Universities With Overflowing Campuses: Where Students Thrive

The university with the highest number of students is a topic that is highly debated, as it depends on whether you are considering total student enrollment or just undergraduate enrollment. The University of Central Florida has been consistently ranked as having the highest undergraduate enrollment, with over 60,000 undergraduates as of 2021. However, Liberty University claims to have over 140,000 students across both online and residential programs, with 16,131 students enrolled in residential programs.

University of Central Florida

The University of Central Florida (UCF) is a public research university with its main campus in Orange County, Florida. It is one of the largest universities in the US in terms of undergraduate enrollment, with nearly 70,000 students as of Fall 2024.

History

UCF was founded in 1963 as Florida Technological University, with the mission of providing personnel educated in science, technology, engineering, and math to support the growing US space program. The university's first classes were held in 1968, with an initial enrollment of 1,948 students. In 1978, as the university's academic scope expanded beyond engineering and technology, it was renamed the University of Central Florida.

Academics

UCF offers over 230 degrees through 13 colleges, including the Health Sciences Campus at Lake Nona Medical City, the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, and the downtown Orlando campus. The university has a strong emphasis on research and innovation and is classified as "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity." It offers 1111 bachelor's, 98 master's, 33 research doctorates, three professional doctorates, and three specialist degree programs.

Student Life

UCF has a diverse student body, with a gender distribution of approximately 46% male and 54% female students. The university accommodates a large number of students on campus, with about 12% living in college-owned or affiliated housing. The campus is designed to be pedestrian-oriented, with a series of concentric circles. Student housing is provided along the perimeter, and the campus is divided into different themed sections, including Greek communities, Knights Plaza, an arboretum, and student recreation facilities.

Athletics

The UCF Knights compete in NCAA Division I and in the Big 12 Conference, except for men's soccer, which competes in the Sun Belt Conference. The university fields 15 varsity teams: six men's and nine women's teams, including baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer, and tennis.

Notable Achievements

UCF is the largest university in Florida and was the fastest-growing university in the US in 2003. It has awarded over 400,000 degrees since its founding and is among the top universities in the nation for SAT average and GPA average. The university has a high six-year graduation rate of 78% and is recognised for its economic impact, adding $7.73 billion in value to the economy.

Texas A&M University

Texas A&M's main campus spans over 5,200 acres, with an additional 350 acres dedicated to its Research Park. The campus is divided by a railroad track, with the area to the east, known as the main campus, home to buildings for the colleges of engineering, architecture, geosciences, science, education, and liberal arts, as well as dormitories and dining centres. The west campus includes sports facilities, the business school, agricultural programmes, life sciences, and the veterinary college. The university also has three branch campuses: Texas A&M University at Galveston, which focuses on marine research and hosts the Texas A&M Maritime Academy; the Higher Education Center at McAllen, dedicated to engineering, biomedical science, public health, and food systems industry management; and Texas A&M University at Qatar, which offers engineering disciplines.

Texas A&M has a rich history, founded in 1876 as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (A.M.C.) under the Morrill Land-Grant Act. It became the first public higher education institution in Texas. The college grew in size and scope over the following decades, experiencing its largest enrolment during WWII. In 1963, the college was renamed Texas A&M University to reflect its expanded academic offerings, with the letters "A&M" retained as a tribute to its former designation. The university's students, alumni, and sports teams are known as "Aggies", and its athletes compete in 18 varsity sports.

Texas A&M offers degrees in over 130 courses of study through 18 colleges and 21 research institutes. It is classified as a "Doctoral University – Very High Research Activity" and is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. The university's research entities include the Texas Transportation Institute, the Cyclotron Institute, and the Institute of Biosciences and Technology, among others. Texas A&M's research and development expenditures exceeded $1.1 billion in 2021, ranking 16th among American universities.

With its large student population, diverse academic offerings, and extensive research capabilities, Texas A&M University stands as one of the largest and most prominent universities in the United States.

