We've already talked about some super duper small colleges in the United States, and so we figured it was only fair to talk about the biggest as well. There are some folks for whom college means a gigantic, heavily populated campus with tons and tons of opportunities, and we wanted to make sure that we covered their interests as well.
But what do we mean by biggest colleges? Of course, what everyone wants to know when they ask this question is the biggest college by enrollment, but we wanted to make sure we covered a few bases on this. We're going to be looking at the biggest colleges by enrollment and the biggest college campuses. This way, we can get a pretty even-handed look at what one could mean by "biggest." So without further ado, here are the biggest colleges in America.
The Lists
By Enrollment
Before we get too into this list, we should note that this information isn't as cut and dry as it would always appear. Different sources have different estimates for enrollment counts, so we're just going to list a few that most regularly appear as the biggest based on the info that we have available (which is, you know, all of it).
Texas A & M University, College Station, TX
With a whopping 71,172 students in the 2022-2023 school year (according to their own internal statistics), Texas A & M University at College Station comes in pretty comfortably near the top. This school is no slouch when it comes to academics, and with an acceptance rate of 63% and some pretty affordable in-state tuition of $12,783, you're looking at a solid option if a big school is what you're after. It should, of course, come as no surprise that a school as massive as Texas A & M should have a generous acceptance rate and affordable tuition, but it's still worth noting especially for everyone who thinks this might be their top choice.
Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
On their own website, Rutgers University can play slightly fast and loose with their official student population numbers, grouping the combined student populations of all three of their campuses under one umbrella. That's how they're able to claim 67,200 total students, even though the New Brunswick campus has only around 50,000 by our count. But we're splitting hairs. Anyway you cut it, Rutgers is an enormous campus that demands some attention.
What about the other pertinent stats for Rutgers? Well, they have an acceptance rate of 67% and an in-state tuition of around $15,000, which is incredibly affordable especially given the world-class education you'll get at Rutgers. Probably owing to this great in-state tuition rate, 82% of the student population at Rutgers is from New Jersey, meaning that if you're a Jersey native, Rutgers is probably the ticket for you.
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
According to our own internal database, Arizona State University's campus in Tempe is far and away one of the most heavily populated in the country. Undergraduate and graduate students together make up a student population of nearly 75,000 students, and it's been that way for a while. Why do people flock to Arizona State University like this? Much like the other colleges on this list, Arizona State University has an incredibly high acceptance rate of 88% as well as in-state tuition under $12,000, making it both academically accessible and affordable for Arizona residents. And don't even get us started on everyone attending digitally…
By Campus Size
Berry College, Mount Berry, GA
This stat is a good bit easier to figure out, and what we found did not disappoint. Berry College in Rome, Georgia ain't just big. At over 27,000 acres, it's almost double the size of Manhattan, giving it the special distinction of being not only the biggest college campus in America but also the biggest college campus in the world. And across this gigantic campus, you'll find forests, meadows, streams, and a plethora of gorgeous, gothic buildings that inspire awe even in the snootiest Oxford students around.
What are its other stats like? Berry is a private liberal arts school, meaning that its student population is around 2,000, and its tuition is the same in and out of state. On the plus side, the college has a generous acceptance rate of 77%, so it's more than accessible for most who would want to attend.
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY
Tucked away in Upstate New York, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry is another gigantic campus, and it's not really all that hard to explain why. Students here studying environmental science and forestry need gigantic patches of land to observe and study as part of their education, and the college's 25,000 acre campus has plenty of that for them.
Now, the school isn't that big with an enrollment roughly similar to Berry College, but its in-state tuition of $9,130 and acceptance rate of 60% means that it's both very accessible and affordable for New Yorkers who hear the woods calling their name.
United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO
Bit of a niche pick compared to the rest of the list, but with a campus of around 18,500 acres, we had to include the United States Air Force Academy on the list. Of course, this probably isn't the place for you if you aren't planning on joining the Air Force, but it's still a great school, and its beautiful aluminum and glass chapel means it's at least a sight worth seeing beyond its enormous campus size.
But what if this is the place for you? Well, it has a pretty selective admission rate, but there's also no tuition, so if your dream is to join the Air Force, it's hard to imagine a better place to attend. And the gigantic campus is a nice bonus, of course.
Conclusion
When it comes to colleges, size matters, but so do a lot of things, and it just so happens that College Rover keeps track of most of them! On our website, you can compare all your top colleges based on the metrics that matter to you (including their sizes). Head on over to College Rover today to make this whole college process a lot simpler.
