Some college campuses have more students than entire towns.
At the largest universities in the US, tens of thousands of people share the same classrooms, dining halls, libraries, buses, stadiums, and student organizations. That can mean more majors, more events, more people to meet, and more opportunities. It can also mean packed sidewalks, busy parking lots, huge lecture halls, and a campus that takes some time to figure out.
So, what is it actually like to study at one of the largest college campuses in the US by enrollment?
We looked at official university enrollment figures and student discussions on Reddit to find five of the biggest campuses and see what students themselves say about life there. For a more consistent comparison, the ranking primarily uses Fall 2025 enrollment figures, although we mention newer figures where relevant. Universities do not all count enrollment in exactly the same way, so some totals may include online students or students based outside the central campus.
With that in mind, here are the five largest college campuses in the US by enrollment and a closer look at what life on each one is really like.
- 5 Largest College Campuses in the US by Enrollment
- Largest College Campuses in the US: Quick Comparison
- Frequently Asked Questions
5 Largest College Campuses in the US by Enrollment
Official website: Texas A&M University
Location: College Station, Texas
Enrollment: 74,407 students at the College Station campus, Fall 2025
Texas A&M is not just a university with a college town around it. In many ways, College Station is a college town built around Texas A&M.
The university reported 81,354 students across all locations in Fall 2025, with 74,407 enrolled specifically at College Station.
So, with such a large number of people, the campus has nearly all the things you would normally find in a small city, including buses, food courts, huge recreation facilities, crowded sidewalks, traditions, large crowds at the stadium, and so many student organizations that deciding which one to join becomes an extracurricular activity in itself.
“Imagine how every other college is, and make it 10 times weirder and 5 times more crowded, and worship the best dog on the planet, and you basically have A&M.”Reddit user Wowthisislong
(If you know about Reveille, the university’s beloved canine mascot, that last part makes perfect sense)
Official website: University of Central Florida
Location: Orlando, Florida
Enrollment: 70,674 students, Fall 2025
UCF is big, but it was designed for scale. The university reported 70,674 students in Fall 2025, including 60,083 undergraduates.
Its main Orlando campus uses a distinctive circular layout, and despite the huge university population, students often describe the physical campus as less overwhelming than that 70,000-plus figure sounds.
Of course, a university this large comes with trade-offs. More students can mean more clubs, courses, employers, events, and potential friends. It can also mean busy parking lots, competitive course registration, and very large introductory classes.
“ok it’s huge but it doesn’t FEEL like ur walking around with 70k other people. like it just seems to fit everyone idk & it’s not overwhelming. yes it’ll definitely feel big if you’re not used to that, it’s like a little town. but big school also means tons of resources, which can be a plus.”Reddit user Limp_Friendship9306
Official website: University of Florida
Location: Gainesville, Florida
Enrollment: 63,148 students, Fall 2025
UF combines the population of a massive public research university with the feel of a traditional college town.
For the fall term of 2025, the university had 63,148 students, including undergraduate, graduate, professional, and non-degree students.
Gainesville is closely tied to the university, so student life extends well beyond classrooms. Football Saturdays, campus organizations, research opportunities, restaurants, apartments, and nightlife all contribute to the feeling that much of the city revolves around UF.
And unlike some universities with huge enrollment numbers, the main campus still has plenty of green space and traditional college scenery.
“The first time I set foot on campus my mood lifted because I realized how gorgeous it was, just like my old dream school.”Reddit user Rounbrownstown
Official website: The Ohio State University
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Enrollment: 61,326 students at the Columbus campus, Fall 2025
For students who want both a large university and a major city, the Columbus campus of Ohio State has one clear advantage: they don’t have to choose between the two.
The university reported 61,326 students at the Columbus campus in Autumn 2025 and 67,255 across all Ohio State campuses.
The Columbus campus is large enough to have its own distinct districts, residential areas, athletic facilities, quads, academic buildings, and social hubs. At the same time, downtown Columbus is only a few miles away.
That combination gives students access to the energy of a huge university without being completely separated from city life.
“The oval on a sunny day is gorgeous. So is a lot of the architecture on campus. It isn’t a commuter school so the campus is always full of energy and student events. The campus is large, still walkable, campus shuttle system is great. City bus system going up and down high street is also great.”Reddit user caffeineTX
Official website: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Location: Champaign and Urbana, Illinois
Enrollment: 60,848 students, Fall 2025
UIUC is enormous, academically intense, and deeply woven into the neighboring cities of Champaign and Urbana.
