UA Engineering Enrollment More Than Doubled in 8 Years

The University of Arkansas College of Engineering has experienced an increase of 107 percent in undergraduate enrollment since 2007, according to a press release from the school.

Undergraduate enrollment for the fall semester increased 8.4 percent over last year, reaching 3,265 students, and new freshman enrollment is more than 800.

More than a quarter of the freshman class is female, and ethnic minority students comprise 22 percent of the college’s undergraduate enrollment, representing progress on the college’s goal of increasing diversity, according to the school.

In addition, second-year retention at the college has increased 19 percent, and graduation rates have increased 18 percent among engineering degree seekers, since the creation of the Freshman Engineering Program in 2007.

Engineering dean John English credits the peer mentoring program for the improved retention and graduation rates, according to the press release.

Doctoral candidates have increased by 9 percent since last year, and graduate enrollment — a key factor for the college, English says — is now at 979 students.

“Graduate students are vital to both our education and research missions because of the important role they play in supporting our faculty,” English said in the press release. “This year’s numbers show we are right on track of reaching our goal of 1,350 graduate students by 2021.”