University of Arkansas Enrollment Sets New Records for Number and Diversity of Students

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Enrollment at the University of Arkansas increased 4 percent for the fall 2007 semester, setting a campus record for total enrollment at the state’s largest institution for higher education. Total enrollment at the end of the 11^th day of classes was 18,647 students, an increase of 721 students overall. This marks the largest percentage increase since 2004. Enrollment of minority students also hit an all-time high in every category, with Hispanic American, American Indian and African American students showing the largest percentage increases.

“This fall's enrollment sets a new record for the university and, in comparison with previous years, represents a significant increase, which bodes well for the state of Arkansas,” said Chancellor John A. White. “The growth in enrollment is due to the concerted effort the university has made to recruit students to this campus. Our admissions staff and graduate school staff have worked very hard and very well in the past year. Our campaign to recruit minority students in Arkansas is definitely paying off in both the number and the quality of our students. This year, for example, we welcomed twice as many Silas Hunt Scholars to campus as in 2006. In addition, after a little more than a year we can see the effects of our campaign with Advantage Communications Incorporated to attract more African American and Hispanic American students to our campus.

“The 18,000 number is a threshold that needed to be reached and crossed. Now, as we increase the number of residence halls on campus, open new classrooms and prepare to build more, we are on course to reach the aggressive enrollment goals that we set for 2010. At the same time enrollment increases, we will continue to concentrate on increasing the diversity of our student body, the academic qualifications of new students, and the university’s six-year graduation rate.”

Overall, the number of degree-seeking undergraduate students is up by 4.1 percent, to a total of 14,441. Graduate student enrollment is up 3.8 percent, 3,137 degree-seeking students, while Law School enrollment has declined by 6.3 percent to 403 degree-seeking students.

The total number of in-state undergraduate students was up 0.6 percent, with 11,002 degree-seeking students enrolled. In-state students make up 76.3 percent of the undergraduate population. The number of out-of-state undergraduates hit a new record of 3,088 students, a 17.5 percent increase over last year. Out-of- state enrollment has increased steadily over the past nine years. International student enrollment is up 13 percent to 331 undergraduates.

The number of in-state graduate students also showed a substantial increase, 5.3 percent over 2006, with a total of 1,848 degree-seeking students. Non-resident graduate students showed an 8.1 percent increase, 717 students, while there was a 5.1 percent drop in the number of international graduate students, to 572 students.  

The incoming freshman class set new records for both enrollment and academic achievement. The number of degree-seeking freshmen total 2,900, a 4.2 percent increase over last year.

 The incoming freshman class boasts an average ACT score of 25.8, the highest yet at the university. Their grade point average is 3.59, the second highest average after the record-setting class that enrolled in 2003 with a 3.60 average.

“We’re excited to welcome the biggest and best freshman class in all of Arkansas,” said admissions director Dawn Medley. “We work hard to recruit the best students to the University of Arkansas. It helps that students from Arkansas and many other states recognize the national reputation that a degree from the University of Arkansas carries.  We couldn’t be happier.”

In-state enrollment grew slightly for incoming freshmen, up 0.2 percent from last year, a total of 1,921 degree-seeking students, while a steady trend in non-resident enrollment increases continued with a jump of 16.5 percent, to 940 students. However, only 39 international students enrolled in the freshman class, a drop of 33.9 percent. In-state students make up 66.2 percent of the new freshman class.

The University of Arkansas showed definite gains in enrolling minority students. Total enrollment of African American students reached the highest level in at least nine years, 1,023 students, an increase of 8.1 percent. African American students now make up 5.5 percent of the total enrollment, up from 5.3 percent last year.  In the freshman class, African American enrollment jumped by 29.6 percent over last year to 140 degree-seeking students, the largest number since 2002.

Hispanic American enrollment increased by 17.9 percent overall, to a record total of 527 students. Hispanic Americans now make up 2.8 percent of the student body, and 3.4 percent of the degree-seeking freshmen.

 Asian American enrollment also increased, showing a 5.8 percent gain overall, and a 14.7 percent increase in the freshman class. Asian American students make up 2.5 percent of the student body, and 3 percent of the freshman class.

American Indian students also posted a substantial 10.1 percent increase in total enrollment, and a 5.1 percent increase in the freshman class. American Indian students make up 1.9 percent of the student population and 2.1 percent of the freshman class.

In terms of gender diversity, the University of Arkansas remains almost equally divided between males and females. 50.7 percent of the students are men, 49.3 percent are women.

The J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences continues to have the largest enrollment, with 7,105 students, graduate and undergraduate, an increase of 4.1 percent from last year.

The Sam M. Walton College of Business has the next largest enrollment, with 3,435 students, an increase of 2.7 percent from 2006.

The College of Education and Health Professions has the third largest enrollment, with a total enrollment of 3,166 students, a 6.3 percent increase over last year.

The College of Engineering has 2,194 students enrolled, a 5.5 percent increase.

The Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences has an enrollment of 1,615, an increase of 0.7 percent.

The School of Architecture has a total enrollment of 397 undergraduate students, a 7.6 percent increase over 2006.

The state of Arkansas requires institutions of higher education to report enrollment figures for students who are registered on the 11^th day of classes. The enrollment numbers are not officially reported to the state until Oct. 17, and there are often minor differences between the 11^th day “snapshot” and the final enrollment numbers.