College enrollment numbers are out from fall of 2016 and they show the most popular colleges in America based on the number of admissions applications received and the biggest college in the US based on student enrollment.
UCLA is the most popular college in the US.
Total admission applications received by UCLA for fall 2016 was 97,121, making UCLA the most popular university in America.
Of course the University of California – Los Angeles campus could not house a class size that large, making admissions decisions very difficult.
UCLA’s popularity continues to increase as it is considered one of the best colleges to attend.
The incoming class is admitted using a holistic approach, which was first adopted in the fall of 2006 by the faculty Committee for Undergraduate Admissions and Relations with Schools and approved by the UCLA Academic Senate.
In the past, applications were reviewed in sections, with two readers reviewing academics and a third reader reviewing personal achievements and life challenges. Under the holistic approach, each application is read and considered in its entirety by two readers.
UCLA has always been known to have a diverse student body.
UCLA continues to show an increase in underrepresented minority applications through their commitment to enhance the diversity of the applicant pool through various outreach activities and engagement of students, alumni, community groups and organizations.
Most Popular Colleges Based on Number of Applications Received
Using data collected in U.S. News surveys, here are the top 10 colleges with the most applications for fall 2016.
| School | Applications Received |
| University of California—Los Angeles | 97,121 |
| University of California—San Diego | 84,209 |
| University of California—Berkeley | 82,581 |
| University of California—Irvine | 77,810 |
| University of California—Santa Barbara | 77,098 |
| University of California—Davis | 67,472 |
| California State University—Long Beach | 60,732 |
| New York University | 60,724 |
| San Diego State University | 60,691 |
| Boston University | 57,441 |
Biggest Colleges in the US Based on Enrollment
Using enrollment data for fall 2016, here are the Top 10 Biggest Colleges in America by undergraduate enrollment.
| School | Fall 2016 Undergraduate Enrollment |
| University of Central Florida | 55,776 |
| Texas A&M University—College Station | 50,735 |
| Liberty University | 47,050 |
| Ohio State University—Columbus | 45,831 |
| Florida International University | 45,813 |
| Arizona State University—Tempe | 42,477 |
| Pennsylvania State University—University Park | 41,359 |
| University of Texas—Austin | 40,168 |
| Indiana University—Bloomington | 39,184 |
| Michigan State University | 39,090 |
Student Life on a Large College Campus
It can be easy to feel lost in a college of this size.
Your best bet is to take an equal share of large classes and small classes. Those lectures with over 200+ students and those intimate smaller classroom setting sessions each have their own benefit. While one-on-one professor time may be beneficial to the student, so can collaboration with the minds of many intelligent students in a large lecture hall.
In large classes, take advantage of TA's (teacher assistants) who have a direct connection with the professor and can help you with any problem(s) you are facing or any upcoming tests.
Sometimes you can lose a sense of belonging on such a large college campus. Your best bet here is to join a fraternity, sorority, club, or intramural squad. Some type of a sense of belonging or being a part of a group can give you enough boost of confidence to go on and become a leader at your school. Leaders are what recruiters want coming out of college. It's a good way to lead to getting a job after college.
The question is though, will colleges limit enrollment in the future? Will admission standards get tougher?
A college campus does have its limits and most are at their full capacity, as seen in this list of biggest colleges in the US. A prime aspect that is looked at in colleges is the student-teacher ratio, especially when it comes to college rankings. While campuses may have their limits building and expansion wise, with enrollment numbers increasing will the idea of keeping a low student-teacher ratio be diminished? Will lecture halls, even for top level classes, be fit to hold hundreds of students? Colleges may lose their appeal and intimate setting or may be forced to offer more online courses.
Some colleges are a little stricter on admissions. Take UCLA for example, which is located in the already overcrowded city of Los Angeles. They are the most popular college in the US based on the number of applications they receive every year, but never made it on the list above that shows the largest colleges in the USA. While they are near the top, it's clear they may not be able to handle a campus of this size if their admission policies were more forgiving.