As expected, the fall 2005 freshman class at the University of Colorado at Boulder will be smaller than last year, with freshmen numbering about 5,000 and overall enrollment projected at about 28,800 degree-seeking students.
The 5,000 new freshmen projected for this fall represents a decrease of about 138 or 2.7 percent from the previous year's total of 5,138. Last year the total number of degree-seeking students enrolled was 29,258.
Even lower freshman enrollments were projected last January as application numbers lagged. However, contacts with prospective students by faculty and current students, increased merit aid, and a new non-resident guaranteed tuition program have improved the outlook.
Total applications for freshman admission to CU-Boulder in 2005 were about 17,100, compared to 19,300 in 2004. The 2005 applications are 17 percent lower than 2004 for non-residents and 3 percent lower for residents.
Non-resident freshman enrollment this year will be about 1,900, down from 2,155 in fall 2004. Resident freshman enrollment will be slightly higher in fall 2005 at about 3,100 compared to 2,983 in fall 2004. About 62 percent of new freshmen will be Colorado residents, up from 58 percent in 2004 and 56 percent in 2003.
"For non-resident students, cost is a major deciding factor in where to enroll and CU-Boulder's high out-of-state tuition, which topped $20,000 for the first time in 2004, is making it more difficult to recruit non-resident students," said Kevin MacLennan, interim director of admissions. "However, we also acknowledge the impact adverse publicity may have had on our numbers."
Following a record freshman class of almost 5,600 in 2003, a reduction in freshman enrollment to 5,000 was planned over two years to moderate the impact of rapid growth over the last 10 years, especially in the number of undergraduates. However, the drop in applications has resulted in a class with a higher percentage of resident students than planned.
Freshman academic credentials for fall 2005 are expected to be about the same as last year, as measured by high school grade-point averages and test scores. Academic credentials of new freshmen in fall 2004 were similar or slightly higher than those of freshmen in fall 2003.
About 1,280 transfer students are expected this fall compared to 1,442 in fall 2004 and about 4,430 graduate students are expected to enroll, compared to 4,548 in fall 2004.
Final fall 2005 enrollment numbers for new and continuing students will be available Sept. 14, after the campus census is conducted.
For numbers of new CU-Boulder freshmen, transfers and total enrollment from 1988 through 2004, see the Web site at .