The Phila. area's biggest colleges

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No. 1: Temple University (36, 915 students). Location: Philadelphia Pa. Web:… more

This week’s list ranks the area’s largest four-year colleges and universities by total student enrollment for the academic year 2010-2011.

Our 2011 list revealed a 1.86 percent increase in total enrollment among the 23 schools that appeared in our recent Book of Lists. The total enrollment was up 2,035 from last year’s reported 187,460, at 189,495 students. That nudge was largely because of the 6,267, or 11.95 percent, increased graduate enrollment: The 58,708 figure was up from 52,441 enrolled in the 2009-10 academic year.

Eight schools demonstrated growth in both undergraduate and graduate enrollment. Drexel University and Arcadia University were the only two that each increased overall enrollment by more than 1,000 students.

Of the schools that reported both undergraduate and graduate programs, University of the Sciences Philadelphia was the only one to report lower enrollment in both programs.

See the slideshow at right for the area’s top five largest schools ranked by enrollment. Check out the Oct. 21-27 print issue for additional rank information.