What State Has the Most Colleges? Top 5 + List of Best Schools

The United States puts heavy importance on higher education, which can be seen in its overwhelming number of 4,000 different institutions across the nation. But what state has the most colleges?

If you’re applying to college, this information also helps you explore different options in your region to find your best fit. In this blog, we’ll give a list of U.S. states that have the most colleges and also touch on other related topics.

• Top 5 States with the Most Colleges
• What State Has the Best Colleges?
• Factors Contributing to the Number of Colleges per State
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

Top 5 States with the Most Colleges

Merriam-Webster has several definitions of the word “college,” the primary one being “an independent institution of higher learning offering a course of general studies leading to a bachelor’s degree.” It is also defined as “an institution offering instruction usually in a professional, vocational, or technical field.”

This means “college” encompasses all higher education facilities, from large research universities to small vocational schools.

Exact figures can differ depending on the specific data source, how different types of institutions (universities, colleges, community colleges) are categorized, and whether certain categories of institutions were included or not.

For our list of states with the most colleges below, we used the public data set on Open Data Soft, which was provided by Homeland Infrastructure Foundation-Level Data.

1. California (718)

California isn’t just home to the largest number of colleges—it also has several of the country’s top-ranked institutions. These are a mix of small liberal arts colleges and large research institutions.

The state has the University of California system, which is one of the most prestigious public university systems in the country, with 10 campuses across the state. Another significant state university system is the California State University system, with 23 different campuses statewide. These include Long Beach, Fullerton, and San Bernardino.

California’s top college is Stanford University, which ranks #4 nationally. Its most popular majors include those in the fields of Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Social Sciences, and Engineering.

The top 10 colleges in California are:

1. Stanford University (Stanford, CA)
2. California Institute of Technology (Pasadena, CA)
3. University of California, Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA)
4. University of California, Berkeley (Berkeley, CA)
5. University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA)
6. University of California, San Diego (La Jolla, CA)
7. University of California, Davis (Davis, CA)
8. University of California, Irvine (Irvine, CA)
9. University of California, Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara, CA)
10. University of California, Merced (Merced, CA)

2. New York (450)

New York colleges range from large research universities to small liberal arts colleges. There are even federal military academies, such as the United States Military Academy at West Point.

The state has two Ivy League schools: Cornell University in Ithaca and Columbia University in New York City. It also houses two of the largest public university systems in the country: the State University of New York (SUNY) and City University of New York (CUNY).

The SUNY system has 64 campuses across the state. The system’s four main university centers are the University at Albany, Binghamton University, University at Buffalo, and Stony Brook University.

Aside from those, SUNY also has comprehensive colleges, technology colleges, and community colleges—such as the College of Environmental Science and Forestry and Hudson Valley Community College.

CUNY is another large system and is the nation’s largest urban public university with 25 colleges. These include the Guttman Community College, the College of Staten Island, and Brooklyn College.

The top 10 colleges in New York are:

1. Cornell University (Ithaca, NY)
2. Columbia University (New York, NY)
3. New York University (New York, NY)
4. University of Rochester (Rochester, NY)
5. State University of New York at Stony Brook (Stony Brook, NY)
6. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, NY)
7. State University of New York at Binghamton (Binghamton, NY)
8. Syracuse University (Syracuse, NY)
9. State University of New York at Buffalo (Buffalo, NY)
10. Fordham University (New York, NY)

3. Texas (432)

Texas has two of the largest universities in the US: the University of Texas at Austin with 42,444 undergrads, and Texas A&M University (TAMU) with 61,442 undergraduate students. These two are also publicly funded universities.

The University of Texas is a relatively large university system that has 14 institutions. Aside from Austin, other campuses also include Dallas, San Antonio, and Arlington.

TAMU’s main campus is in College Station, but it also has locations in Galveston and McAllen. Furthermore, its health schools have campuses in Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Houston, Kingsville, McAllen, and Round Rock.

