1
Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempe, AZ · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 79,818
- Incidents /1k
- 5.21
National ranking · federal reporting cohort 2024
The Largest Public Universities in the U.S.
The 50 institutions with the largest total enrollment in the federal Clery reporting cohort, limited to schools IPEDS classifies as public and four-year-or-above. This is not a list of the biggest physical campuses: reported enrollment includes online and distance learners, and a qualifying institution can retain College in its proper name.
- 79,818
- Largest enrollment
- 38,857
- #50 cutoff
- 802
- Public four-year institutions
- 23
- Enroll 50,000+
Arizona State University Campus Immersion is the largest public four-year U.S. institution in this Clery reporting cohort
According to U.S. Department of Education Clery enrollment filings and IPEDS public four-year classifications, Arizona State University Campus Immersion reports 79,818 students, first among the 50 largest public four-year institutions listed here. The top 50 together enroll 2,552,354 students (27% of 9,467,006 in the scoped public four-year set). Counts include online learners and are not a campus-acreage ranking.
Data source U.S. Department of Education, OPE Campus Safety and Security Survey / IPEDS
- Largest enrollment
- 79,818
- #50 cutoff
- 38,857
- Public four-year institutions
- 802
- Top-50 share of scoped enrollment
- 27%
The public-sector concentration
The 50 largest public four-year institutions enroll 2,552,354 students, 27% of the 9,467,006 students in all 802 public four-year institutions reporting enrollment. Arizona State University Campus Immersion leads at 79,818, while the median institution in this same public four-year scope enrolls 6,821.
- 231,216
- students in the leading three
- 12/50
- top-50 institutions in TX
- 27%
- of scoped enrollment in the top 50
- 6,821
- median public four-year enrollment
Enrollment is the total each institution reports in the OPE Campus Safety and Security Survey, including online and distance students. IPEDS supplies the public/four-year classification. The count does not measure campus acreage, the number physically present on one campus, educational quality, or admission selectivity.
What counts as a public university here
The ranking uses two federal classifications together: public control and four-year-or-above level. Filtering only for public control would include two-year community-college systems and answer a broader question about public institutions. Filtering names for the word University would silently exclude qualifying four-year colleges, so the official institutional classification controls the scope instead.
Enrollment is the only ordering measure. The incident-rate column is context from the Clery Act reporting system, not part of the rank. A large online population can dilute a per-student on-campus rate because many enrolled students never attend the reporting campus, and reporting culture also varies. Do not read a lower number as a complete safety verdict.
The bar to make this top-50 public list is 38,857 students. Here is where that cutoff sits among all 802 public four-year institutions:
The bar to make this top-50 public list
Clery-reported enrollment · public four-year IPEDS cohort · 2024
38,857 Top 6% higher than 94% of 802 public four-year institutions
Show national distribution
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more public four-year institutions. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Education, OPE Campus Safety and Security Survey / IPEDS · 2024
The 50 largest public four-year institutions
Ranked by total enrollment reported in the federal campus-safety disclosure. The #50 cutoff is 38,857; institutions missing enrollment are excluded rather than treated as zero.
2
Texas A&M University-College StationCollege Station, TX · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 78,321
- Incidents /1k
- 12.28
3
Lone Star College SystemThe Woodlands, TX · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 73,077
- Incidents /1k
- 0.16
4
Dallas CollegeDallas, TX · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 69,749
- Incidents /1k
- 0.60
5
University of Central FloridaOrlando, FL · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 69,713
- Incidents /1k
- 2.41
6
University of Maryland Global CampusAdelphi, MD · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 63,012
- Incidents /1k
- 5.68
7
Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus, OH · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 61,443
- Incidents /1k
- 5.91
8
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, IL · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 59,238
- Incidents /1k
- 4.19
9
Miami Dade CollegeMiami, FL · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 58,941
- Incidents /1k
- 0.34
10
Purdue University-Main CampusWest Lafayette, IN · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 58,658
- Incidents /1k
- 3.51
11
University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattle, WA · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 56,997
- Incidents /1k
- 5.51
12
University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis, MN · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 56,666
- Incidents /1k
- 3.46
13
University of ArizonaTucson, AZ · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 56,365
- Incidents /1k
- 3.51
14
University of FloridaGainesville, FL · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 56,311
- Incidents /1k
- 8.42
15
Florida International UniversityMiami, FL · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 54,723
- Incidents /1k
