University of Arkansas Enrollment Grows by 5.8 Percent, Sets New Record

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Preliminary enrollment figures for the University of Arkansas, based on the required “11^th day report,” show a total of 24,537 students, an increase of 1,138 students, or 5.8 percent growth over the record 2011 enrollment. 

The state of Arkansas requires colleges and universities to take an enrollment “snapshot” of students who are registered on the 11th day of classes, which was Sept. 4 this year. These figures are processed and a preliminary report must be sent to the state by Sept. 19, with a final tally due in mid-October. There are often minor differences between the preliminary report and the final enrollment numbers, but the changes are rarely significant.

Undergraduate enrollment is 20,349 students, a 6.9 percent increase from 2011, and marks the first time there have been more than 20,000 undergraduates on the Fayetteville campus. In 2009 the total enrollment for the U of A was less than 20,000 students.

“These totals reflect the university’s growing reputation — in Arkansas and across the nation — for academic excellence and student-centeredness,” said Chancellor G. David Gearhart. “That reputation was underscored last week, when U.S. News & World Report’s ‘Best Colleges’ publication released its national survey of higher education leaders. Those leaders selected the University of Arkansas as one of the nation’s top 10 ‘up and coming’ public universities. Our growth — both in quality and numbers — is evidence that students, parents and high school guidance counselors recognize the great strides the U of A has made over the last several years.” 

A significant part of the overall enrollment growth can be found in the increased number of continuing students, those making positive progress toward graduation. This fall there were 13,552 continuing undergraduates, an increase of 1,324 students, or 10.8 percent more than last year.

“The academic quality of University of Arkansas students has steadily improved over the last several years,” said Suzanne McCray, vice provost for enrollment management and dean of admissions. “We are setting records. Just this year, more than 32 percent of the freshman class was in the top 10 percent of their graduating class. More than 17 percent had an ACT score of 30 or higher. Thirty-seven percent had a high school GPA of 3.75 or higher. We are recruiting students who will succeed. We expect this trend to continue and to drive our growth through retention for years to come.”

The university once again enrolled a record size class of first-time degree-seeking freshmen, 4,571 students, a relatively modest 2.8 percent increase over the 2011 figure. The number of first-time degree-seeking graduate students, 1,111 students, is also a school record and an increase of 5.9 percent. Overall graduate student enrollment is 3,784 students.

A total of 5,616 students received Academic Challenge Scholarships — the “lottery scholarships” from the state — with traditional incoming freshmen making up 80 percent of the of the students receiving these scholarships. “Current achievers,” students who received their scholarships while already enrolled at the University of Arkansas, made up 10.9 percent of the scholarship recipients.

The preliminary report shows that the U of A is a more diverse campus than ever before. Minority student enrollment increased by 10.4 percent over last year, and minority students now make up 17.2 percent of the total student population. Latino student enrollment showed the greatest increase, 233 students, or a 21.8 percent growth. African American enrollment increased by 23 students, a 2.6 percent increase. The Latino student population is now the largest minority group on campus, making up 5.3 percent of the total campus population. African American students now make up 5.2 percent of the total enrollment.

Men make up 50.3 percent and women 49.7 percent of the total student enrollment, but for the first time in U of A history there are more undergraduate women than men: 23 more, according to the preliminary numbers.

The full preliminary 11th day enrollment report can be found on the University of Arkansas Institutional Research website.