Pennsylvania Public Colleges Ranked by Largest Enrollment

Below is a ranking of the 53 public colleges in Pennsylvania with the largest enrollment of full and part time students. Penn State Main Campus leads the list with a population of 50,737 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 Pennsylvania Public Colleges Ranked by Largest Enrollment
College Enrollment

Shippensburg, Pennsylvania

 5,161

Williamsport, Pennsylvania

 4,575

Middletown, Pennsylvania

 4,478

Nanticoke, Pennsylvania

 4,460

Youngwood, Pennsylvania

 3,990

Erie, Pennsylvania

 3,336

Abington, Pennsylvania

 2,885

Johnstown, Pennsylvania

 2,501

Altoona, Pennsylvania

 2,371

Butler, Pennsylvania

 2,317

Monaca, Pennsylvania

 1,936

Reading, Pennsylvania

 1,884

Johnstown, Pennsylvania

 1,813

Lincoln University, Pennsylvania

 1,670

Lancaster, Pennsylvania

 1,470

Greensburg, Pennsylvania

 1,321

Media, Pennsylvania

 1,236

Bradford, Pennsylvania

 1,009
Search and filter all 53 colleges

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.