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

Hanover, Indiana

1,243

Claremont, California

1,242

Rockford, Illinois

1,241

Milligan, Tennessee

1,240

New Haven, Connecticut

1,239

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

1,239

Wilson, North Carolina

1,235

Waleska, Georgia

1,233

Waynesburg, Pennsylvania

1,231

Anderson, Indiana

1,228

Huntsville, Alabama

1,226

Sherman, Texas

1,217

Quincy, Illinois

1,210

Columbus, Ohio

1,209

Paxton, Massachusetts

1,202

Houghton, New York

1,200

Athens, Tennessee

1,198

Alma, Michigan

1,197

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.