College of Engineering Sees Record Enrollment Numbers

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Undergraduate and graduate enrollment in the College of Engineering at the University of Arkansas hit new records for the fall 2015 semester. Undergraduate enrollment is at an all-time high with 3,265 students, an 8.4 percent increase over fall 2014. New freshman enrollment topped 800 for the first time in the college’s history.

“Our increased enrollment is a tribute to the excellent faculty and top quality programs we have here in the College of Engineering,” said Dean John English, who holds the Irma F. and Raymond F. Giffels Endowed Chair in Engineering. “But it is also a credit to the outstanding job being done to recruit and retain top quality students. Bryan Hill, assistant dean for student recruitment and diversity, Eric Specking, director of undergraduate recruitment, and Richard Cassady, who directs our Freshman Engineering Program, all deserve to be recognized for their passion and hard work.”

The College of Engineering has experienced an increase of 107.2 percent in undergraduate enrollment since 2007. The college has also made progress on its goal of increasing diversity, with women comprising a record breaking 26 percent of the freshman class and ethnic minority enrollment topping 21.9 percent of the College of Engineering’s undergraduate enrollment.

Not only is the college attracting more students, it is also helping more of them earn engineering degrees. Since 2007, second-year retention has increased 19.4 percent for engineering undergraduates and six-year graduation rates have increased by 18.4 percent for students who earn engineering degrees.

English credits the Freshman Engineering Program, which began in 2007, for the improved retention and graduation. The program features a common first year curriculum, in which students learn about the various engineering disciplines while focusing on their math and science core subjects. The program also offers peer mentoring to all freshman engineering students.

Graduate enrollment in the College of Engineering also showed substantial growth, with a total of 979 students, including an 8.9 percent increase in doctoral students compared to 2014. English said this growth is an important metric for the college. 

“Graduate students are vital to both our education and research missions because of the important role they play in supporting our faculty,” English explained. “This year’s numbers show we are right on track of reaching our goal of 1,350 graduate students by 2021. In addition, this growth in graduate enrollment demonstrates that we have been successful in attracting these students, who are looking for schools with a robust research program.”About the College of Engineering: The University of Arkansas College of Engineering is the only comprehensive Ph.D.-granting engineering program in the state of Arkansas. The college offers graduate and undergraduate degrees in nine engineering fields, as well as incorporating distance learning and interdisciplinary programs. Faculty in the College of Engineering conduct research in many key areas, including electronics, energy, healthcare logistics, nanotechnology, transportation and logistics.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.