UA Little Rock halts 13-year enrollment decline

UA Little Rock’s preliminary fall 2023 enrollment figures indicated an increase in undergraduate and graduate student full-time equivalents (FTE) of 1.2%, an increase in student semester credit hours (SSCH) of 1.0%, and a headcount decline of 1.0% over the fall 2022 semester.

Preliminary enrollment indicates 7,147 undergraduate and graduate students. These figures do not include high school concurrent students, which are reported separately. Prior to the fall 2023 term, the last fall term to experience an increase in student FTE was fall 2010.

“The extraordinary commitment of our students, faculty, and staff at UA Little Rock made this possible,” said Chancellor Christina S. Drale. “We knew reversing a decade-plus enrollment trend would take time, focus, and significant work, and I’m pleased to see our collective efforts translate into student success and improvement in the university’s enrollment.”

Last fall was a turning point in reversing a decade-plus of enrollment decline when UA Little Rock saw a 29% increase in freshmen and an 8% increase in transfer students. Building on this momentum, preliminary totals suggest the university expects to match the record-breaking freshmen headcount from fall 2022, with a small 4% decrease in transfer students.

“UA Little Rock prioritized affordability and student success, and it’s evident in the data,” said Cody Decker, vice chancellor for student affairs and chief data officer. “Students and their families continue to see more transformational educational opportunities, competitive scholarships, and new student experiences available from UA Little Rock.”

Campus housing also saw an increase this fall, with preliminary data indicating 932 students elected to live on-campus, a 1.4% increase from the previous year.