What are the largest online universities?

The largest online universities by fully online undergraduate enrollment are led by Southern New Hampshire University, Western Governors University, and Arizona State University Digital Immersion. Size alone does not mean a school is the best fit, but large online enrollments usually signal broad catalogs, multiple start dates, and established remote student services.

According to Best Universities analysis of federal education data, there is no single public leaderboard for “largest online universities.” Schools report several enrollment measures, so comparisons need context. The list below ranks institutions by undergraduates enrolled exclusively in distance education (fully online), not total campus enrollment.

That distinction matters. Some schools are almost entirely online. Others mix residential and online students. Some traditional universities have very large online divisions even though many of their students also attend in person. Comparing those models as if they were identical can mislead readers.

Enrollment figures change each year as schools grow online divisions, reorganize campus reporting, or update federal submissions. Use size as one filter, then compare:

• Regional accreditation and state authorization for your program
• Typical net price after grants for students like you
• Retention and completion rates in federal education data
• Whether the degree path requires residencies, clinicals, or proctored exams
• Transfer credit rules if you already have college credit

For a longer list ranked the same way, see our largest online universities guide. If you want flexible pacing rather than size alone, see online colleges similar to WGU.

Sources:

https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/

https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/

https://abound.college/finishcollege/advice/25-largest-online-universities/

Browse more in our FAQ or see longer guides on Resources.