In Fall 2025, enrollment reached 60,848 students, pushing the university above 60,000 for the first time. That number includes undergraduate, graduate, and online students.
The campus still has a lot of traditional college scenery, including a large quadrangle, historic buildings, the statue of the Alma Mater, libraries, stadiums, and tree-lined areas. However, a few blocks away, the university blends into the local area with restaurants, apartments, shops, and the surrounding community.
“I like the area. I like the food and the people and the variety of cultures in such a small place. I think it’s beautiful, the campus is beautiful, the cherry blossom gardens are beautiful in the spring, the quad is amazing in the fall.”Reddit user rhysofvelaris
Largest College Campuses in the US: Quick Comparison
Now that we’ve looked at each university in more detail, here’s a quick side-by-side comparison of the five largest college campuses in the US by enrollment, including their location, student population, and overall campus feel.
| Campus | Location | Enrollment | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas A&M University, College Station | College Station, Texas | 74,407 | Huge campus culture, strong traditions, major school spirit |
| University of Central Florida | Orlando, Florida | 70,674 | Massive student body, but students often say it feels surprisingly manageable |
| University of Florida | Gainesville, Florida | 63,148 | Big research university with a classic college-town feel |
| The Ohio State University, Columbus | Columbus, Ohio | 61,326 | Large, energetic campus with easy access to a major city |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Champaign & Urbana, Illinois | 60,848 | Big academic community blended closely with two college towns |
(All enrollment figures above are based on Fall 2025 data used in the article.)
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What college campus in the US has the most students?
Among the campuses compared here, Texas A&M University’s College Station campus has the highest clearly reported campus-specific enrollment, with 74,407 students in Fall 2025.
National rankings can vary, though, because universities do not all count students in the same way. Some totals combine several campuses, online programs, or satellite locations.
2. Is a university with 60,000+ students always crowded?
Not necessarily.
UCF is a good example. Despite reporting more than 70,000 students, students often say the campus does not feel as overwhelming as the number suggests. Layout, transportation, where students live, and how schedules are spread throughout the day can all change how crowded a university actually feels.
3. What are the advantages of attending a very large university?
Large universities can offer a huge range of:
- majors and classes;
- student clubs and organizations;
- research opportunities;
- internships and employer connections;
- sporting events;
- campus facilities;
- and people to meet.
The trade-off is that you may need to be more proactive about finding your community and taking advantage of those resources.
4. What are the disadvantages of a large college campus?
A bigger student population can mean crowded parking, large introductory lectures, busy dining halls, more competition for popular classes, and longer waits for some services.
It can also be easier to feel anonymous at first. Joining clubs, attending office hours, participating in study groups, and finding a few regular campus spaces can make a huge university feel much smaller.
5. How should I decide if a large university is right for me?
Do not judge only by the enrollment number.
Instead, look at the details that will affect your everyday life: class sizes in your major, transportation, housing, campus layout, clubs, dining, access to professors, career services, and what students actually do on weekends.
And if possible, visit while classes are in session. A campus with 60,000 students can feel very different in person than it looks in a statistics table.
Final Thoughts
A university with 60,000 or 70,000 students can sound intimidating on paper. In reality, the experience depends on much more than the headcount.
Before choosing a college, ask yourself what you want that size to give you. Do you want hundreds of clubs to choose from? Big sporting events? A huge alumni network? More research and internship options? Or would you rather recognize more faces as you walk across campus?
Reddit comments, campus tours, student videos, and official statistics can all help answer those questions.
Rankings of the most beautiful college campuses and colleges with the happiest students add another angle, while lists of the most dangerous college campuses and colleges that allow pets in dorms cover the everyday practicalities.
A big university can offer an enormous number of opportunities. The key is finding one where “big” feels exciting rather than overwhelming.
Once you arrive, joining one of the campus ambassador programs can help a huge campus feel a lot smaller.
Cost belongs in that picture as well, especially if your shortlist includes some of the most expensive colleges in the US.
And wherever you end up, there is one college expense you probably do not want to be big: your textbook bill. CampusBooks.com lets you compare textbook prices across sellers so you can find a better deal before the semester starts.