The University of Colorado Boulder welcomed its most academically qualified and diverse incoming freshman class in the campus鈥檚 history this fall, setting records for the second consecutive year.听
The fall enrollment includes more second-year students as 86 percent of freshmen returned to campus for their second year, representing a 2 percentage point increase in retention and an important step toward meeting Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano鈥檚 goal of 80 percent of students graduating in six years.
Fall 2015 census figures show a total campus enrollment of 31,300 students at 抖阴旅行射-Boulder, which is an increase of 1,035 or 3.4 percent over last year.听This includes 30,789 degree- and licensure-seeking students and 511 non-degree students with state reportable hours.听(All figures below refer only to the degree-seeking population).
This year鈥檚 incoming class is the strongest ever on all measures of academic qualification. The average ACT composite score is 26.9, up from 26.8 last year; and the average SAT total score increased to 1188 from 1180. The average high school GPA increased slightly, from 3.58 to 3.62. 听Meantime, 1,568 incoming freshmen reported 4.0 or greater high school GPAs, up from 1,364 last year.
The academic qualifications of Colorado resident freshmen were particularly strong with the average ACT composite score of 26.9, up from 26.8; SAT scores of 1222, up from 1213; and high school GPA of 3.68, up from 3.67 last year. A total of 981 Colorado freshmen were awarded Esteemed Scholarships based on high school grades and SAT/ACT scores, up from 791 when the program started in 2013. 听听
鈥淲e are excited to welcome these scholars to our campus,鈥� DiStefano said. 鈥淭he talent and diversity of these students reflect our strategic focus on student success 鈥� from the admissions process through graduation.鈥�
For out-of-state students, 526 were awarded Chancellor鈥檚 Achievement Scholarships, up from 427 in 2014; and 115 were awarded Presidential Scholarships, up from 102 last year.
The number of ethnic minority students reached an all-time record at 6,464, comprised of 5,763 undergraduates, 1,510 of whom are new freshmen; and 701 graduate students, up from 642 last year.
Undergraduate degree-seeking U.S. students of color increased by 8 percent, with 404 more ethnic minority students enrolled than last year. The number of Native American students increased by 14 percent, Asian American students by 5 percent, and African-Americans and Hispanics each by 8 percent.
Freshmen students of color increased overall by 65 students, or 4 percent, over fall 2014 with increases of 9 percent (57 students) among Hispanics, 39 percent (31 students) among American Indian/Native Americans, 5 percent (7 students) among African Americans. The number of Asian- American freshmen declined by 7 percent (34 students).听 Of new freshmen, 24.3 percent are ethnic minorities, compared to 24.6 percent in the 2014 class.
First-generation college student status is another measure of diversity.听 A total of 1,113 new 2015 freshmen are first-generation college students, or 17.9 percent, compared to 911 freshmen in 2013, or 15.6 percent.听 (First-generation data for 2014 are unavailable due to data limitations in that year鈥檚 Common Application, used by most 抖阴旅行射-Boulder applicants.)
鈥淚t is an honor to welcome these Buffs to campus to begin what we hope will be a legacy of higher education for generations to come,鈥� DiStefano said. 鈥淓ducation opens doors and we are thrilled so many first-generation students are choosing to study here. We are committed to supporting them on their journey.鈥�
The class of 6,208 is also the largest ever, with 339 more freshmen than in 2014, representing a 6 percent increase.
A total of 3,298 Colorado residents enrolled as new freshmen in the fall class, as well as 2,910 out-of-state students. A record 428 freshman are international students, a 13 percent increase from last year.听
New transfer students decreased 15 percent from 1,316 to 1,119 this year. Of these, 656 are Colorado residents and 463 are out-of-state.
Graduate-level degree-seeking main campus enrollment totals 5,305, an increase of 351 students compared to 2014. Continuing graduate students increased by 167 students over last year, and new graduate level enrollments increased by 184, with 1,596 new graduate students this fall compared to 1,412 in 2014.听
The 抖阴旅行射-Boulder College of Arts and Sciences enrolled by far the majority of new freshmen, with 4,271 students. The College of Engineering and Applied Science enrolled 901, and the Leeds School of Business enrolled 643.听 The new College of Media, Communication and Information enrolled 215 freshmen.
Most popular majors for undergraduates are integrative physiology (1,741 majors), psychology (1,550), mechanical engineering (968), economics (840), and finance (813).
Contact:
Julie Poppen, 抖阴旅行射 Boulder media relations, 303-492-4007
julie.poppen@colorado.edu
