As students, faculty and staff begin a new academic year, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater continues to see steady enrollment growth across both of its campuses.
According to projections released Tuesday by the Universities of Wisconsin, 12,075 students are enrolled at UW-Whitewater for the fall 2025 semester. This is a nearly 3% increase from the final fall 2024 enrollment of 11,752.
At the Whitewater campus, 11,303 students are enrolled, compared to 11,042 last year. At the Rock County campus, 772 students are enrolled, compared to 710.
The freshman class is the largest in a decade — 2,459 new freshmen are enrolled.
“At UW-Whitewater, we are marking three consecutive years of enrollment growth,” said Chancellor Corey King. “We are thrilled to welcome new students, both first-year and transfers, to the Warhawk family and excited for those who are continuing their college journey with us. Our commitment to student success aligns with our institutional mission of academic excellence, inclusivity, access, and affordability which continues to resonate with students and their families.”
“In addition to our increase in new freshmen, another area we are seeing growth is in the number of college students transferring to UW-Whitewater,” said Jackie Briggs, assistant vice chancellor for enrollment and retention. “About 660 students transferred to UW-Whitewater from other institutions this fall, compared to 540 last year. Data shows they experience strong outcomes after becoming members of the Warhawk family. We have one of the top retention rates in Wisconsin for transfer students at 84.6%.”
Briggs said UW-Whitewater has an exceptional reputation across the state and new programs like Direct Admit Wisconsin allow the university to reach an even wider audience.
UW-Whitewater is home to Wisconsin’s largest accredited school of business and licenses more new teachers than any other university in Wisconsin. More than 80 undergraduate majors — including newer programs like cybersecurity and health and leadership studies — and 24 graduate programs are now offered at UW-Whitewater.
On the Rock County campus, three bachelor’s degree programs are driving increases in enrollment — the online Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences, which offers a flexible degree completion pathway for students who hold an applied associate degree from a technical college; the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a collaborative degree program in partnership with Edgewood College; and the Bachelor of Science in Medical Sciences, which offers emphases in diagnostic sonography and radiologic technology.
Students enrolled in programs on the Rock County campus have the option to live in university housing on the Whitewater campus.
“This is a unique opportunity that sets UW-Whitewater apart and draws students from a larger geographic area than in the past. Nearly 180 Rock County students are living in Whitewater campus housing this fall, compared to about 140 last year,” said Tricia Clasen, assistant vice chancellor of the Rock County campus and dean of the College of Integrated Studies.
The figures released by the Universities of Wisconsin represent projected enrollment based on data from the first day of classes. The university’s official census will take place on the 10th day of instruction (Sept.15).
Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by UW-Whitewater.
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Preliminary enrollment up at eight of the Universities of Wisconsin while holding steady overall
MADISON, Wis.—Enrollment at eight of the Universities of Wisconsin this fall increased, according to preliminary estimates based on Day One student counts as overall enrollment held steady.
New freshman enrollment is up three percent, or nearly 900 students, according to the preliminary estimates — with eight universities showing new freshman enrollment increases of five percent or more.
However, significant declines in international students are a likely reason overall enrollment remained steady and did not increase. International enrollment could drop as much as 15 percent at U.S. colleges nationwide, according to NAFSA: Association of International Educators and JB International.
“We are seeing positive signs on enrollment for the third straight year,” said Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman. “New freshman enrollment is particularly promising. It’s a win when our state’s public universities continue to attract and retain talent Wisconsin will need to prosper.”
Overall, enrollment is 164,340 in fall 2025, according to the preliminary estimates, down 96 students from the final 2024 fall enrollment counts.
Eight of 13 universities showed increases under the preliminary enrollments. The Universities of Wisconsin have been providing enrollment estimates based on Day One counts since fall 2020. Official enrollment counts will be released later this fall based on the 10th day of enrollment.
Rothman said the numbers are a positive sign that Direct Admit Wisconsin is attracting new students to the universities. The program’s first cohort of students enrolled this fall. Direct Admit Wisconsin offers automatic admission to qualified high school students without requiring an application.
The Wisconsin Tuition Promise also appears to be making an impact, Rothman said. The program for the fall 2025 cohort provides tuition and fees for students from families earning less than $55,000 after scholarships and other financial aid is considered.
The preliminary headcount enrollments for fall 2025 are:
- UW-Eau Claire: 9,498
- UW-Green Bay: 11,500
- UW-La Crosse: 10,627
- UW-Madison: 51,550
- UW-Milwaukee: 22,613
- UW-Oshkosh: 12,457
- UW-Parkside: 3,895
- UW-Platteville: 6,406
- UW-River Falls: 5,275
- UW-Stevens Point: 8,538
- UW-Stout: 7,047
- UW-Superior: 2,859
- UW-Whitewater: 12,075
- Total: 164,340
The Universities of Wisconsin serve approximately 164,400 students. Awarding nearly 36,000 degrees annually, these 13 public universities are Wisconsin’s talent pipeline, putting graduates in position to increase their earning power, contribute to their communities, and make Wisconsin a better place to live. Nearly 90 percent of in-state Universities of Wisconsin graduates stay in the state five years after earning a degree. The universities provide a 23:1 return on state investment. The Universities of Wisconsin also contribute to the richness of Wisconsin’s culture and economy with groundbreaking research, new companies and patents, and boundless creative intellectual energy. Learn more at wisconsin.edu.
Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by the Universities of Wisconsin.
