UA Hits New Enrollment Record of 17,821; Largest Freshman Class on Record

 The 3.2 percent increase reflected strong growth in the number of non-resident students enrolling at the university, particularly among freshmen. Eighty-one percent of the undergraduate student body is from Arkansas. Last year, 85 percent were from Arkansas.

Undergraduate enrollment was up 4 percent overall; graduate enrollment was up 3 percent; law school enrollment was down 6 percent.

The number of freshman African-American students climbed more than 8 percent compared to the previous year, while the number of freshman students of Hispanic ethnicity jumped nearly 42 percent.

The total number of degree-seeking freshmen was 2,766, the largest freshman class since the enrollment growth effort began in 1998, and a 10 percent increase in the size of the freshman class across the past seven years.

Normally, the official tally of students is based on enrollment for the 11th day of classes. Following guidance from the Arkansas Department of Higher Education, numbers given here include 66 late-enrolling students from colleges closed or disrupted by Hurricane Katrina.

The overall gain in students means the University of Arkansas has increased its student enrollment by nearly 21 percent since Chancellor John A. White began his tenure in 1997.

“The University of Arkansas’ continued growth is a clear indication that its message about creating a more diverse, student-centered campus is well received and being heard beyond the state’s boundaries,” White said. “While it is encouraging to see the steady increases in enrollment, we must remain focused and dedicated in order to meet the university’s student recruitment goals.”

The number of non-resident undergraduate students enrolling at the university climbed nearly 40 percent, from 1,646 in 2004 to 2,297 in 2005. The number of resident and international undergraduate students fell slightly. Undergraduate resident students were 81 percent of the undergraduate class; non-residents were 17 percent; international students were 2 percent. Most of the growth in non-resident undergraduates is accounted for by new freshmen from Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas, said Dawn Medley, director of undergraduate admissions. 

“This is one of our largest freshman classes ever,” Medley said. “A 10 percent increase in one year is very significant. An increase of 3 to 3.5 percent is considered significant by the standards of the profession.”

The number of graduate students increased 3 percent over the 2004 numbers, from 2,859 in 2004 to 2,948 in 2005. Resident and non-resident numbers increased, while the number of international graduate students dropped by one.

“This is healthy growth,” said Collis Geren, dean of the Graduate School and Vice Provost for Research.  “We can still do more.”

Law school enrollment was down, from 469 to 441, a 6 percent decrease.

While growth in the number of freshman African-American students is up significantly, the total enrollment of African-American students grew 0.1 percent - from 981 in 2004 to 982 in 2005. African-American students make up 5.5 percent of the overall student body.

“This is a welcome trend,” said Admissions Director Medley. “Our growth in African-American freshmen and Hispanic freshmen indicates that efforts to reach out and welcome a wider array of students are working. This is a development we are committed to building upon.”

The number of Hispanic students attending the university grew from 298 in 2004 to 372 in 2005, a 24.8 percent increase. Hispanic students make up 2.1 percent of the student body. According to a 2004 study on population projections conducted by the UA Center for Economic Research, the number of Hispanic residents in Northwest Arkansas has increased from 29,963 in 2000 to a projected 43,039 in 2005, an increase of more than 13,000 residents.

The numbers of Asian-American students and American Indian students fell slightly. Asian-Americans numbered 445, down from 458 last year. American Indian students numbered 327, down from 352.  Students who identified themselves as members of ethnic minorities grew overall from 2,089 to 2,126.

The number of students who declined to list an ethnicity increased from 380 to 562, nearly a 50 percent increase; they make up 3.2 percent of the student body.

Freshman ACT scores and average high school grade point average remained nearly unchanged. The average grade
point average of freshmen entering the university remained at 3.57 GPA, and the average ACT score fell slightly from 25.4 to 25.3.