- 2.27
16
The University of Texas at AustinAustin, TX · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 53,864
- Incidents /1k
- 1.95
17
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusAtlanta, GA · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 53,363
- Incidents /1k
- 2.85
18
Houston Community CollegeHouston, TX · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 53,253
- Incidents /1k
- 0.32
19
University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor, MI · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 52,855
- Incidents /1k
- 3.75
20
Rutgers University-New BrunswickNew Brunswick, NJ · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 52,269
- Incidents /1k
- 2.24
21
Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MI · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 52,089
- Incidents /1k
- 5.32
22
University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison, WI · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 51,044
- Incidents /1k
- 3.80
23
Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusUniversity Park, PA · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 50,737
- Incidents /1k
- 4.22
24
University of South FloridaTampa, FL · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 49,622
- Incidents /1k
- 4.63
25
Indiana University-BloomingtonBloomington, IN · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 48,424
- Incidents /1k
- 6.53
26
University of HoustonHouston, TX · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 47,980
- Incidents /1k
- 5.54
27
Kennesaw State UniversityKennesaw, GA · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 47,764
- Incidents /1k
- 1.61
28
Valencia CollegeOrlando, FL · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 47,425
- Incidents /1k
- 0.38
29
University of California-Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 47,335
- Incidents /1k
- 9.38
30
University of North TexasDenton, TX · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 46,864
- Incidents /1k
- 3.61
31
Utah Valley UniversityOrem, UT · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 46,807
- Incidents /1k
- 0.77
32
University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley, CA · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 45,882
- Incidents /1k
- 14.19
33
University of Cincinnati-Main CampusCincinnati, OH · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 45,026
- Incidents /1k
- 3.73
34
The University of Texas at ArlingtonArlington, TX · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 44,956
- Incidents /1k
- 2.34
35
University of California-San DiegoLa Jolla, CA · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 44,256
- Incidents /1k
- 13.49
36
Florida State UniversityTallahassee, FL · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 43,889
- Incidents /1k
- 3.51
37
California State University-FullertonFullerton, CA · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 43,662
- Incidents /1k
- 1.51
38
University of GeorgiaAthens, GA · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 43,146
- Incidents /1k
- 2.04
39
California State University-Long BeachLong Beach, CA · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 42,003
- Incidents /1k
- 1.17
40
University of Maryland-College ParkCollege Park, MD · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 41,725
- Incidents /1k
- 8.58
41
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeBaton Rouge, LA · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 41,705
- Incidents /1k
- 7.39
42
San Diego State UniversitySan Diego, CA · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 41,137
- Incidents /1k
- 1.36
43
The University of AlabamaTuscaloosa, AL · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 40,846
- Incidents /1k
- 2.91
44
Texas Tech UniversityLubbock, TX · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 40,757
- Incidents /1k
- 3.66
45
Texas State UniversitySan Marcos, TX · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 40,674
- Incidents /1k
- 7.30
46
University of California-DavisDavis, CA · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 40,065
- Incidents /1k
- 15.52
47
George Mason UniversityFairfax, VA · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 39,766
- Incidents /1k
- 3.12
48
Austin Community College DistrictAustin, TX · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 39,727
- Incidents /1k
- 4.05
49
Collin County Community College DistrictMckinney, TX · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 39,548
- Incidents /1k
- 0.56
50
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburg, VA · Public four-year
- Enrollment
- 38,857
- Incidents /1k
- 1.16
| # | Institution | Enrollment | Incidents /1k |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempe, AZ · Public four-year | 79,818100% of the leader · rank #1 | 5.21 |
| 2 | Texas A&M University-College StationCollege Station, TX · Public four-year | 78,32198% of the leader · rank #2 | 12.28 |
| 3 | Lone Star College SystemThe Woodlands, TX · Public four-year | 73,07792% of the leader · rank #3 | 0.16 |
| 4 | Dallas CollegeDallas, TX · Public four-year | 69,74987% of the leader · rank #4 | 0.60 |
| 5 | University of Central FloridaOrlando, FL · Public four-year | 69,71387% of the leader · rank #5 | 2.41 |
| 6 | University of Maryland Global CampusAdelphi, MD · Public four-year | 63,01279% of the leader · rank #6 | 5.68 |
| 7 | Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus, OH · Public four-year | 61,44377% of the leader · rank #7 | 5.91 |
| 8 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, IL · Public four-year | 59,23874% of the leader · rank #8 | 4.19 |
