The disclosure relates to substantially uniform, high density microspheres and methods of making the microspheres. The microspheres can be made to be small in size with a narrow range of particle size distribution and a high sphericity. In one aspect, the microspheres provided herein are provided in the form of spherical cores comprising maltodextrin or maltodextrin and starch and are prepared using a centrifugal tumbling-granulating-coating apparatus. In another aspect, the spherical cores can be powder-coated with one or more layers of small particles, such as starch particles. The microspheres provided herein can be used as cores for multi-particulate solid dosage delivery systems as well as other pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, food, personal care, and other applications.