Iowa State University saw increased enrollment this fall alongside the University of Iowa and University of Northern Iowa. (Photo courtesy of Iowa State University)
Each of Iowa’s public universities saw increased enrollment this fall, according to numbers released Thursday offering a snapshot of incoming classes.
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa’s class of 2028 is its third-largest in the university’s history, according to a news release , unseating last year’s incoming class.
There are 5,208 undergraduates in the UI’s incoming class, as well as 1,083 undergraduate transfers and 1,419 new graduate and professional students. Total enrollment at the university adds up to 30,779 students, according to the release.
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The incoming undergraduate class has an average grade-point average of 3.83, tying it with last year, and 19% of students identify as their family’s first generation attending college. This is a 1% drop from 2023.
Just over 2,800 incoming students come from 92 of Iowa’s counties, and 45 U.S. states and territories and 46 countries are represented in the class. According to the release, more than half of the incoming class enrolled with at least one transfer college credit.
“The University of Iowa is excited to welcome a tremendous group of new students to campus this fall,” said Brent Gage, associate vice president for enrollment management, in the release. “After receiving a record number of applications, the enrollment management team partnered with faculty and staff from across campus to enroll this talented group of students. We are confident this class will thrive both in and out of the classroom as they become part of the Iowa campus community.”
Iowa State University
Iowa State once again has the largest incoming class of the three universities at 5,906 students, an increase of almost 50 students from last year and a 16% increase over the past five years, according to a news release . Total enrollment increased by 255 at the university to a total of 30,432. That includes 25,628 undergraduates, 4,170 graduate students and 634 veterinary students — with students coming from every Iowa county and U.S. state, as well as 116 countries.
About 20% of ISU first-year students identify as first-generation, according to the release, and just under 23% are Pell Grant-eligible students. More than three-quarters of first-year students are receiving scholarships and grants this fall, as well as 72% of undergraduates. The average grade-point average of incoming students is 3.75.
According to the release, these increases in enrollment can be attributed to “growing interest in Iowa State’s STEM programs and degrees of the future.”
“Students recognize Iowa State University as a leader in innovation and for opportunities to take on leadership roles, conduct undergraduate research and gain hands-on experience in preparing for their future careers,” said ISU President Wendy Wintersteen in the release.
University of Northern Iowa
The University of Northern Iowa’s incoming freshman class totals 1,546 students, an increase of just over 20 students from last year and a 7.7% bump from 2022, according to a news release . The university’s overall enrollment, totaling 9,283 students, is an almost 3% increase from 2023.
It is also the first time UNI has seen increases in enrollment over consecutive years since 2009 and 2010, the release stated. Of the 778 transfer students signed up for UNI this fall, more than 75% are coming from one of the state’s community colleges. The university’s UNI@IACC program has seen its enrollment nearly double since its launch in 2022, with 484 students enrolled this fall.
Ninety percent of all UNI students are coming from Iowa, with every county represented, and the rest hail from 42 states and 47 countries. More than one-third of incoming freshmen identify as first-generation, according to the release.
UNI is also seeing its largest graduate student population since 2018 with a total enrollment of 1,567, a more than 22% increase from 2023. Almost 3,200 students have signed up for housing this fall, increasing by 2.5% compared to last year and 10.3% from 2022.
“Our enrollment and housing numbers speak to the high level of student satisfaction that we strive to provide at UNI,” said UNI President Mark Nook in the release. “Our faculty and staff are implementing innovative ideas that are improving the quality of our student experience. Whether it’s offering new academic programs, delivering unique hands-on learning opportunities or serving the best farm-fresh campus food in Iowa, the University of Northern Iowa continues evolving to meet the needs of our students, as well as Iowa’s economy and the workforce in our state.”
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