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
1,065

Hiram, Ohio

1,061

Nashville, Tennessee

1,059
1,059

Buckhannon, West Virginia

1,055

Kirkland, Washington

1,053
1,046

Winfield, Kansas

1,041
1,041

Wilmington, Ohio

1,040

Billings, Montana

1,032

Salem, Oregon

1,029

Canton, Missouri

1,028

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

1,027

Fullerton, California

1,025
1,021

Wyoming, Michigan

1,017

Williamsport, Pennsylvania

1,012

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.