Campus News

UK Freshman Class Sets Records

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 13, 2010) − Preliminary enrollment figures at the University of Kentucky show this fall's freshman class is the most academically prepared in the institution’s history even as record numbers of students apply and enroll at UK.

Overall, undergraduate, graduate and professional enrollment at UK totals 27,951 this year – a record high -- up 2.9 percent from last year. Not only are more students applying to UK, but more are succeeding as a result of the university’s "War on Attrition." The preliminary data suggest that UK's retention rate has hit an all time high of 81.8 percent. The previous record was 81 percent in 2007.

This year's freshman class totals 4,326, up from 4,153 last year, and is the best prepared to succeed of any first year class at UK with a record 25.2 ACT composite average, up from 24.7 last year. The average high school GPA also is at an all-time high at 3.60, up from 3.52 last year, and the number of freshmen with an ACT score over 26 sets a new record at 1,886.

UK also set another record for applications at 13,537, up 11 percent over 2009, and applications from out-of-state markets all increased from the last four years. The university experienced significant success in key out of state recruitment markets, and 44 states are represented in the freshman class, four more than last year.

“We are extremely proud to welcome the most academically talented first-year class in UK history," said UK President Lee T. Todd Jr. "Our composite ACT score went up dramatically, which is a reflection of the growing academic reputation of UK in Kentucky and nationally. It also speaks to the hard work done by our Office of Admissions. Our Admissions team works hard throughout the year to bring the best and brightest from across Kentucky and beyond to UK."

The freshman class also experienced a significant increase in diversity. Enrollment of Hispanic students is up 28 percent to 111. African-American enrollment also showed an increase compared to last year. In fall 2009, 403 African-American freshmen enrolled at UK. This fall, UK has 412 new freshmen who identified Black or African American as at least one of the categories to describe their race/ethnicity.

 

The option to self-identify using more than one race/ethnicity category is a new method of collecting race/ethnicity data mandated by the federal government for all future reporting. Because of the new race/ethnicity reporting method, exact comparisons with previous years are no longer possible.

Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Don Witt is pleased with the class of 2010. "This success is the result of the collaborative efforts of our dedicated UK staff, faculty and students," said Witt. "We have an excellent Enrollment Management team and they should be very proud of their accomplishments. We look forward to building on this momentum as we work to recruit the fall 2011 class and beyond.”

More students are transferring to UK from other higher education institutions. New transfers number 1,147, up 10 percent from last year. Transfers from Bluegrass Community and Technical College are up 11 percent and transfers increased 13 percent from the entire Kentucky Community and Technical College System.

"We have worked diligently to streamline the transfer process from the community colleges to the University of Kentucky, and those efforts are proving successful," said UK Provost Kumble Subbaswamy.

 

Graduate enrollment fell slightly to 5,411 according to preliminary data. However, UK has a record enrollment of 2,206 for students seeking a research doctorate. The colleges of Arts and Sciences, Engineering and Fine Arts are seeing a record number of research doctoral students.

“The University of Kentucky continues to aim for research doctoral production in key fields of basic science, engineering, biomedical research, and the arts," said Jeannine Blackwell, dean of The Graduate School. "We want to become a premiere university, while at the same time serving the needs of the Commonwealth through innovations in research and technology, and improving the quality of life.”