The University of Central Arkansas had a 10 percent increase in freshman enrollment, bringing the freshman class to 2,157 students for the fall of 2012, according to preliminary enrollment data. Total first-time undergraduate is up 197 students over the 1,960 mark in 2011. This increase marks the third straight year the first-time undergraduate enrollment has increased at UCA.
Despite the increase in the entering freshman, overall enrollment at UCA is down 0.5 percent. The university’s fall enrollment stands at 11,108, according to preliminary numbers. The fall enrollment for 2011 was 11,163.
University officials are encouraged by the third straight year of strong freshmen enrollment, said UCA President Tom Courtway.
“Over the past 18 months we have been working on a comprehensive enrollment management strategy and we have started to implement the plan and we are seeing the results, especially in our first-time undergraduate numbers. Moving forward, we will be doing more work on retention of these students and our graduate and international enrollment as well.”
Graduate student enrollment is 1,503, about 31 fewer graduate students than in the fall of 2011, according to preliminary numbers. Also, international student enrollment is 528 this fall as compared to 623 in 2011.
“The good news is our freshman enrollment has been up the last three years. We always need to make sure we are doing what we can to retain these students and keep them on track to graduate. We are excited about the future of our university and are off to a very good start this school year,” he said.