The state also has mid-sized colleges, small liberal arts schools, and private colleges and universities. The top 10 of these colleges are:

1. Rice University (Houston, TX)
2. University of Texas at Austin (Austin, TX)
3. Texas A&M University (College Station, TX)
4. Baylor University (Waco, TX)
5. Southern Methodist University (Dallas, TX)
6. Texas Christian University (Fort Worth, TX)
7. University of Texas at Dallas (Richardson, TX)
8. University of Houston (Houston, TX)
9. University of St. Thomas (Houston, TX)
10. Texas Tech University (Lubbock, TX)

4. Florida (363)

The Sunshine State is the #1 state for higher education in the US for the 8th year in a row. This has been made possible “by graduating students on time, providing students with the lowest cost for in-state tuition and fees, and offering higher education with little to no debt for students.”

Florida is home to the State University System of Florida, which has 12 universities throughout the state. Florida State University is considered the flagship campus and is integrated with the Oak Hammock retirement community, where students can work and complete internships. Other campuses of the system are Florida Atlantic University, Florida Gulf Coast University, and Florida International University.

The state also has Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, one of the largest aviation schools in the country.

The top 10 Florida colleges are:

1. University of Florida (Gainesville, FL)
2. Florida State University (Tallahassee, FL)
3. University of Miami (Coral Gables, FL)
4. University of South Florida (Tampa, FL)
5. Florida International University (Miami, FL)
6. University of Central Florida (Orlando, FL)
7. Florida A&M University (Tallahassee, FL)
8. Florida Atlantic University (Boca Raton, FL)
9. Florida Institute of Technology (Melbourne, FL)
10. Nova Southeastern University (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

5. Pennsylvania (343)

Many of Pennsylvania’s colleges can be found in the major cities of Philadelphia (the sixth-largest city in the US) and Pittsburgh.

Many of its largest colleges are publicly funded as well, such as Temple University and the University of Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania State University’s campus in University Park is one of the biggest universities in the country with about 42,223 undergraduate students. Penn State is also a university system with 25 campuses, including Abington, Lehigh Valley, and New Kensington.

Pennsylvania also has specialty schools, like art schools and theological colleges, such as the Pennsylvania College of Art & Design and Lancaster Bible College.

The state also houses Swarthmore College, a private liberal arts institution that is also considered one of the little Ivy League schools.

The top 10 colleges in the state are:

1. University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA)
2. Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, PA)
3. Lehigh University (Bethlehem, PA)
4. Villanova University (Villanova, PA)
5. Pennsylvania State University at University Park (University Park, PA)
6. University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA)
7. Drexel University (Philadelphia, PA)
8. Temple University (Philadelphia, PA)
9. Thomas Jefferson University (Philadelphia, PA)
10. Duquesne University (Pittsburgh, PA)

What State Has the Best Colleges?

Just because a state has the most number of colleges doesn’t necessarily mean they also have the best ones.

In this section, we pulled data from the U.S. News to give you a list of the top 5 states that have the best colleges. The ranking is based on five main metrics:

• 2-year-college graduation
• Low debt at graduation
• Tuition and fees
• 4-year-college graduation rate
• Educational attainment

1. Florida

As we have mentioned, Florida has been ranked the #1 state for higher education for 8 straight years.

It’s also the #1 state in tuition and fees, meaning it has the lowest costs associated with state-supported college education. The state ranks #2 in both 2-year-college and 4-year-college graduation rates.

This means it has the most students who complete a two-year degree program within three years and a four-year college degree within six years, respectively.

2. Wyoming

Whether you’re looking for a state with relatively more affordable institutions or offers generous financial support, Wyoming should be on your radar. That’s because it ranks #2 in both tuition and fees and low debt at graduation.

The average debt at graduation in the state is $10,843, which is lower than the national average of $14,086.

3. Washington

Washington is a bit of a surprise in the top 5 since if you look at its rankings on the individual metrics, none of them are single digits. However, the state ranks #10 in tuition and fees, 4-year-college graduation rate, and educational attainment. Meanwhile, it’s #12 in 2-year-college graduation.