Arizona State University

Enrollment and Academics

ASU's total enrollment across its campuses and online programs was around 140,759 students as of August 2022. The university has four campuses and four regional learning centers throughout Arizona, with additional campuses in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Hawaii. The Tempe campus is the largest, with over 70,000 students enrolled as of fall 2017.

ASU offers a comprehensive range of academic programs, with over 400 undergraduate majors and more than 100 graduate programs. The university's degree programs are spread across 16 colleges and schools. Additionally, ASU provides online learning options through ASU Online, offering more than 150 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

Research and Innovation

ASU is classified as a "Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Activity" institution. The university has a strong focus on research and innovation, ranking among the top institutions in the country for research expenditures. ASU has established various research institutes, including the Biodesign Institute, the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability, and the School of Sustainability. The university also has a close partnership with NASA, working together on space exploration innovations.

Athletics and Extracurriculars

ASU's athletic teams, known as the Sun Devils, compete in the NCAA Division I Pac-12 Conference. The Sun Devils have achieved notable success in various sports, including baseball, golf, swimming and diving, softball, and wrestling.

ASU also offers a wide range of extracurricular activities, with over 1,100 registered student organizations. The university has a strong Greek community and is home to one of the nation's first and fastest-growing gay fraternities, Sigma Phi Beta. Additionally, ASU provides opportunities for student involvement through clubs, community service, leadership programs, and student government.

Ohio State University

History:

The university was founded in 1870 as a manufacturing and agriculture university, initially facing hostility from the state's agricultural interests and competition for resources from other universities in the state. It opened its doors to 24 students in 1873, and the first class, consisting of six men, graduated in 1878. The first woman graduated the following year.

Campus:

Academics:

The university consists of 16 colleges and offers over 400 degree programmes at the undergraduate and graduate levels. It is classified as an "R1: Doctoral University" with "very high research activity". The university has a $7.9 billion endowment and its athletic teams compete in NCAA Division I.

Student Life:

Ohio State has over 1,000 student organisations, including Block "O", the largest student-run organisation on campus, which serves as the official student cheering section at athletic events. The university also offers a wide range of extracurricular activities, such as BuckeyeThon, a student-led philanthropy that supports the hematology/oncology/bone marrow transplant unit at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus.

Notable Alumni and Faculty:

Ohio State has a number of notable alumni and faculty members, including 6 Nobel Prize laureates, 9 Rhodes Scholars, 7 Churchill Scholars, 1 Fields Medalist, 7 Pulitzer Prize winners, 64 Goldwater scholars, 7 US senators, 15 US representatives, and 104 Olympic medalists.

Florida International University

History:

FIU was founded in 1965 by the Florida Legislature and welcomed its first students in 1972. The university has grown significantly since its establishment and now offers over 190 degree programs across various disciplines. FIU has two main campuses: the Modesto A. Maidique Campus in West Miami-Dade County and the Biscayne Bay Campus in North Miami. The university also has several smaller regional centers located throughout South Florida.

Enrollment and Campus:

FIU's student body consists of approximately 58,000 students, with about 44,000 undergraduate students and nearly 14,000 graduate students. The university's campus spans 342-344 acres, featuring a diverse range of facilities and resources for its students. FIU's intercollegiate sports teams, the FIU Panthers, compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I.

Academic Programs and Achievements:

FIU offers a comprehensive range of academic programs, including business, hospitality management, humanities and culture, and sciences and engineering. The university is classified as a "very high research activity" institution and has a strong focus on research, with annual research expenditures exceeding $200 million. FIU's research efforts encompass a wide range of fields, including cancer treatment, climate change, and forensic sciences. The university is also committed to community engagement and addressing local challenges, such as sea-level rise and childhood mental health disorders.

Student Life and Opportunities:

FIU provides a vibrant and multicultural environment for its students, with individuals from various cultural backgrounds and countries. The university offers various student organizations, fraternities, and sororities, as well as annual campus events such as the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival. FIU's sports teams and athletic facilities provide opportunities for students to engage in extracurricular activities and build a strong school spirit.

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