UW-Stevens Point saw strong first-year student growth for 2025-26

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point welcomed its largest first-year class in 40 years for the 2025-26 academic year, according to preliminary student enrollment estimates based on the first day of classes.

UW-Stevens Point saw an 8% growth in first-year students, with a total of 2,021 students at its three campuses. The university's first-year student numbers have grown by nearly 50 percent since 2019, according to Laura Bell, associate chief marketing and enrollment officer.

"Our marketing strategies and campus visit experiences have been reimagined to emphasize what makes UWSP stand out, our return on investment and our skill-building opportunities," said Bell. "We also saw a growth in our redesigned Admitted Student Days, which introduce new Pointers to campus life, resulting in a 5% increase from last year."

The Universities of Wisconsin Direct Admit program allowed UWSP faculty, staff, and students to interact with a larger pool of prospective students, showcasing an engaging and welcoming university, she said. The program connects Wisconsin high school students directly with UW campuses based on their academic achievements.

UW-Stevens Point's total enrollment for all three campuses increased by 3.5% from last year. The main campus enrollment growth was 4.3%, the highest among all UW main campuses.

"UWSP has become the university of choice for students across Wisconsin," said Interim Chancellor Pratima Gandhi. "Our exceptional academic programs, hands-on internships, research placements, and field experiences gives students the means to build skills in several areas and prepares them to meet current workforce demands."

UWSP is developing new degree programs each year based on market research, including recent additions of a bachelor's degree in artificial intelligence, a master's degree in social work and several graduate certificates for working professionals. The university works closely with locally based businesses, including Sentry and Skyward, to offer engaging internships that build experiences for a variety of professional careers.

The university also offers affordable tuition costs and is among the top UW campuses for timely aid awards through its efficient NextGen Scholarship Portal.

Students entering college in the fall of 2026 may visit in person at the UW-Stevens Point Welcome Center and the Marshfield and Wausau Solution Centers. Tours include information about the university's new wellness and student support facilities, community, campus life, student resources, the application process and return on investment.To learn more about weekday, Saturday, ViewPoint Day or PedalPoint visits to UWSP, go to https://www.uwsp.edu/visit.