COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. Increases in the number of out-of-state residents, ethnic minority group members, and a large freshman class led the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs to an overall stable Fall 2006 enrollment, according to official enrollment figures released today (Sept. 11).
A total of 7,517 students enrolled at UCCS for the Fall 2006 semester, a 50 student decline, or less than 1 percent decline, from Fall 2005. The university posted increases in several key areas while maintaining overall stability, according to Steve Ellis, director, Admissions and Records. Although national trends indicate that the enrollment of men in higher education is declining as a percentage of the student population, UCCS enjoyed a 35 student or 1.2 percent increase in enrollment by men this year.
While most UCCS students remain from Colorado, the university posted a 12 percent increase in non-resident enrollment. The increase was attributed to UCCS participation in a Western Undergraduate Exchange program as well as additional students who are in the military and are Olympic athletes. There were 514 students from outside of Colorado who enrolled for Fall 2006 compared to 461 last year. UCCS continues to admit all qualified Colorado residents.
For Fall 2006, 996 new freshmen enrolled at UCCS, making it the second largest freshman class in the history of campus and a more than 220 percent increase from ten years ago. For Fall 1996, UCCS enrolled 445 freshmen students.
“I am pleased that students continue to recognize that UCCS is an outstanding choice for their college education,” Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak said. A strong freshman class, as well as strong enrollment in graduate programs, is indicative of the breadth of this university and its ability to help people achieve their personal goals.”
The 996-student freshmen class included 194 students (20 percent) who self-identified as a member of an ethnic minority group. There are 1,389 UCCS students (18 percent) in all classes who self-identify as being a member of an ethnic minority group.
Additionally, university officials believe the 2006 UCCS freshmen class is among the university’s best-qualified, based on high school academic record. Of this year’s UCCS freshmen, 40 percent earned a high school GPA of 3.5 or better and 65 percent earned a Colorado Commission index score of 103 or above. The CCHE index is a formula based on high school class rank and grade point average. UCCS requires students to have an index score above 93.
UCCS enrolled 1,423 graduate students for Fall 2006. Those students enrolled in more courses providing the university a slight increase in the number of graduate student credit hours.
UCCS, 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, 18 master’s and two doctoral degrees. The campus enrolls about 7,600 students annually