UAFS posts enrollment gains, first-time student numbers up 3%

An increase in headcount, full-time equivalency and first-time entering freshmen highlighted the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith’s 11th day enrollment figures for the fall 2017 semester, with numbers pointing towards a foundation for future enrollment growth.

UAFS reported an unduplicated headcount of 6,637 students – 6,619 undergraduate and 18 graduate students, an increase over the 6,582 undergraduate and 15 graduate students attending last fall. Additionally, the university enjoyed an increase in full-time equivalency among all students, with 5,175 this year compared to 5,119 last year.

Bolstering these numbers was an enrollment of 1,105 first-time entering students – a 3% increase year-over-year – and a 12% increase in continuing freshmen, numbers that lay a foundation for growth in the coming years, noted UAFS Chancellor Dr. Paul Beran.

“The increase in our incoming class shows that UAFS is becoming the institution of choice for more and more students in our region and reflects the educational quality and affordability of the university,” Beran said. “Both this increase and the increase in continuing freshmen are positive steps toward achieving our strategic plan initiative of increasing the enrollment, retention and graduation rates of students over the next five years.”

There were 521 students enrolled in the Western Arkansas Technical Center compared to 477 last year, an increase that contributed to a 13.5% increase in overall concurrent student enrollment.

“As we continue to develop and pursue strategies to further engage our concurrent credit population, we hope our concurrent credit population will become an even stronger pipeline for future enrollment,” Beran said.