Which university has the most domestic students in Australia?
Overall Domestic Enrollment Trends
Total domestic enrollments across all Australian universities and higher education providers saw an increase from 1,082,410 in 2018 to a peak of 1,161,912 in 2021, followed by a decrease to 1,102,683 in 2022. This trend indicates an expansion in domestic enrollments up to 2021, with a subsequent decline in 2022.
University with the Most Domestic Enrollment (General)
Monash University had the highest number of domestic enrollments in a single year with 47,002 students in 2022, making it the university with the most domestic enrollment overall in the data provided.
Universities with the Most Domestic Enrollment by State
- Australian Capital Territory: The Australian National University consistently had the highest enrollments, peaking at 16,402 in 2021.
- Multi-State: Australian Catholic University had the highest enrollments among multi-state institutions, with a peak of 29,210 in 2021.
- New South Wales: The University of New South Wales and the University of Sydney were prominent institutions, with enrollments peaking at 42,750 and 40,380, respectively, in 2022.
- Northern Territory: Charles Darwin University was the leading institution, peaking at 12,625 in 2021.
- Queensland: Queensland University of Technology had the highest enrollments, with 46,109 in 2021.
- South Australia: University of South Australia showed significant growth, with enrollments peaking at 32,299 in 2021.
- Tasmania: The University of Tasmania was the sole major institution, with enrollments peaking at 34,032 in 2020.
- Victoria: Monash University not only led in Victoria but also had the highest domestic enrollment nationally in 2022 with 47,002 students.
- Western Australia: Curtin University had the highest enrollments, peaking at 38,503 in 2021.
Enrollment Changes Over the Years
The data reveals a general growth in domestic enrollments across most universities until 2021, with a notable decline in several institutions and the overall total in 2022. This pattern suggests potential shifts in domestic student preferences, impacts of external factors (such as the COVID-19 pandemic), or changes in university offerings and capacities.
We hope that this information provides valuable insights into domestic enrollment trends and the leading institutions in Australia.
See the table below for a detailed breakdown of domestic enrollments by institution and state from 2018 to 2022. We will continue to monitor and analyze enrollment trends to provide the most up-to-date information.
| State | Institution | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Capital Territory | 30,096 | 30,000 | 29,680 | 30,976 | 29,997 | |
| Non-University Higher Education Providers | 1,113 | 1,356 | 1,536 | 1,796 | 1,484 | |
| The Australian National University | 15,820 | 15,805 | 15,468 | 16,402 | 15,604 | |
| University of Canberra | 13,163 | 12,839 | 12,676 | 12,778 | 12,909 | |
| Multi-State | 32,759 | 31,470 | 31,279 | 32,027 | 31,264 | |
| Australian Catholic University | 29,557 | 28,472 | 28,230 | 29,210 | 28,604 | |
| Non-University Higher Education Providers | 3,202 | 2,998 | 3,049 | 2,817 | 2,660 | |
| New South Wales | 336,636 | 338,059 | 353,030 | 358,448 | 343,653 | |
| Charles Sturt University | 32,537 | 32,967 | 35,810 | 35,073 | 32,928 | |
| Macquarie University | 32,796 | 33,001 | 33,836 | 35,835 | 35,466 | |
| Non-University Higher Education Providers (excluding Avondale) | 34,180 | 34,587 | 38,012 | 38,274 | 35,773 | |
| Southern Cross University | 13,714 | 14,314 | 15,784 | 15,410 | 13,916 | |
| The University of New England | 21,950 | 23,158 | 23,378 | 22,518 | 20,324 | |
| The University of Newcastle | 29,021 | 29,581 | 31,542 | 32,084 | 30,202 | |
