KU achieves record-high enrollment for second straight year

Colleagues,

I am writing to share good news about enrollment at the University of Kansas.

For the second consecutive year, KU has achieved its highest overall enrollment in history, according to annual data released today by the Kansas Board of Regents.

KU’s enrollment has grown 1.3% to 31,169 students, eclipsing the previous all-time mark of 30,770 set last year. This includes a 1.2% increase at the Lawrence and Edwards campuses and a 1.9% increase at KU Medical Center.

This year’s record-setting enrollment includes the third-largest freshman class in KU history. Additionally, we have achieved record-high retention and graduation rates for returning Jayhawks and all-time high numbers of minority, military-affiliated and out-of-state students. I encourage you to read our full announcement to learn more.

Maintaining focus

Certainly, this is another special year for the University of Kansas. Both our overall enrollment and freshman class numbers confirm that talented students from across Kansas and the world continue to see the value of pursuing their education at a leading institution like KU.

Additionally, these numbers affirm the hard work you do to recruit students and support them as they pursue their degrees. Whether your work is in education, service, research, advising, donor relations, healthcare, facility maintenance, athletics or marketing, your efforts directly help us recruit and retain students. Each of you has contributed to our enrollment success, and for that, I thank you. We are also grateful to the alumni, donors, industry leaders and elected officials who have supported us in these efforts.

It is appropriate to pause and celebrate this year’s record-setting enrollment, but we must maintain focus on the work ahead. Higher education faces unprecedented challenges, including a projected national decline in enrollment in the coming years. Despite these headwinds, there are opportunities for universities that continue to be proactive and intentional. That’s why we must continue to pursue our strategic priorities in alignment with the Kansas Board of Regents, the needs of Kansas businesses and communities, and our aspirations as a member of the Association of American Universities. If we maintain this focus, I am confident KU will continue to succeed.

Looking ahead

We already are recruiting next year’s freshman class, and we encourage prospective students to apply by the Dec. 1 scholarship deadline. Additionally, prospective students are invited to our annual Crimson & Blue Day on Oct. 17. If you know any prospective students who are interested in becoming a Jayhawk, encourage them to mark this date on their calendars.

Again, thank you for your work to recruit students and help them succeed at KU.

Respectfully,

Doug

Douglas A. Girod
Chancellor