2023 Most Popular Schools
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for students. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school or bootcamp that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Most Popular Schools ranking. Our analysis looked at 5,867 schools in the United States to see which programs were the most popular for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.
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Most Popular Schools in the United States
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Western Governors University the most popular school in the United States for students working on their degree. WGU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Salt Lake City, Utah. The school has a large population, and it awarded 49,508 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $26,218 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from WGU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $62,838 during the early years of their career. Around 70% of those degree recipients were women.
The programs at Ivy Tech Community College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular schools in the United States. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, the large public school handed out 30,789 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College accumulate an average of $15,847 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Ivy Tech Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $35,780 during the early year of their career. Around 61% of those degree recipients were women.
You’ll be in good company if you attend University of Phoenix - Arizona. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Schools list. Tempe, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 29,877 students in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $33,058 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $146 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, UOPX - Arizona graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $50,608 during the early year of their career. Around 68% of those degree recipients were women.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Grand Canyon University is a great place for students. Grand Canyon University is a large private for-profit school located in Phoenix, Arizona that handed out 29,176 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from Grand Canyon University accumulate an average of $31,746 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $174.After graduating from Grand Canyon University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $48,396 during the early years of their career. Around 76% of those degree recipients were women.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern New Hampshire University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Schools list. SNHU is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Manchester, New Hampshire. It awarded 27,014 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $30,063 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $294 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, SNHU graduates make an average of $46,640 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 64% were women.
Liberty University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Schools ranking. This large private not-for-profit school is located in Lynchburg, Virginia, and it awarded 24,308 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from Liberty University accumulate an average of $30,497 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $420 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Liberty University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $40,489 during the early years of their career. Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
Arizona State University - Tempe landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. ASU - Tempe is a public institution located in Tempe, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 21,156 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from ASU - Tempe accumulate an average of $24,436 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $329 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, ASU - Tempe graduates make an average of $49,374 annually. Around 51% of those degree recipients were women.
Texas A&M University - College Station ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Schools list. Texas A&M University - College Station is a large public school located in College Station, Texas that handed out 19,908 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $19,847 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $304. During the early years of their career, Texas A&M College Station graduates make an average of $57,177 annually. Around 51% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #9, University of Central Florida did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working. UCF is a public institution located in Orlando, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 19,318 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,607 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $211.After graduating from UCF, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,595 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
Florida International University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #10 on the list. FIU is a large public school situated in Miami, Florida. It awarded 18,483 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $23,098 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $93, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, FIU graduates make an average of $47,774 annually. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
Valencia College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. This large public school is located in Orlando, Florida, and it awarded 18,199 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $18,372 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $83.After graduating from Valencia College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $37,350 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 57% were women.
University of Southern California came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Schools ranking. Located in Los Angeles, California, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 17,749 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $15,661 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $489 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, USC graduates make an average of $65,044 annually. Around 55% of those degree recipients were women.
New York University ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Schools list. NYU is located in New York, New York and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 17,605 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $21,688 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $754. Once they receive their degree, NYU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $59,064 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 58% were women.
The University of Texas at Austin did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #14 on the list. Located in Austin, Texas, the large public school awarded 17,613 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,281 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $270 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from UT Austin, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $53,632 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 55% were women.
Miami Dade College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #15 on the list. MDC is a public institution located in Miami, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 17,521 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,593 in student loans.After graduating from MDC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $37,255 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
University of Wisconsin - Madison did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #16 on the list. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 17,417 students in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,865 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $336 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from UW - Madison, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $50,802 during the early years of their career. Around 56% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #17, University of Florida did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working. Gainesville, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 17,268 students in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $18,875 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $207, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UF graduates make an average of $51,332 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 57% were women.
Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #18 on the list. Ohio State is a large public school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 16,838 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,340 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $272.After graduating from Ohio State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $49,871 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 53% were women.
With a ranking of #19, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 15,915 students in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,682 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $419 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, U-M graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $58,051 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 51% were women.
University of Washington - Seattle Campus came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Schools ranking. Located in Seattle, Washington, the large public school awarded 15,234 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from UW Seattle accumulate an average of $18,284 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $303, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UW Seattle graduates make an average of $57,782 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 56% were women.
With a ranking of #21, University of Maryland Global Campus did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working. UMGC is located in Adelphi, Maryland and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 15,422 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from UMGC accumulate an average of $25,870 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, UMGC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $59,246 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 48% were women.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #22 on the list. UIUC is located in Champaign, Illinois and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 15,117 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from UIUC accumulate an average of $18,891 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $415.After graduating from UIUC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $53,270 during the early years of their career. Around 47% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #23, University of South Florida - Main Campus did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working. USF Tampa is a public institution located in Tampa, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 14,828 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,223 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $177 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, USF Tampa graduates make an average of $45,747 annually. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
University of California - Berkeley did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #24 on the list. UC Berkeley is located in Berkeley, California and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14,685 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,301 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $323, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, UC Berkeley graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $60,587 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 52% were women.
University of California - Los Angeles landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. UCLA is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 14,587 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,277 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $278, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UCLA graduates make an average of $53,838 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 56% were women.
Rest of the Top 50 Most Popular Schools in the United States
Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
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Rest of the Top 15% Most Popular Schools in the United States
To learn more about the schools below, just click on their names:
Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our most popular schools ranking:
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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