COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. — A record number of first-time freshmen and transfer students selected the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, according to official enrollment figures released this week.
A total of 1,026 first-time freshmen enrolled for the fall 2005 semester, a six percent boost from fall 2004 when 964 new freshmen enrolled and a 141 percent increase since 1995 when 425 freshmen enrolled.
The number of students who transferred to UCCS from other colleges also increased by 6 percent, from 682 students in fall 2004 to 723 students in fall 2005. Enrollment of ethnic minority students also increased slightly to 1,367 students who self-declared as a member of a minority group. About 18 percent of UCCS students are minority.
“Many students choose UCCS because they want a high-quality education in a safe environment and close interaction with exceptional faculty members,” Jim Henderson, vice chancellor, Student Success, said. “These numbers reflect the high regard that students have for this university.”
Henderson believes this year’s freshmen are the best qualified in the university’s history based upon overall academic preparation.
Fewer students enrolled in graduate programs at the university. In fall 2004, 1,624 students enrolled. In fall 2005, 1,448 students enrolled, a 10.8 percent decline.
The total number of credit hours generated on campus increased from 86,074 in 2004 to 86,467.5 this year, a .5 percent increase. The number of students enrolled was 7,567, a 1.1 percent decline from the 7,650 students who enrolled in fall 2004 and set an enrollment record. Since 1995, UCCS enrollment has increased more than 28 percent. In fall 1995, 5,906 students enrolled.
The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, located on Austin Bluffs Parkway in northeast Colorado Springs, is the fastest growing university in Colorado and one of the fastest growing universities in the nation. The university offers 25 bachelor’s degrees, 17 master’s and two doctoral degrees. The campus enrolls about 7,600 students annually.