Many students want to attend a large national university, with a strong football team and all of the perks that come
Arizona State University
along with it. But what size is too large? 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 may also be a little overwhelming.
Why So Many Students?
Many of the colleges on this list are public state universities, which attracts many students because they provide incentives to in-state students from very populous states, such as Texas and Florida.
Pros and Cons of Large Universities
Some students love all of the extra features and amenities at large schools, including bigger Rec Centers and massive rock walls. Many of the large universities are research centers which attract impressive faculty members.
Some students might however be intimidated by the sheer number of students on a campus. Lines for food, bus shuttles, and at bookstores might also be a factor at large colleges.
Texas A&M
Is a Large College Right for You?
The best way to find out is to tour colleges with different size campuses. Tour a large national university in a large city. Tour a smaller private college in the suburbs, and then tour a medium-sized college. Compare and contrast the campus, the culture, the faculty, and the ‘vibe’.
If students or parents are concerned about school size, they should also check faculty: student ratio and the percentage of classes with fewer than 20 students.
- Texas A&M is #2 on the list of largest schools, ranked #70 nationally. and 21% of classes have fewer than 20 students. Its student faculty ratio is 20:1.
- University of Texas is #5 on the largest colleges list, ranked #52 nationally, and 37% of its classes have fewer than 20 students. Its student faculty ratio is 18:1.
- Arizona State University is #7 on the largest colleges list, ranked #129 nationally, and 41% of its classes have fewer than 20 students. Its student faculty ratio is 22:1.
20 Largest Colleges in the US
The college in the US with the most students is Liberty University, with over 80,000 students. Many of these students are online students, so that may present a different campus environment than other campuses where the majority of students live in the vicinity.
The remaining top five largest colleges include Texas A&M University, University of Central Florida, Ohio State University, and University of Texas at Austin.
