AUSTIN, Texas—The University of Texas at Austin student population is becoming more ethnically diverse, according to a preliminary enrollment analysis for the fall 2007 semester showing that proportional representation on campus increased to record high numbers for Hispanic, Asian American and foreign students.
Kristi Fisher, associate vice provost and director of The University of Texas at Austin’s Office of Information Management and Analysis, said the preliminary report also shows the university’s fall semester total enrollment at 50,201 students, an increase of one percent (504 students) over the 49,697 student population last fall.
Fisher said the preliminary figures reflect 12th class day numbers and that final figures for the 12th class day will be available in October. There is usually little variation from preliminary figures, she said.
The report shows undergraduate enrollment increased by 451 students (1.2 percent) and graduate student enrollment (including Pharm. D.) increased by 88 (0.8 percent) but that enrollment in the university’s School of Law decreased by 35 students (-2.7 percent).
The proportional representation at the university this fall semester includes: Hispanics 15.6 percent (compared to 15 percent last year); Asian Americans 15 percent (14.4 percent last year); African Americans 4.2 percent (3.9 percent last year) and foreign students 9.1 percent (8.9 percent last year). The proportional population figures showed decreases for white students (55.1 percent this fall semester compared to 56.6 last year) and American Indian students (0.4 percent this fall compared to 0.5 percent last year). There are 342 students for whom ethnicity is not known, a decrease of 27 (-7.3 percent) over last fall.
The 50,201 enrollment total this fall includes 27,663 white, 7,813 Hispanic, 7,512 Asian American, 4,550 foreign, 2,107 African American and 214 American Indian students, according to the preliminary report.
Information about first-time freshmen in the report showed an increase in the number of first-time freshmen (up by 68 to 7,485). This figure includes those freshmen who entered in the summer and continued this fall, as well as new fall entrants. In the entering freshman class from Texas high schools, 71 percent were admitted under House Bill 588 (the Texas Top 10 Percent Law).
A strong indicator of the trend toward greater ethnic diversity on campus is the information about first-time freshmen. The enrollment figures increased for all ethnic groups except white, foreign and American Indian. The proportional representation increased for Asian American (17.9 percent to 19.7 percent), Hispanic (18.7 percent to 19.7 percent), and African American (5.2 percent to 5.8 percent).
Undergraduate transfer enrollment decreased by 36 (-1.6 percent) to 2,253. This figure includes 634 students who entered under the Coordinated Admission Program. The proportional representation for transfer students increased for Asian American students (12.0 percent to 14.5 percent), African American students (2.1 percent to 3.2 percent), and foreign students (14.2 percent to 14.5 percent).
The number of undergraduate continuing students increased from 26,606 in fall 2006 to 27,013 this fall, an increase of 407 students (1.5 percent). The number of re-entering students increased by 12 (1.7 percent) to 737. Though there was a slight decrease in the retention rate in the freshman to sophomore years (from 92.6 percent in fall 2006 to 91.9 percent), over the same period of time there were increases in sophomore to junior year retention (from 86.9 percent to 87.8 percent) and in junior to senior year retention (81.0 percent to 82.0 percent). Four-year graduation rates increased from 48.1 percent to 50.9 percent, five-year graduation rates increased from 72.5 percent to 73.0 percent and six-year graduation rates increased from 76.9 percent to 77.4 percent.
Graduate student enrollment (excluding law) increased by 88 students (0.8 percent) to 11,441. The number of new graduate students (fall and summer combined) increased by 63 (or 1.9 percent) to 3,346. Graduate continuing students increased by 42 (or 0.5 percent) and graduate re-entering students dropped by 17 (or -9.1 percent).
Proportional representation among graduate students remained somewhat stable, with slight increases for Asian American (7.2 percent to 7.9 percent) and Hispanic (7.7 percent to 8.3 percent) and a decrease for white (53.7 percent to 52.9 percent) and foreign (26.6 percent to 26.1 percent).
Total law school enrollment decreased by 35 (-2.7 percent) and new law school enrollment decreased by 29 students (-5.9 percent). There were large decreases for Hispanic (31 or -13.7 percent) and white (24 or -3.0 percent) Law students.
For more information contact: Robert D. Meckel, Office of Public Affairs, 512-475-7847.
