CU Boulder sees record-breaking fall enrollment numbers

Sep. 26—The University of Colorado Boulder achieved its highest-ever enrollment numbers this fall, seeing a roughly 2.9% increase in students from fall 2022 and reaching a total enrollment of 37,153.

The increase is due to record-high retention rates and the largest-ever incoming class of in-state students.

"We are proud that CU Boulder continues to be a destination of choice for students and that our efforts to attract and retain diverse and talented students are succeeding," Chancellor Phil DiStefano said in a news release. "We're also attentive to the challenges posed by higher-than-expected enrollment and are committed to addressing the needs of students, faculty, staff and community members."

Finalized fall census data about the CU Boulder student population, including enrollment numbers, were released on Monday. Total enrollment is higher than recent projections largely due less "summer melt" than expected, or when high school students who are accepted to CU Boulder don't enroll.

Patrick O'Rourke, CU Boulder's chief operating officer, said this fall's enrollment class shows that predicting enrollment continues to be a challenge for higher education institutions as CU Boulder has more students enrolled this fall than it anticipated.

"We are identifying ways we can better predict incoming class sizes moving forward," O'Rourke said in a news release. "Our increase in resident students this year reflects that CU Boulder's world-class academic experience is an attractive option for both Coloradans and students from across the country."

CU Boulder has an undergraduate enrollment of 30,707 this fall, an increase of approximately 3.8% from fall 2022.

There are 7,546 first-year undergraduate students, with incoming female students representing more than 50% of the class, up from 49%. Students of color make up 30.4% of the class, up from 28.7%, and first-generation students account for 16.1%.

New Colorado resident first-year undergraduates accounted for a majority of total undergraduate growth, increasing 7.3% to 4,035 students. This class marks the largest incoming in-state class ever, surpassing the previous record of 3,762 in fall 2022.

This year's incoming cohort of in-state, first-year undergraduates sets all-time highs in the number of in-state students who identify as Black or African American at 172 students, American Indian or Alaska Native at 72 students, and Asian American at 588 students.

Transfer students increased 6.8% from fall 2022, an unexpected result that doesn't align with higher education trends, according to the news release. Colorado residents make up 62% of the transfer population.

Graduate student enrollment is at 6,446 students, a roughly 1.4% decrease from fall 2022.

Second-fall retention, which measures students retained after their first-year, hit 89.1% this fall. The previous record was 87.8% in 2021.

Enrollment changes will yield modest adjustments to preliminary budget projections, which will be reassessed with the new census data, according to the news release. CU Boulder's budget model dictates net tuition revenue, which funds mandatory costs, a strategic fund, schools and colleges and administrative support units.

To review full fall census data, visit colorado.edu/oda/student-data/enrollment/fall-census.