United States Private Colleges Ranked by Largest Enrollment

Below is a ranking of the 1262 private colleges in the United States with the largest enrollment of full and part time students. Western Governors University leads the list with a population of 210,208 students.

Enrollment is a measure of the size of the student body. Larger schools are more likely to offer a wider range of programs and services while smaller schools may have a more intimate and personalized experience.

List of United States Private Colleges Ranked by Largest Enrollment
College Enrollment

Hyde Park, New York

3,147
3,140

Waukesha, Wisconsin

3,138

Worcester, Massachusetts

3,126

Northfield, Minnesota

3,124

Tuskegee, Alabama

3,121

Boiling Springs, North Carolina

3,104

San Francisco, California

3,098

Syracuse, New York

3,091

Redlands, California

3,087

Montgomery, Alabama

3,086

Joliet, Illinois

3,074

Toccoa Falls, Georgia

3,067

Charleston, West Virginia

3,062

Winter Park, Florida

3,046
3,033

Naperville, Illinois

3,003

Center Valley, Pennsylvania

2,972

This list is updated annually based on the latest data from the National Center for Education Statistics.
Last updated: March 15, 2026

Data source: IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025 - National Center for Education Statistics.