7 Top Universities with Largest College Enrollment: Capitalizing on Student Housing Needs

Is your student housing investment strategy aligned with the largest college enrollment trends? Learn how to capitalize on high demand and optimize your leasing cycles.

If you’re a property manager with an eye on the student housing market, understanding college enrollment trends is critical for making the best of your investments. The biggest universities in the country have the largest intake of students, creating a unique student housing supply and demand.

To make the most of your investments, it is vital that you know who the largest colleges are, who had the highest undergraduate enrollment rates, and how total enrollment affects your student housing investments.

Understanding University Size: Enrollment and Campus Placement

To truly understand the dynamic ecosystem that is student housing, it’s important to define what being one of the largest universities in the country means.

Defining Size

Total student enrollments, including undergraduate and graduate students, are used to measure a university's size. Online students and the diversity of academic programs are also considered when determining a university's size.

Factors Contributing to Size

Here are the four biggest education statistics that influence university size:

  • Learning Options: The addition of online courses and hybrid academic programs has drastically increased enrollment rates across the country.
  • Geographic Reach: Universities with global appeal naturally attract more students. Think of institutions that people in other countries would recognize for specific educational programs.
  • Program Variety: Universities with large and varied academic programs and diverse faculty attract bigger student bodies.
  • Affordability and Accessibility: Universities with competitive tuition rates and financial aid see higher enrollment rates due to increased accessibility.

Why Large Universities Are Important

The larger the student body of a university, the bigger its impact on the local and regional communities and economy. A large student body increases job creation in the area, increases demand for housing, and encourages local business growth.

Property managers, in particular, enjoy higher returns on investment near large universities. Catering to the needs of large student bodies and universities with multiple campuses requires a lot of student housing options.

However, large universities do require more strategic leasing cycles to accommodate diverse academic schedules. More efficient maintenance is also a must with such a high turnover rate.

Largest Colleges in the U.S. by Enrollment

Let’s examine the universities with the largest total student enrollment in the country and how property managers can cater to these diverse accommodation needs.

Grand Canyon University

Grand Canyon University is a hybrid university with both online student and on-site campuses for physical attendees. Its programs attracted more than 100,000 students, a massive number of potential rentals.

Its Phoenix campus drives demand for student housing and community engagement, making it a lucrative spot for student housing investors.

Liberty University

Liberty University’s blended learning supports more than 90,000 students. The university has a large online presence and a robust campus in Lynchburg, Virginia.

The campus comfortably supports the intake of new students every year and any on-site conferences for online students. It is also a central hub that has become particularly important to the local economy.

This has increased the demand for student housing and auxiliary services, making it perfect for property managers.

The Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania State University, also known as Penn State, is well known for its network of campuses and diverse student body.

The university serves more than 89,000 students, with its flagship University Park campus being critical for the local housing market and economy. Its smaller campuses address regional needs. While the university sees more on-site students, it’s also steadily expanding online and seeing more undergraduate enrollment.

With its large total enrollment, the public university is a great investment for property managers.

Arizona State University Campus Immersion

Arizona State University’s Campus Immersion experience attracts over 73,000 students. Its innovative design and partnerships with local developers make it a leader in student housing solutions.

The university also invests heavily in sustainability, and green initiatives influence the design of student accommodations. This makes it a great investment opportunity for property managers who are interested in sustainable housing options.

Texas A&M University, College Station

Texas A&M University has an annual enrollment of over 72,000 students. Its culture of tradition and inclusivity makes it a cornerstone of the community. Its College Station campus, in particular, influences local housing, emphasizing affordability and accessibility for a growing student population.

Dallas College

Dallas College serves over 70,000 students and emphasizes community engagement and workforce development in its students. Its multiple campuses across Dallas create housing demands for traditional and non-traditional students.

Property managers in the area often adapt their offerings to cater to the college's diverse student body.

University of Central Florida

The University of Central Florida (UCF) is well known for its vibrant campus with over 68,000 students. As one of the largest universities in Florida, UCF drives demand for diverse housing options, from shared apartments to single-occupancy units.

The emphasis on research and innovation continues to attract a dynamic student population, a great opportunity for property managers.

Conclusion

The largest universities shape the student housing market. Understanding these universities and their unique enrollment characteristics is key to creating leasing and housing strategies that help property managers maintain high occupancy rates.

From urban campuses to temporary accommodation for online students, the above universities have the largest enrollment rates and the most pressing housing needs.

Make the most of your student housing investments with College House. Book a demo and see how our advanced analytics and intelligence solutions can help you grow your student housing business.