2023 Most Popular Schools
With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools and bootcamps that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Grad Degree Search has created the Most Popular Schools to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 2,027 schools in the United States to see which ones were the most popular programs 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 analysis found Western Governors University to be the most popular school for students in the United States. Salt Lake City, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 22,896 students in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $26,218 in student loans. During the early years of their career, WGU graduates make an average of $62,838 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 71% were women.
You’ll be in good company if you attend Grand Canyon University. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular Schools list. Grand Canyon University is a large private for-profit school located in Phoenix, Arizona that handed out 15,633 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $31,746 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $174. Once they receive their degree, Grand Canyon University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $48,396 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 78% were women.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Liberty University is a great place for students. Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lynchburg, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 12,328 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $30,497 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $420, assuming you 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. Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
You’ll be in good company if you attend University of Southern California. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Most Popular Schools list. USC is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 12,004 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from USC accumulate an average of $15,661 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 $489. Once they receive their degree, USC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $65,044 during the early year of their career. Around 56% of those degree recipients were women.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Columbia University in the City of New York is a great place for students. Columbia is located in New York, New York and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 11,298 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from Columbia accumulate an average of $23,258 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 $567 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Columbia graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $70,610 during the early year of their career. Around 57% of those degree recipients were women.
New York University landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. NYU is a large private not-for-profit school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 10,727 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from NYU accumulate an average of $21,688 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 $754.After graduating from NYU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $59,064 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 56% were women.
With a ranking of #8, Capella University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working. This large private for-profit school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 9,531 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $36,349 in student loans.After graduating from Capella University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $61,758 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 83% were women.
Johns Hopkins University ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Schools list. Johns Hopkins is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Baltimore, Maryland. It awarded 8,639 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $18,755 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $599, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Johns Hopkins, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $68,344 during the early years of their career. Around 58% of those degree recipients were women.
Harvard University ranked #10 on this year’s Most Popular Schools list. Harvard University is a large private not-for-profit school located in Cambridge, Massachusetts that handed out 7,983 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $26,098 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Harvard graduates make an average of $78,371 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 52% were women.
Southern New Hampshire University landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. This large private not-for-profit school is located in Manchester, New Hampshire, and it awarded 7,968 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from SNHU accumulate an average of $30,063 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 $294.After graduating from SNHU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $46,640 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.
With a ranking of #12, University of Phoenix - Arizona did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working. UOPX - Arizona is located in Tempe, Arizona and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 8,013 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $33,058 in student loans. 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. During the early years of their career, UOPX - Arizona graduates make an average of $50,608 annually. Around 73% of those degree recipients were women.
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Schools ranking. U-M is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6,771 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from U-M accumulate an average of $17,682 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 $419. 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. Around 51% of those degree recipients were women.
University of Florida came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Schools ranking. Located in Gainesville, Florida, the large public school awarded 6,890 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,875 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $207.After graduating from UF, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $51,332 during the early years of their career. Around 54% of those degree recipients were women.
Northwestern University landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. This large private not-for-profit school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 6,470 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from Northwestern accumulate an average of $19,000 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 $576. During the early years of their career, Northwestern graduates make an average of $69,538 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 48% were women.
Boston University ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Schools list. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 6,431 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,561 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $630.After graduating from Boston U, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $55,473 during the early years of their career. Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
George Washington University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Schools ranking. GWU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Washington, District of Columbia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6,347 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from GWU accumulate an average of $23,099 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 $532. Once they receive their degree, GWU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $65,148 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
University of Pennsylvania landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the large private not-for-profit school awarded 6,189 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from UPenn accumulate an average of $17,262 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $547, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UPenn graduates make an average of $81,207 annually. Around 56% of those degree recipients were women.
University of Washington - Seattle Campus landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is a large public school located in Seattle, Washington that handed out 5,783 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from UW Seattle accumulate an average of $18,284 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 $303 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, UW Seattle graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $57,782 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 55% were women.
Read full report on University of Washington - Seattle Campus
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 #20 on the list. This large public school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 5,812 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,891 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $415. Once they receive their degree, UIUC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $53,270 during the early year of their career. Around 47% of those degree recipients were women.
Texas A&M University - College Station came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Schools ranking. Located in College Station, Texas, the large public school awarded 5,555 diplomas to qualifed students 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 48% of those degree recipients were women.
Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. Georgia Tech is a large public school situated in Atlanta, Georgia. It awarded 5,340 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,699 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $444, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Georgia Tech graduates make an average of $72,002 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 27% were women.
Read full report on Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus
With a ranking of #23, The University of Texas at Arlington did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working. UT Arlington is a large public school situated in Arlington, Texas. It awarded 5,439 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $23,737 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $163, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from UT Arlington, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $48,602 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.
Arizona State University - Skysong landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. ASU - Skysong is a public institution located in Scottsdale, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5,253 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,869 in student loans. 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, ASU - Skysong graduates make an average of $48,067 annually. Around 69% of those degree recipients were women.
Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #25 on the list. Located in Tempe, Arizona, the large public school handed out 5,015 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $24,436 in loans while pursuing 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.After graduating from ASU - Tempe, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $49,374 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 47% 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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