| 9 | Miami Dade CollegeMiami, FL · Public four-year | 58,94174% of the leader · rank #9 | 0.34 |
| 10 | Purdue University-Main CampusWest Lafayette, IN · Public four-year | 58,65873% of the leader · rank #10 | 3.51 |
| 11 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattle, WA · Public four-year | 56,99771% of the leader · rank #11 | 5.51 |
| 12 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis, MN · Public four-year | 56,66671% of the leader · rank #12 | 3.46 |
| 13 | University of ArizonaTucson, AZ · Public four-year | 56,36571% of the leader · rank #13 | 3.51 |
| 14 | University of FloridaGainesville, FL · Public four-year | 56,31171% of the leader · rank #14 | 8.42 |
| 15 | Florida International UniversityMiami, FL · Public four-year | 54,72369% of the leader · rank #15 | 2.27 |
| 16 | The University of Texas at AustinAustin, TX · Public four-year | 53,86467% of the leader · rank #16 | 1.95 |
| 17 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusAtlanta, GA · Public four-year | 53,36367% of the leader · rank #17 | 2.85 |
| 18 | Houston Community CollegeHouston, TX · Public four-year | 53,25367% of the leader · rank #18 | 0.32 |
| 19 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor, MI · Public four-year | 52,85566% of the leader · rank #19 | 3.75 |
| 20 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickNew Brunswick, NJ · Public four-year | 52,26965% of the leader · rank #20 | 2.24 |
| 21 | Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MI · Public four-year | 52,08965% of the leader · rank #21 | 5.32 |
| 22 | University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison, WI · Public four-year | 51,04464% of the leader · rank #22 | 3.80 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusUniversity Park, PA · Public four-year | 50,73764% of the leader · rank #23 | 4.22 |
| 24 | University of South FloridaTampa, FL · Public four-year | 49,62262% of the leader · rank #24 | 4.63 |
| 25 | Indiana University-BloomingtonBloomington, IN · Public four-year | 48,42461% of the leader · rank #25 | 6.53 |
| 26 | University of HoustonHouston, TX · Public four-year | 47,98060% of the leader · rank #26 | 5.54 |
| 27 | Kennesaw State UniversityKennesaw, GA · Public four-year | 47,76460% of the leader · rank #27 | 1.61 |
| 28 | Valencia CollegeOrlando, FL · Public four-year | 47,42559% of the leader · rank #28 | 0.38 |
| 29 | University of California-Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA · Public four-year | 47,33559% of the leader · rank #29 | 9.38 |
| 30 | University of North TexasDenton, TX · Public four-year | 46,86459% of the leader · rank #30 | 3.61 |
| 31 | Utah Valley UniversityOrem, UT · Public four-year | 46,80759% of the leader · rank #31 | 0.77 |
| 32 | University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley, CA · Public four-year | 45,88257% of the leader · rank #32 | 14.19 |
| 33 | University of Cincinnati-Main CampusCincinnati, OH · Public four-year | 45,02656% of the leader · rank #33 | 3.73 |
| 34 | The University of Texas at ArlingtonArlington, TX · Public four-year | 44,95656% of the leader · rank #34 | 2.34 |
| 35 | University of California-San DiegoLa Jolla, CA · Public four-year | 44,25655% of the leader · rank #35 | 13.49 |
| 36 | Florida State UniversityTallahassee, FL · Public four-year | 43,88955% of the leader · rank #36 | 3.51 |
| 37 | California State University-FullertonFullerton, CA · Public four-year | 43,66255% of the leader · rank #37 | 1.51 |
| 38 | University of GeorgiaAthens, GA · Public four-year | 43,14654% of the leader · rank #38 | 2.04 |
| 39 | California State University-Long BeachLong Beach, CA · Public four-year | 42,00353% of the leader · rank #39 | 1.17 |
| 40 | University of Maryland-College ParkCollege Park, MD · Public four-year | 41,72552% of the leader · rank #40 | 8.58 |
| 41 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeBaton Rouge, LA · Public four-year | 41,70552% of the leader · rank #41 | 7.39 |
| 42 | San Diego State UniversitySan Diego, CA · Public four-year | 41,13752% of the leader · rank #42 | 1.36 |
| 43 | The University of AlabamaTuscaloosa, AL · Public four-year | 40,84651% of the leader · rank #43 | 2.91 |
| 44 | Texas Tech UniversityLubbock, TX · Public four-year | 40,75751% of the leader · rank #44 | 3.66 |
| 45 | Texas State UniversitySan Marcos, TX · Public four-year | 40,67451% of the leader · rank #45 | 7.30 |
| 46 | University of California-DavisDavis, CA · Public four-year | 40,06550% of the leader · rank #46 | 15.52 |
| 47 | George Mason UniversityFairfax, VA · Public four-year | 39,76650% of the leader · rank #47 | 3.12 |
| 48 | Austin Community College DistrictAustin, TX · Public four-year | 39,72750% of the leader · rank #48 | 4.05 |
| 49 | Collin County Community College DistrictMckinney, TX · Public four-year | 39,54850% of the leader · rank #49 | 0.56 |
| 50 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburg, VA · Public four-year | 38,85749% of the leader · rank #50 | 1.16 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education and National Center for Education Statistics OPE Campus Safety and Security Survey enrollment, joined to IPEDS institutional control and level classifications · 2024 Scope: 802 institutions in PlainCampus's Clery reporting cohort, classified by IPEDS as public and four-year-or-above, with positive reported enrollment.
Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. Every row and summary statistic is queried at request time from the joined federal OPE/Clery and IPEDS fields. Enrollment comes from the reporting cohort; IPEDS supplies the public/four-year classification. No ranking position is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.