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

Pottersville, New York

156

Lawrence, New York

156

Cincinnati, Ohio

156

North Richland Hills, Texas

154

Hobe Sound, Florida

152

Trinity, Florida

152
152

Brooklyn, New York

147

Johnstown, Pennsylvania

146

Hot Springs, Arkansas

146

Overland Park, Kansas

145

Bolivar, Missouri

144

Elizabeth City, North Carolina

140

Brooklyn, New York

139

Rosemead, California

138

Lakewood, New Jersey

132
131
129

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.