AUSTIN, Texas —Enrollment at The University of Texas at Austin is 50,010 this fall — a total that indicates the University may retain its ranking as the largest single-campus institution in the country.
The total includes 38,184 undergraduate, 10,420 graduate and 1,406 law students. This represents a 2 percent increase over last fall’s total of 49,009.
The increase is primarily the result of larger than expected fall freshmen enrollment (from 6,427 in fall 1999 to 6,664 this fall) and a nearly doubling of summer provisional students (from 470 to 904). As a result of this doubling, the University is in the process of redesigning the provisional program.
“It is clear the University attracts the best and brightest students in increasing numbers, and we are working hard to retain these students at increasing rates. We must continue to provide a high quality undergraduate experience for our students. This means we need to manage our enrollments and enhance our faculty and facility resources whenever possible,” said Dr. Larry R. Faulkner, president of UT Austin. Faulkner also noted the continuing success in reaching students from all parts of Texas.
The number of entering African American freshmen increased to 296 (up by 10 students or 3.5 percent), Asian American to 1,324 (up 103 or 8.4 percent), and Hispanic to 1,011(up 35 or 3.6 percent). The total number of entering freshmen is 7,685, about a 9 percent increase over last year’s figure.
The number of entering freshmen in the top 10 percent of their high school graduating class this fall is 47.2 percent, slightly higher than last year’s figure of 45.2 percent.
“There are some really outstanding students in this freshman class from all parts of Texas, the United States and many foreign countries. To have a freshman class with high academic credentials and this ethnic and cultural mix is a strong statement about the world¬class role UT Austin holds in higher education,” according to Bruce Walker, associate vice president and director of admissions.
New graduate student enrollment was slightly lower this fall at 3,036, a decrease of about 1 percent. The number of entering African American graduate students increased to 70 (up by 7 students or 11.1 percent), while Asian American enrollment dropped to 146 (down 41 or 21.9 percent), and Hispanic to 178 (down 19 or 9.6 percent). This fall’s entering law class enrolled eight more African American students than in fall 1999 (up to 17 students), and 13 more Hispanic students (up to 55 students).
University-wide the enrollment distribution by racial/ethnic group is: White, 62.7 percent; American Indian, 0.5 percent; African American, 3.2 percent; Asian American, 12.5 percent; Hispanic, 11.8 percent, foreign, 8.6 percent; and unknown, 0.7 percent.
These data are preliminary 12th class day numbers issued by the Office of Institutional Studies. Final figures for the 12th class day will be available in October, but there usually is little variation from the preliminary figures.
Entering freshmen and graduate students include those students who first enrolled in the summer and are continuing in the fall, as well as new fall entrants. For a breakdown of preliminary enrollment totals, see the chart at www.utexas.edu/admin/opa/news/00newsreleases/nr_200009/enrollment2.html
