UW-Green Bay sets record enrollment

GREEN BAY, WI – (WGBW) – Enrollment at the Universities of Wisconsin (UWs) this fall increased by 1,900 students overall according to officials 10-day enrollment counts released Tuesday. This includes a 8.2% increase in the  decrease in the number of students enrolled at UW-Green Bay (UWGB). And a decrease in enrollment at neighboring UW-Oshkosh.

This is a 1.2 percent increase in the number of students at UW schools statewide, for a total of 164,431 students. It’s the second straight year of enrollment growth across Wisconsin’s 13 public universities.

UWGB saw an increase of 850 enrollments from last year. The official 10-day enrollment number for UWGB is 11,188 students. Preliminary enrollment figures showed UWGB with 10,749 students.  In 2023, UWGB’s 10-day enrollment figures were 10,338.  

In a press release, UW President Jay Rothman said the increase in the number of students enrolling at UW schools shows that parents and students are seeing the value of an education in Wisconsin.

“Wisconsin students and parents continue to value a Universities of Wisconsin education, and we’re extremely proud that our enrollment has increased for the second year in a row,” said Rothman.

The increase in student enrollments continues a positive trajectory that UW-Green Bay has realized.

“Our access mission welcomes all students to UW-Green Bay,” said UWGB Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Kate Burns. “We recognize that every UW-Green Bay student is unique. Each student has a distinct educational path and goals that we help to support. When we meet students where they are, we help our students, and our communities rise.”

In addition to the information released today by the Universities of Wisconsin, UW-Green Bay is encouraged by a 4.8% growth in first-year student enrollment, bucking national trends that indicate a drop in freshman enrollment. 

“Our growth empowers more students to benefit from a UW-Green Bay education and supports the economy and quality of life in Northeast Wisconsin,” said UWGB Chancellor Michael Alexander. “We continue to support and encourage people to look to UW-Green Bay to help them reach their educational goals whether it be for a degree, a credential or just because they are curious about a subject and want to learn more. We are thinking differently and I could not be more excited about our positive momentum as an institution.”

The figures released Tuesday show that eight universities had enrollment growth for fall 2024. UWO was not one of those schools. 

The 10-day enrollment figures for each university are:

UW-Eau Claire: 10,000

UW-Green Bay: 11,188

UW-La Crosse: 10,458

UW-Madison: 51,791

UW-Milwaukee: 22,683

UW Oshkosh: 12,964

UW-Parkside: 3,947

UW-Platteville: 6,391

UW-River Falls: 5,273

UW-Stevens Point: 8,251

UW-Stout: 6,914

UW-Superior: 2,819

UW-Whitewater: 11,752

The 10th day enrollment figures provide the basis for figures reported to the federal government. Earlier this fall, the Universities of Wisconsin released estimates based on first-day counts.