Top 10 schools based on population

More Americans are choosing to go to college now than ever. This is because many older Americans choose to go back to school and pursue dreams and passions of the past. There are also more opportunities available for financial aid and grants than ever before.

The National Center for Education Statistics expects to see a steady increase in colleges and projects the numbers to rise 13 to 20 percent over the next ten years. Recent statistics show that there were 14 million students attending universities in 2002 and this number increased to more than 17 million in 2004.

Based on 2004 enrollment records, here are the Top 10:

1. University of Phoenix Online: Total Student Population: 115,794

o The University of Phoenix Online is a for-profit online school that allows students to study at a fast pace with flexible hours. The courses and content allow students to earn a degree in less time and are more focused on jobs and careers.

2. Miami Dade College: Total Student Population – 57,026

o Miami Dade College is a state-sponsored community college that offers associate’s degrees at eight different campuses and through online courses. In 2003, Miami Dade College also began offering Bachelor of Science degrees in education. Enrollment numbers are high because students can study at several different campuses and they offer affordable courses for local residents with low incomes or English as a second language.

3. Ohio State University, Main Campus: Total Student Population – 50,995

o The Ohio State University is a very large school with over 170 majors in its undergraduate programs. Students have a wide variety of options to choose from. They also offer exploration programs to help students find the right major for them. Not only do they have a large number of undergraduate majors, but they also have 110 graduate programs for students seeking a graduate degree. Ohio State is also popular as it is a Big 10 school and always ranks high among the best college football teams.

4. University of Minnesota, Twin Cities: Total Student Population – 50,949

o The University of Minnesota is a public university and land-grant college. They have a strong tradition of excellence in education and public service. They are one of the top ranked universities with over 147 majors and thousands of courses. The University of Minnesota is the nation’s leading public research university with state-of-the-art educational facilities for learning and research.

5. University of Texas at Austin: Total Student Population – 50,337

o Affectionately known as UT throughout the state of Texas, the University of Texas at Austin is the largest university in the University of Texas System. They are a major research campus, offering programs in business, information and law, education, and engineering.

6. Arizona State University, Tempe Campus: Total Student Population – 49,171

o The Tempe campus is the home base for Arizona State University. The campus focuses on learning, the development of new knowledge, and service. The Tempe campus opened in 1885 and is the most popular campus in the Arizona State University system.

7. University of Florida: Total Student Population – 47,993

o The University of Florida is the oldest and most comprehensive university in Florida. They are an ideal location for students studying health professions and boast the McKnight Brain Institute and the Genetics and Cancer Research Center.

8. Michigan State University: Total Student Population – 44,836

o Michigan State University has been an innovative university with a global reach for more than 150 years. MSU is also known for its great study abroad programs, ranking as one of the top three in the nation.

9. Texas A&M University: Total Student Population: 42,435

o Texas A&M University offers more than 150 courses of study through several different universities. They have awarded more than 320,000 degrees and more than 70,000 postgraduate degrees. They also have incredible figures on student retention rates.

10. University of Central Florida: Total Student Population – 42,465

o The University of Central Florida is located in Orlando. UCF’s goals include becoming Florida’s undergraduate education and achieving international prominence in graduate study and research.