Graduate School Enrollment at University of Arkansas Grows, Sets Record

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Graduate School enrollment at the University of Arkansas totaled 3,407 students for the fall 2009 semester, an increase of 6.7 percent, and the highest number of graduate students in the university’s history. An additional 157 students are seeking a master’s degree, a 7.4 percent increase, and 67 more students enrolled to pursue doctoral degrees, an increase of 6.4 percent. In addition, 209 students are enrolled and taking graduate courses but are not seeking a degree, a 17.4 percent increase compared to the fall of 2008.

The College of Education and Health Professions remains the college with the greatest number of degree-seeking graduate students and also had the largest percentage increase at the university. A total of 1,014 students seeking master’s and doctoral degrees are enrolled in the college, an increase of 10.2 percent.

The J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences is the only college at the university to show a decline in graduate enrollment, but it still has the second largest number of degree seeking graduate students, 868. This is a decline of only 0.6 percent.

The College of Engineering has 687 degree-seeking students enrolled for the fall 2009 semester, an increase of 10.3 percent.

The Sam M. Walton College of Business also showed a substantial increase in graduate student enrollment, 9.7 percent, for a total of 317 degree-seeking students.

The Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences has 312 degree-seeking students enrolled, a 9.9 percent increase.

There are 199 degree-seeking students enrolled in interdisciplinary programs through the University of Arkansas Graduate School. This represents a 5.3 percent increase.