University of Kentucky sets records for enrollment, graduation rate this year
The University of Kentucky expects to set several records with its student body this fall, including historic numbers of freshmen and its highest graduation rate, according to preliminary enrollment numbers.
The first-year class has 6,120 students enrolled, the largest freshman class in the university’s history, President Eli Capilouto said at Friday’s board of trustees meeting. Overall, early numbers show a student body of 32,955 students for the fall 2022 semester. Enrollment numbers will be finalized later this fall.
Capilouto said these early numbers all point to helping create a stronger Kentucky.
“This report depicts with clarity and purpose, with commitment and a sense of progress, how we’re growing to meet the needs of our state and our future,” Capilouto said.
Freshman enrollment increased by nearly 30% this year, and overall student enrollment is up up more than 1,400 students or 4.5% from last fall.
Additionally, UK’s student body is more diverse this year. Students of color and underrepresented minorities increased 7% from last year’s enrollment. This year, more than 16% of the UK student body are underrepresented minorities or students of color, Capilouto said.
Nearly 25% of UK’s freshman class are first-generation students, and 18% are students of color.
“We do have more work to do, but we are making progress,” Capilouto said.
UK’s graduation rate
Additionally, UK’s six-year graduation rate is 69% for the fall 2016, a record for the school, which Capilouto said is “on the verge of a significant milestone.” In 2020, less than 100 higher education institutions had a six-year graduation rate greater than 70%, he said.
The graduation rate is 10 percentage points higher than it was for the fall 2006 cohort of students. Additionally, UK awarded more than 7,500 degrees last school year.
“What you are seeing is a testament to a community that cares, a community that is committed to students in everything that we do,” Capilouto said. “That is how we can advance Kentucky. When we help students succeed, we are laying the foundation for a more successful Commonwealth, now and for generations into the future.”
The record enrollment at UK comes as national enrollment at colleges and universities has been declining. Earlier this year, enrollment nationwide was continuing to decline, and postsecondary institutions had lost almost 1.3 million students since the spring 2020 semester, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
Of those enrollment declines, public colleges and universities lost the most students, according to the research.