Choosing a large or small school is a big part of your college selection process. The experience is different if you attend a tight-knit campus vs. a large university in terms of student-to-faculty ratio, campus amenities, and community.
What’s the biggest college in the U.S.? That depends on whether you consider a college “big” by campus size or enrollment size. Find out about the most prominent colleges and universities in the country, their enrollment and campus features, and how to find the best fit.
How Do You Measure the “Biggest” College?
Largest single-campus enrollment: This refers to the number of students attending classes at one flagship campus. This definition is often used by the media and higher-education analysts.
- Largest total enrollment: This refers to the headcount across all campuses of a university system.
- Largest on-campus and remote enrollment: This refers to the total student enrollment, both on-campus and online students.
- Large campus by land size: This refers to the acres or square miles of campus properties, which can be pretty different from enrollment numbers.
The Biggest College by On-Campus Enrollment: Arizona State University (ASU)
The college with the largest on-campus enrollment in the U.S. is Arizona State University (ASU). The total student enrollment is over 95,000 as of fall 2024, across Phoenix-area campuses.[1] ASU reported 81,917 on-campus undergraduates and site-by-site graduate totals that place the total headcount above 95,000, with Tempe having the largest enrollment. 95% of the students are in-person or hybrid, and all first-year undergraduates are expected to live on campus.
The Biggest College by Total Enrollment (Including Online): ASU
ASU is one of the largest universities by a few metrics, including total enrollment. The 2024-2025 school year had high total headcounts and growth in the online student base, with total enrollment over 194,000.[2]
What do these totals mean for your college selection? If you want a traditional on-campus student experience, ASU has a large campus community that spans several locations. If you prefer a student experience concentrated on one campus, Texas A&M’s College Station campus – and the surrounding town – fit the bill.
What Is Student Life Like at ASU Tempe?
The advantage of a college with a large enrollment size and a smaller footprint, like ASU Tempe, is a strong on-ground community that can feel like a small city. Campus life at Tempe offers opportunities for students to engage in tight-knit communities in residence halls, labs, studios, maker spaces, and clubs. For a smaller experience, the Barrett Honors College for exceptional undergraduates feels more like a small residential college, but students have access to the amenities of a world-class research university.[3]
ASU campuses are designed for movement with inter-campus shuttles and a light rail. The city is very walkable and bikeable as well. After graduation, students have a pipeline to Phoenix employers in fast-growing sectors like aerospace, semiconductors, health, fintech, and supply chains.
The Biggest College by Single-Campus Enrollment: Texas A&M University – College Station
The largest single-campus college in the United States is Texas A&M University at College Station, which reported 71,000 to 72,000 students on its flagship campus in the fall of 2024.[4] The school has been operating since 1876 in College Station, leading to a vibrant college town with school spirit and a massive college football fanbase.
What Is Student Life Like at Texas A&M at College Station?
While ASU has many campuses that connect for a vast student experience, Texas A&M at College Station boasts a single-campus experience that feels like its own self-contained city. Long traditions on campus and in College Station bring students together with Aggie spirit, including an official greeting of “Howdy,” the “12th Man” football fanbase, and the “Midnight Yell Practice,” a high-energy pep rally to sing the War Hymn before home games.[5] Students also engage in the Big Event, a large-scale community service project that helps local residents.
For academics, A&M has over 13,000 student organizations, like the Corps of Cadets, and over 5,200 acres for multiple academic districts and research facilities. Despite the big student body, Aggies describe the culture as “tight-knit.”
The Biggest College by Campus Size: Berry College
Berry College has the largest campus size in the U.S. – and one of the largest in the world. Located in Mount Berry, Georgia, the college boasts a sprawling 27,000-acre campus with thousands of job opportunities for students to jump-start their careers.[6] In fact, each student at Berry has access to eight semesters of paid professional development to prepare for a job after graduation.
Comparatively, ASU has four Phoenix-metro campuses spanning over 2,000 acres. The Tempe campus is the historic main campus with about 642 acres. Texas A&M at College Station has a larger campus of about 5,200 acres.
What’s Student Life Like at Berry College?
Berry College has a relatively small on-campus enrollment of 2,200 students, but it sits on 27,000 acres as the largest contiguous campus in the world. With such a small student body, classes are intimate and faculty-student interaction is high, but there are quiet, open spaces and a slower pace than those found on city campuses.
Students get a rural experience with forests, lakes, and meadows for outdoor activities like hiking and biking. Deer, wild turkeys, and other native species freely roam the grounds. The school also has impressive equestrian facilities and research facilities for environmental science and fieldwork in ecology.
Other Large Colleges and Universities in the U.S.
While ASU, Texas A&M, and Berry College have the “biggest” titles, several other institutions deserve an honorable mention:
University of Central Florida (UCF)
UCF is one of the largest universities by enrollment, with about 68,000 students enrolled at the Orlando campus. UCF is known for several outstanding degree programs in optics and lasers, modeling and simulation, business, education, hospitality management, video game design, and public administration.
Ohio State University at Columbus
With around 60,000 students on the main Columbus campus, Ohio State has famous athletics and research programs in engineering, business, and medicine.
University of Florida at Gainesville
With roughly 58,000 students, the University of Florida at Gainesville is famous for its Florida Gators athletic program and strong academic programs in engineering, business, and the sciences. It also gained attention as a “New Ivy” for its program ROI.
Florida International University (FIU)
With 56,000 students in Miami, FIU has a large, diverse student body, renowned research programs, and a strong presence in international business and hospitality.
Pennsylvania State University at University Park
Penn State’s main campus at University Park has nearly 50,000 students and a vast in-state network. Like A&M, Penn State has a vibrant community and athletics culture in the surrounding State College and College Township, as well as strong academics in education, business, and engineering with substantial research facilities.
Rutgers University at New Brunswick
With about 50,000 students across multiple campuses, Rutgers University at New Brunswick is a top-ranked university with strong programs in pharmacy, business, and political science. It’s also recognized as one of the “Hidden Ivies.”
Gain Admission into Competitive Programs
The school’s size is part of your college selection process and overall student experience. Both ASU and A&M offer strong communities and rich on-campus student life, while Berry College has a big-university feel with a small-school student base and plenty of open spaces. The best fit for you depends on how you learn, the programs you’re interested in, and the student life that connects best for you.Want to apply to top colleges and universities? InGenius Prep admissions counseling can help you make a great impression on your college applications. Contact us today for a free consultation.