10 Largest Universities in the United States

Updated August 2018

Looking for a really big place to go to college? Here are the 10 universities in the United States with the largest combined graduate and undergraduate enrollment as of 2018:

1) Ohio State University — 52,500

2) University of Florida — 51,700

3) University of Minnesota — 51,800

4) Arizona State University — 51,400

5) University of Texas — 51,100

6) University of Central Florida — 55,783

7) Texas A & M — 48,346

8 ) Michigan State University — 46,000

9) Pennsylvania State University — 43,200

10) University of Wisconsin — 42,000

So should these numbers scare you away? Maybe, if personal attention and a small community atmosphere is what you’re looking for. But for many students, the big university experience is terrific.

I should know, as I went to grad school at the University of Minnesota, #4 on the list. Yes, there were some serious “being a number” kinds of issues at the school, especially for undergrads. A huge percentage of courses was taught by TAs (teaching assistants), and dealing with the bureaucracy was sometimes quite a nightmare. On the other hand, though, there’s always so much going on when a campus is that big — sports, theater, parties, political activities, and whatever it is you’re into. The University of Minnesota is smack in the middle of Minneapolis, and students can walk, bus, or take a short drive to live music, museums, lakes, and the lively Uptown and downtown areas of the city. I just loved walking down the streets of campus and being surrounded by a constant rush of people and activity (although not quite so much during the Minnesota winters, but that’s another issues!)

So if you like lots of excitement and activities, and you don’t mind being anonymous now and then, don’t rule out a gigantic university.