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

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

1,195

Rochester Hills, Michigan

1,193
1,191

New Wilmington, Pennsylvania

1,191

Dubuque, Iowa

1,189

Charlotte, North Carolina

1,184

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

1,182

Fairfield, Alabama

1,180

Greensboro, North Carolina

1,180

Jacksonville, Florida

1,177

Meadville, Pennsylvania

1,171

Mishawaka, Indiana

1,167

Kalamazoo, Michigan

1,166

Saint Mary of the Woods, Indiana

1,159

Grand Rapids, Michigan

1,157

Bristol, Tennessee

1,157

Helena, Montana

1,156

Salt Lake City, Utah

1,155

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.