| The University of Sydney | 40,777 | 39,758 | 40,543 | 42,250 | 40,380 | |
| University of New South Wales | 39,312 | 39,026 | 40,131 | 42,649 | 42,750 | |
| University of Technology Sydney | 30,745 | 30,547 | 32,247 | 31,668 | 33,296 | |
| University of Wollongong | 19,249 | 18,916 | 19,486 | 20,015 | 19,081 | |
| Western Sydney University | 41,228 | 41,086 | 41,198 | 41,526 | 38,525 | |
| Avondale University College | 1,127 | 1,118 | 1,063 | 1,146 | 1,012 | |
| Northern Territory | 9,457 | 10,272 | 11,722 | 12,640 | 10,966 | |
| Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education | 18 | 12 | 26 | 15 | 18 | |
| Charles Darwin University | 9,439 | 10,260 | 11,696 | 12,625 | 10,948 | |
| Queensland | 195,557 | 197,174 | 202,924 | 208,285 | 194,374 | |
| Bond University | 2,986 | 2,952 | 3,145 | 3,453 | 3,596 | |
| CQUniversity | 17,589 | 18,305 | 19,814 | 19,816 | 17,866 | |
| Griffith University | 39,436 | 40,548 | 41,417 | 42,102 | 38,631 | |
| James Cook University | 14,680 | 14,222 | 13,836 | 14,455 | 13,269 | |
| Non-University Higher Education Providers | 7,090 | 6,795 | 7,121 | 7,808 | 7,229 | |
| Queensland University of Technology | 41,803 | 42,676 | 44,281 | 46,109 | 43,111 | |
| The University of Queensland | 35,648 | 35,008 | 34,558 | 35,163 | 34,312 | |
| University of Southern Queensland | 22,742 | 22,689 | 23,092 | 22,761 | 20,649 | |
| University of the Sunshine Coast | 13,583 | 13,979 | 15,660 | 16,618 | 15,711 | |
| South Australia | 79,466 | 81,149 | 87,699 | 90,842 | 89,424 | |
| Carnegie Mellon University Australia | 11 | 8 | 13 | |||
| Flinders University | 20,505 | 20,357 | 20,919 | 21,022 | 20,258 | |
| Private Universities and Non-University Higher Education Providers | 5,357 | 4,928 | 4,834 | 4,807 | 4,584 | |
| The University of Adelaide | 19,072 | 19,305 | 20,224 | 21,653 | 21,604 | |
| Torrens University Australia | 7,310 | 8,187 | 10,720 | 11,053 | 12,544 | |
| University of South Australia | 27,222 | 28,372 | 30,991 | 32,299 | 30,421 | |
| Tasmania | 28,868 | 28,423 | 34,032 | 30,258 | 28,124 | |
| University of Tasmania | 28,868 | 28,423 | 34,032 | 30,258 | 28,124 | |
| Victoria | 263,377 | 263,184 | 273,115 | 286,263 | 268,198 | |
| Deakin University | 45,075 | 45,848 | 49,608 | 51,844 | 46,458 | |
| Federation University Australia | 8,656 | 8,441 | 8,193 | 8,349 | 7,774 | |
| La Trobe University | 29,425 | 28,229 | 28,383 | 28,561 | 27,236 | |
| Monash University | 45,183 | 45,310 | 45,523 | 48,926 | 47,002 | |
| Non-University Higher Education Providers | 6,235 | 6,291 | 6,887 | 9,015 | 7,077 | |
| RMIT University | 37,734 | 38,738 | 41,308 | 42,841 | 39,987 | |
| Swinburne University of Technology | 31,942 | 31,076 | 31,987 | 32,336 | 29,783 | |
| The University of Melbourne | 41,516 | 41,961 | 42,654 | 44,598 | 43,265 | |
| University of Divinity | 1,453 | 1,319 | 1,300 | 1,279 | 1,270 | |
| Victoria University | 16,158 | 15,971 | 17,272 | 18,514 | 18,346 | |
| Western Australia | 106,194 | 106,319 | 110,038 | 112,173 | 106,683 | |
| Curtin University | 35,468 | 35,758 | 37,131 | 38,503 | 37,615 | |
| Edith Cowan University | 23,863 | 23,774 | 24,203 | 24,333 | 22,350 | |
| Murdoch University | 15,021 | 15,398 | 16,095 | 14,695 | 12,920 | |
| Non-University Higher Education Providers | 1,298 | 1,139 | 1,183 | 1,259 | 1,389 | |
| The University of Notre Dame Australia | 11,469 | 11,476 | 12,387 | 12,152 | 11,462 | |
| The University of Western Australia | 19,075 | 18,774 | 19,039 | 21,231 | 20,947 | |
| Grand Total | 1,082,410 | 1,086,050 | 1,133,519 | 1,161,912 | 1,102,683 |
References
Australian Government Department of Education, n.d., Education, viewed (8 February 2024), https://www.education.gov.au/.