These rankings are still pretty high and present an overall well-rounded and positive experience for college students in Washington.

4. Colorado

Colorado ranks #1 in educational attainment, a metric showing that it has the highest number of citizens 25 and older who have at least an associate degree. The state has a population of 5,877,610, with 54.2% of that being college-educated.

With that ranking, it also makes sense that Colorado is #7 when it comes to the 2-year college graduation rate.

5. Utah

If you’re looking for a state with colleges that won’t land you in too much debt, then you might want to consider Utah. The state ranks #1 in having low debt at graduation, which means it has citizens 24 years old and under who have the least amount of federal student loan debt.

As mentioned, the national average debt at graduation is $14,086, and Utah beats Wyoming by a little more than a hundred dollars, with an average student debt of $10,794. The state also ranks #5 in tuition and fees.

Factors Contributing to the Number of Colleges per State

Different factors affect the number of colleges a state has. These factors are interconnected and often influence each other—however, the specific factors and their relative importance can differ per state.

1. Historical development

States with a strong history of land grants (like those under the Morrill Act) often have a larger number of public universities. These grants provided significant funding and encouraged the establishment of institutions.

For instance, states in the Midwest like Ohio received substantial land grants, leading to the development of strong public university systems—such as the University System of Ohio.

Aside from land grants, states with early settlements also often established colleges to meet religious, political, or social needs. Massachusetts has some of the oldest institutions, like Harvard University, reflecting its colonial roots that emphasized education.

2. Population size and growth

States with larger populations naturally have a higher demand for higher education, which led to the establishment of more institutions to meet the needs of a growing student body.

For example, California has a massive and still-growing population of 39,128,162 people, which is why it has hundreds of different colleges to cater to them.

3. Economic factors

States with thriving economies can support more colleges through public funding and private investment. New York has strong financial and corporate sectors, which can support numerous universities and private institutions like Columbia and NYU.

States with strong industrial bases often experienced a surge in demand for skilled workers. This caused the establishment of technical schools and universities offering engineering, business, and other relevant programs.

Michigan, historically a hub for the automotive industry, has institutions like the University of Michigan offering specialized engineering and technical programs. Massachusetts and Pennsylvania also have significant industrial histories, leading to institutions (like Boston University and Pennsylvania College of Technology) focused on technology and engineering.

States with strong research institutions (like those focusing on technology, medicine, or agriculture) also often attract other institutions and create a lively academic ecosystem. California’s Silicon Valley has attracted many universities and research institutions, creating a hub for innovation and higher education.

4. State funding and policies

States with significant public funding for higher education often encourage the growth of public institutions.

Florida has been the #1 state for higher education in the US for eight straight years. This is thanks to higher education being the third-largest general fund budget category in the state. Its state budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 is $116.5 billion.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which US city has the most colleges?

Los Angeles, California has the most colleges, with 52 institutions.

2. Which state has the best colleges?

The state with the best colleges is Florida, which also ranks #1 in tuition and fees. Other states with some of the best colleges are Wyoming, Washington, Colorado, and Utah.

3. What state has the most universities?

California has the most universities in the United States, thanks to the systems of the University of California and California State University.

Takeaways

Higher education is important in the US because it helps boost the economy, produces skilled graduates, and encourages innovation.

• The term “college” encompasses all institutions that offer higher education—including universities, community colleges, and online colleges.
• The top 5 states with the most number of colleges are California, New York, Texas, Florida, and Pennsylvania.
• The top 5 states with the best colleges are Florida, Wyoming, Washington, Colorado, and Utah
• Several factors can affect how many colleges a state has. These can include historical development, population size and growth, economic factors, and state funding and policies.
• Different colleges can have different requirements, and it can be confusing to come up with how to present yourself to the admissions officers. A private consultant can help you create a powerful application that can make you stand out from the competition.