Are you curious to know which are the largest colleges in the world? We all have some notion of the best universities, which are often ones located in the US, but when it comes to size, who is at the very top? After all, size really has nothing to do with quality, meaning colleges from anywhere in the world could form part of this list.
In order to determine which are the largest colleges in the world, we have considered the number of enrolled students as the best way to measure and compare the size of these institutions. This means all graduate and undergraduate students are taken into account as long as they are actively enrolled in the university. The result is stunning, with some colleges boasting figures in the millions! To think that some of the largest colleges in the world have a bigger enrollment list than the population of major cities, is simply fascinating.
If you are interested in topics relating to university life, then you might like one of our previous articles about the 8 best summer jobs for college students. After all, working throughout the summer is a preferred activity for students on a budget, especially those attending expensive private schools. Our list on the largest colleges in the world unfortunately only includes one such institution, with the rest being of public affiliation. This goes a long way to explaining their size, which has certainly burst out of control.
Either way, let’s start the countdown of the largest colleges in the world, beginning in India.
10. University of Mumbai
Number of Students: 549,432
Established back in 1857, the University of Mumbai is one of the first colleges to be opened in India. It offers bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees and has a wide range of disciplines.
9. Tribhuvan University
Number of Students: 604,437
Located in a small town just a few kilometers from Kathmandu, this institution was the first university founded in the country. Despite being just over 50 years old, it is the largest and more prestigious college in Nepal.
8. Universitas Terbuka
Number of Students: 646,467
Despite its short history, Universitas Terbuka has already turned into the largest university in Indonesia. Distance learning and a special emphasis on tough teaching methods make this college stand out the most.
We’ll soon hit the million student mark in our countdown of the largest colleges in the world, continued on the next page. See which universities, and where, boast such amazing numbers.
7. Bangladesh Open University
Number of Students: 650,000
Bangladesh Open University has a unique distance education method, the only one of its kind in Bangladesh. Due to the popularity of this technique, the college has seen enrollment numbers rise rapidly.
6. Payame Noor University
Number of Students: 818,150
Heading over to Tehran, Iran, we find a university with a student body of considerable size. Like many others on our list, Payame Noor is a relatively new institution, yet it has various departments and fields of study, including encompassing learning.
5. Bangladesh National University
Number of Students: 1,000,000
Breaking the one million student mark is Bangladesh National University, the fifth largest college in the world. It is actually considered an “off-campus university”, since it has a national presence thanks to the affiliated bodies that comprise it.
4. Allama Iqbal Open University
Number of Students: 1,326,948
This college, located in Islamabad, Pakistan, was created with the goal of bringing higher education to the population through distance learning. As such, it was the first open college in Asia and second of its kind in the world.
3. Anadolu University
Number of Students: 1,974,343
Although it was initially just an academy for economic and commercial sciences, the Anadolu University is now the largest university in Turkey. The college is made up of sixteen different facilities, some of which naturally include distance learning.
2. Islamic Azad University
Number of Students: 2,000,000
Iran has yet another of its higher education facilities on our list, this time with a student body of two million. This impressive number of students is managed by numerous branches of the university, which is present throughout the country.
1. Indira Gandhi National Open University
Number of Students: 3,500,000
Since India is the second-most populated country in the world, it is not all too surprising to see one of its institutions toppling the list of largest colleges in the world. Located in New Delhi, the Indira Gandhi National Open University is actually active in 36 countries and offers a wide range of programs.