Total Fall 2018 enrollment at the University of Northern Colorado is projected to be over 12,500 students for the second straight year, according to projections from the start of the semester. Despite being slightly lower than last year, undergraduate enrollment, graduate enrollment and total enrollment are expected to be the second highest in five years.
 
Since Fall 2014, UNC has increased graduate enrollment by 20 percent, undergraduate enrollment by about 3 percent and total enrollment by more than 6 percent.
 
The number of returning undergraduate students will be higher this fall than last, a result of continued increases in retention rates as well as larger than usual freshman classes for the past two years. As anticipated, the Fall 2018 incoming freshman class will be smaller than in Fall 2017.  Factoring into this decrease was the dramatic increase in the number of first-time students the federal government flagged for verification in the federal financial aid process (2,226, compared to 1,000 last fall) and changes in the university’s discounting strategy for new first-time freshmen. UNC invested an additional $2.1 million in undergraduate financial aid for Fall 2018. In support of its commitment to offer students aid for four years instead of primarily in the first year, the university used most of the $2.1 million for continuing students and moderated the discount rate for new freshmen this fall.
 
As in Fall 2017, Fall 2018 undergraduate applications and admitted students increased significantly while the percentage of students enrolling decreased, reflecting the national trend of students applying to more universities.
 
After three years of significant gains in graduate enrollment, the university expects a leveling off this fall, also in line with national trends. The number of continuing domestic students will increase, with more students returning compared to last year.
 
Official fall census enrollment numbers will be available in September, after the deadline for students to adjust their academic schedule.