sister schools in Hawaii and Idaho.
The university has a rich history, with classes commencing on January 3, 1876, under the direction of interim principal Warren Dusenberry and, later, Karl Maeser. The school gained recognition and became the Timpanogos branch of the University of Deseret. However, financial difficulties led to its closure. On October 16, 1875, Brigham Young, then president of the LDS Church, deeded the property to create Brigham Young Academy. The school was officially named "Brigham Young University" and became a university at the end of Benjamin Cluff's term.
BYU has a unique culture, with more than 150 congregations meeting on campus each Sunday. The campus becomes one of the busiest and largest centres of worship in the world, with about 24,000 people attending church services. The university's mission "is to assist individuals in their quest for perfection and eternal life," making it a religious institution at heart. BYU is considered "The Lord's university" by some Latter-day Saints and university leaders.
In addition to its religious focus, BYU has a strong presence in athletics, with a popular Cougar fight song sung at sporting events. The university has produced several standout basketball players, including Jimmer Fredette and Danny Ainge. BYU also fosters innovation, with students founding startups like Piero, which aims to make the world more accessible to people with physical disabilities.
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UCLA has a diverse student population
UCLA, or the University of California, Los Angeles, is known for its diverse student population. The university takes pride in providing opportunities for students from all socioeconomic backgrounds and fostering an inclusive environment that values people from all walks of life. With a total enrollment of approximately 44,589 students, UCLA is one of the largest universities in the United States by enrollment.
The gender breakdown of UCLA's student population shows that the university is more popular with women than with men. There are approximately 24,824 female students and 19,765 male students at UCLA. The full-time undergraduate population consists of 59% women and 41% men, while the graduate student population is evenly split between the genders, with 50% women and 50% men.
UCLA also has a diverse student body in terms of age, with a higher proportion of students above the traditional college age range of 18-21 compared to the national average. The university receives a high age diversity score, indicating its success in attracting students of all ages.
Geographically, UCLA's student population is quite diverse as well. While the majority of students come from within the state of California, 14.4% of students are from out of state, and 12.33% are international students. UCLA's undergraduate population is spread across 44 states, and the university attracts students from 128 countries, with the majority of international students coming from China, South Korea, and India.
In summary, UCLA's large student population showcases a range of diversity, from gender and age to geographic and cultural backgrounds. The university's commitment to inclusivity and opportunity contributes to a rich and varied campus community, reflecting its pride in being a global society in miniature.
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California State University-Fullerton has the smallest student body
California State University-Fullerton's smaller size may be a benefit to some students. While large universities often have booming athletic programs and large lecture hall classes, smaller universities can offer a more intimate and personalised learning experience. Smaller universities may also provide more opportunities for students to form close-knit communities and develop stronger relationships with their peers and professors.
The benefits of a smaller student body are supported by student testimonials. One student who attends Purdue University, one of the largest colleges in the country, commented on how they get "both the big-school and small-school experience". They highlighted that while there are plenty of possibilities and a diverse range of people at a large university, it is still possible to seek out individual attention in classes.
California State University-Fullerton's smaller size may also be a result of its structure and focus. The university may have a smaller student body because it is a single campus rather than a university system with multiple campuses. Additionally, California State University-Fullerton may have a more selective admissions process or offer specialised programmes that cater to a specific number of students.
While California State University-Fullerton has the smallest student body among the universities with the most students, it is still significantly larger than the average college. Across 1,190 colleges that reported data to U.S. News, the average headcount was about 6,400. Therefore, California State University-Fullerton, with nearly 37,000 students, is still a sizeable university, even if it is not the largest.
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Frequently asked questions
Arizona State University enrolled the most undergraduate students of any college, with almost 65,200 students in Fall 2023.
Texas A&M University had almost 60,000 students in Fall 2023.
California State University—Fullerton had the smallest student body of the colleges considered, with nearly 37,000 students.
Yes, Brigham Young University is the private college with the largest undergraduate population, largely due to its affiliation with the Mormon Church.
