What's the largest student population at a U.S. college?

I'm curious about which colleges in the U.S. have the largest student populations. I've heard that some universities are massive and have tens of thousands of students, which sounds both exciting and intimidating. Does anyone know which university holds the title for the largest student population? I'm trying to get a sense of what these larger schools feel like and if being at such a big school affects the college experience. Any insights or personal experiences would be super helpful!

The university with the largest student population in the U.S. is the University of Central Florida (UCF) in terms of total students across all of its campuses. UCF has more than 68,000 students, which is indeed massive!

The college experience at such large universities can indeed be both exciting and intimidating, as you said. On one hand, these universities usually offer a vast array of academic programs, research opportunities, student organizations, and events. Students from larger universities often say they appreciate the ability to meet new people all the time because of the sheer size of the student body.

However, large universities can sometimes feel overwhelming and impersonal. While lecture halls with a few hundred students are usually limited to introductory courses, some students report feeling like just a number in such large classes. The size of such schools can sometimes make it challenging to develop close relationships with professors and denigrates the sense of community.

Nonetheless, remember that larger schools often put systems in place to create smaller communities within the larger student population. For instance, students may live in themed housing or participate in smaller-scale clubs or intramural sports to build their own communities.

As far as getting personal attention from professors, creating those relationships usually requires more initiative from the student in these settings, like attending office hours regularly or getting involved in research within your department. It's certainly possible to make a large school feel small!