AUSTIN, Texas—Enrollment at The University of Texas at Austin reached an all-time high of 52,273 this fall because of increases in the number of entering freshmen and graduate students, and increases in the retention of undergraduate students.
This year’s enrollment represents a 3.3 percent increase over last year’s previous record enrollment of 50,616. Based on enrollment, The University of Texas at Austin is the largest single-campus institution in the nation.
This fall’s enrollment includes 39,669 undergraduate, 11,117 graduate and 1,487 law students.
Undergraduate continuing student counts grew from 27,845 in fall 2001 to 28,676 this fall. There were also increases in the number of first-time freshmen (from 7,337 to 7,936), new graduate students (from 3,112 to 3,394), and graduate continuing students (from 7,250 to 7,533).
“We continue to make progress in retaining undergraduate students at increasing rates,” said Larry R. Faulkner, president of The University of Texas at Austin. “While the majority of the undergraduate enrollment increase is due to a larger entering class, a substantial proportion of this growth is due to our retention success. New and continuing graduate student increases have also contributed to this record-setting total.”
University-wide enrollment increased for the following racial/ethnic groups: African American to 1,675 (from 1,606 in fall 2001); American Indian 217 (203); Asian American 7,285 (6,701); Hispanic 6,408 (6,089); white 31,460 (31,047); foreign 4,738 (4,487); unknown 490 (483).
The number of African American entering freshmen increased to 272 (up 30 or 12.4 percent), American Indian to 35 (up 1 or 2.9 percent), Asian American to 1,451 (up 38 or 2.7 percent), Hispanic to 1,138 (up 114 or 11.1 percent), white to 4,882 (up 435 or 9.8 percent), and foreign to 158 (up 19 or 13.7 percent). The total number of entering freshmen is 7,936, an 8.2 percent increase from last year’s figure, making this the largest entering class in the university’s history.
The number of freshmen entering under House Bill 588, the top 10 percent law, is 49.4 percent this fall, somewhat higher than last year’s figure of 46.4 percent. When all freshmen are considered, even those not eligible for admission under House Bill 588, 53 percent of entering freshmen were in the top 10 percent of their high school graduating class, compared with 50.3 percent last fall.
New graduate student enrollment was higher this fall at 3,394, an increase of 9.1 percent. African American student enrollment increased to 76 (up by 20 students or 35.7 percent), Asian American to 219 (up 41 or 23.0 percent), Hispanic to 254 (up 28 or 12.4 percent), white to 1,810 (up 125 or 7.4 percent) and foreign to 916 (up by 45 or 5.2 percent). New graduate enrollment for American Indian students decreased by one, from nine to eight. This fall’s entering School of Law class enrolled six more African American students than in fall 2001 (up to 22 students), six more Asian American students (up to 36 students), and one more Hispanic student (up to 51 students).
These data are preliminary 12th class day numbers issued by the university’s Office of Institutional Research. Final figures for the 12th class day will be available in October, but there is usually little variation from the preliminary figures.
Note: 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 more information contact: Don Hale, 512-471-3151.
