KU achieves record-high enrollment for third straight year

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas has achieved its highest overall enrollment in history for the third straight year, according to annual data released Sept. 30.

KU’s overall enrollment has grown 0.9% — or 295 students — to 31,464, surpassing the previous all-time mark of 31,169 set last year. This includes a 0.5% increase at the Lawrence and Edwards campuses (which are counted together) and a 3.9% increase at KU Medical Center, both of which now have all-time high enrollments.

The record-setting enrollment comes as KU continues to recruit large freshman classes and retain students at record-high rates as they progress toward their degrees. Specifically, this year’s freshman class is the fourth largest in KU history at 4,834 students, a decrease of 4.1% from last year. At the same time, KU retained a record-high 88.1% of last year’s freshmen and also achieved record-high four-year and five-year graduation rates.

“Three consecutive years of record enrollment reflect the strength of our work to recruit students and, just as importantly, to help existing students succeed once they arrive at KU,” said Chancellor Douglas A. Girod. “We’re proud that students continue to see the value of a KU education and that more of them are staying on track to earn their degrees.”

Freshman class size, talent, fields of study

In addition to comprising the fourth-largest class in KU history, this year’s freshmen had an average high school GPA of 3.69 — the second-highest mark in KU history — with 69% of the class having earned college credit in high school.

About 59% of first-time freshmen are Kansas residents, while 41% are nonresidents.

Additionally, these first-year Jayhawks are pursuing fields that are important to the Kansas economy. The most popular undergraduate major programs for the fall 2026 semester are housed in the School of Architecture & Design, School of Business, School of Education & Human Sciences, School of Engineering, William Allen White School of Journalism & Mass Communications and School of Professional Studies.

“We’re proud that students are choosing KU to prepare for careers in fields that are important to Kansas’ future,” Girod said. “By providing a strong education and connecting students to opportunities in the state, KU helps strengthen the workforce and support economic growth across Kansas.”

KU leaders attribute this year’s large and talented freshman class to the university’s academic reputation, course offerings, recruitment strategies, nationwide network of donors and alumni, athletics profile, campus life and financial support from Kansas lawmakers.

Retention and graduation

In addition to retaining a record-high 88.1% of last year’s freshmen, KU achieved record-high four-year and five-year graduation rates of 59.2% and 68%, respectively. The university’s six-year graduation rate of 69.1% is the second highest on record.

“New freshman numbers often grab the headlines this time of year, especially after several years of record-setting freshman classes,” Girod said. “But our ability to retain and support students already at KU is just as important to the overall enrollment picture. This year’s record-setting retention and graduation rates reflect the ongoing work of our faculty and staff to help students succeed through teaching, advising and other forms of support.”

Online education

Online learning continues to play a significant role in KU’s enrollment. This year KU has 3,058 fully online students — the second-highest non-COVID-era total in history — who make up 9.7% of KU’s total enrollment. Including the fully online students, 45.9% of KU students are taking at least one online course this semester. These students are taking classes from a growing number of online programs offered by KU.

Additional highlights

• KU has 18,173 in-state students — the most of any university in Kansas — as well as 13,291 out-of-state students, also the most of any university in Kansas. Surveys show one-third of out-of-state students join the Kansas workforce after graduation, making KU the state’s predominant net importer of talent to address Kansas’ workforce needs.
• KU has a record-high 2,535 veterans and military-affiliated students. This is an increase of 7.9% from last year.
• KU has 1,176 new transfer students, an increase of 1.6%.
• A record 466 high school students are taking classes this semester for KU credit through the Jayhawk Blueprint program. This is an increase of 26.6% from fall 2025.

Looking ahead

This year’s record-setting enrollment comes as universities across the country begin to confront the demographic challenges associated with declining birthrates following the Great Recession. The resulting decline in the number of traditional college-age students is expected to create increasing enrollment pressures in the years ahead.

“We’ve consistently reminded our community that demographic changes would create challenges for KU, even as we’ve celebrated record-setting enrollment in recent years,” Girod said. “We should take pride in this year’s enrollment results and the work that made them possible, while remaining focused on how we can continue to serve students and meet the challenges ahead.”