The University of Colorado at Boulder's official fall 2001 enrollment counts include fewer freshmen than in fall 2000, but more students overall.
CU-Boulder planned to reduce freshmen this fall and this year's final census total of 4,982 is very close to the target of 4,950 set in December 2000. Last fall there were 5,095 freshmen. The fall 2001 total is lower by 113 students or 2 percent.
"We are committed to a program of improved quality of education, and have presented a bold new funding plan that will enhance quality and reduce growth of the freshman class," said Richard L. Byyny, chancellor. "We designed this year's admissions process to achieve this, and we were successful."
Freshman applications increased from fall 2000 an unprecedented 18 percent to almost 18,500. The campus used weekly predictions and close coordination among departments to ensure that the total was on target. CU-Boulder offered admission to 81 percent of the 6,430 freshman applicants from Colorado.
Total enrollment for degree-seeking students this fall is 26,597. The 2001 total is 562 more than fall 2000, an increase of 2 percent and a record high.
The total number is up because the reduction in freshmen was more than offset by an increase in the number of continuing undergraduates. This is a ripple effect from last year's record numbers of freshmen, sophomores and juniors, most of whom are again enrolled in fall 2001.
The 4,982 new freshmen have record-high academic credentials, with an average high school grade-point average (GPA) of 3.48, SAT total of 1162, and ACT composite score of 24.9. More than 80 percent of new freshmen presented CCHE admission indices of 103 or better. The average index of freshmen enrolling this fall is 112. The index score measures class rank, GPA, and SAT or ACT scores.
"We are very proud of the high preparation of this year's class," Byyny said. "Clearly, many students sought out our outstanding academic programs."
This year's 1,386 transfers is 36 students or almost 3 percent more than in 2000. One-third of the transfers are from seven Colorado institutions: Front Range Community College (130), CU-Boulder's continuing education program (non-degree students transferring to degree programs, 108), University of Northern Colorado (55), Colorado State University (53), CU-Denver (45), Metropolitan State College (41), and CU-Colorado Springs (27). More than 450 other institutions each sent between one and 21 transfers.
The number of graduate-level students also increased, from 4,352 in fall 2000 to 4,373 in fall 2001. This is the first increase since 1991. An 11 percent, 69-student increase in graduate-level international students, from 648 to 717, may have been due to a number of new initiatives designed to enhance graduate programs on the campus, including a new program providing additional financial support to graduate students with research or teaching appointments. New graduate-level students increased 6 percent to 1,301 from 1,226.
Minority enrollment increased overall from 3,369 to 3,441, up 72 students or 2 percent. Minorities represent 13 percent of all degree-seeking students. Enrollment of international students also increased, from 966 to 1,014, up 48 or 5 percent. International students represent almost 4 percent of all students.
Females are 47 percent of both graduate and undergraduate students.
The number of minorities among new freshmen from Colorado increased from 509 to 531, up 22 or 4 percent, with increases of 20 percent or more in American Indian and Hispanic/Latino groups. Of new Colorado freshmen, 19 percent are from minority groups.
CU-Boulder's total fall 2001 degree-seeking enrollment is made up of 17,685 Colorado residents and 8,912 non-residents. The total number of undergraduates, 22,224 -- also a record -- includes 14,657 Colorado residents and 7,567 nonresidents. New freshmen are 55.3 percent Colorado residents. The numbers are all within the guidelines for CU-Boulder set by the state Legislature.
Eighteen of the 2,753 new freshmen from Colorado are Boettcher scholars, which is 45 percent of the 40 scholarships awarded to new students in the state by the
Boettcher Foundation (). This prestigious scholarship is awarded purely on the basis of merit. CU-Boulder's fall 2000 freshman class also included 18 Boettcher scholars.
The Norlin Scholars merit scholarship program, which has expanded over the past three years, has now reached its targeted level of 100 continuing students. The Undergraduate Academy, an organization devoted to creativity, intellectual pursuits and academic excellence, also has reached its target level of 200 students.
"Programs that emphasize scholarship among our undergraduates are the type we have been investing in and want to expand," Byyny said.
All new freshmen, except about 130 living at home, are living in on-campus housing along with about 100 new transfers and more than 1,000 continuing students.
Virtually all students, both continuing and new, now register and drop and add courses via the Web, reducing start-of-school lines to a minimum. Â鶹ÒùÔº who do make in-person transactions can now find the Admissions, Financial Aid, Registrar's and Bursar's offices all on the ground floor of Regent Hall, saving trips across campus. And the new Ralphie's Resource Center, in Norlin Library, served more than 2,700 students during the first week of the term with registration assistance, information and RTD stickers.
For additional information on fall 2001 enrollment see these Web sites:
* - Detailed comparison of fall 2001 and fall 2000.
* - Total degree-seeking and non-degree fall headcount enrollments over time.
* - History of fall degree-seeking enrollment by grad/undergrad, new/continuing, and residency.
* - Similar history by college, undergraduates.
* - History by college, graduate level.