UW Fall Semester Enrollment Declines Slightly

October 11, 2013
Group of people sitting outside
University of Wyoming students congregate on UW’s Fraternity Mall during the annual President’s Welcome Barbecue earlier this semester. UW’s fall semester enrollment is down slightly from 2012. (UW Photo)

After enrolling a record number of students last year, the University of Wyoming reports a slight enrollment decline for the fall semester of 2013.

UW census data collected on the 15th class day show 12,928 students enrolled, a decrease of 194 students, or 1.5 percent, from the 2012 fall semester. The 15th class day is used because it falls after the class drop/add deadlines, and after the first tuition and fee payment is due.

After all UW Outreach School enrollments are recorded by the end of the semester, the university’s total fall semester enrollment should be nearly 14,000, says Sara Axelson, vice president for student affairs.

New freshman enrollment is essentially stable, with 1,581 new freshmen this year compared to 1,584 last year. The average high school grade point average of the freshman class rose substantially, from 3.48 last year to 3.67 this year.

“We’re very encouraged to see the increase in average GPA,” Axelson says. “This most likely indicates an increase in student preparation for success in the classroom.”

For the sixth consecutive year, UW’s international student enrollment has increased. Some 815 international students are studying at UW, a 3.3 percent rise from last year. The racial and ethnic minority population also has increased to 10.3 percent of the student body, rising 5.4 percent to 1,335 students.

Other highlights from the fall 2013 enrollment report:

--The number of new transfer students from Wyoming is stable, with a slight decrease for transfers from out of state. The total number of new transfers is 1,083.

--Graduate and professional degree-seeking student enrollment stayed even at 2,420 students.

--The number of new freshmen from Colorado increased by 15 students to 398.

--Undergraduate enrollment in UW’s Outreach School decreased by 39 students to 1,555, while Outreach School graduate and professional student enrollment increased by 65 to 654 students.

For additional information or questions about UW enrollment, contact Axelson at saxelson@uwyo.edu or (307) 766-5123. Students interested in scheduling a campus visit should contact UW Admissions at 800-DIAL-WYO or go online at https://www.uwyo.edu/admissions/visit/index.html.

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