Strong enrollment underscores academic excellence, campus culture

Strong enrollment underscores academic excellence, campus culture

UW-La Crosse continues to attract students at a time when colleges and universities are facing significant demographic headwinds nationwide.

While UWL's official counts will be finalized after the 10th day of the fall semester, the number of students enrolled on the first day of classes offers an early indication of enrollment trends.

Those preliminary projections place UWL's overall enrollment at 10,520 and its first-year class at 2,325. While both figures are down slightly from fall 2025, they remain on pace to rank among the highest totals in university history.

Notably, the overall enrollment projection does not include full-time study abroad students who will be counted in the official 10th day numbers. And the first-year projection, while smaller than last year's record-setting cohort, still exceeded the university's target.

Corey Sjoquist, assistant vice chancellor for Admissions & Recruitment, says the projections underscore the continued appeal of a UWL education.

"New student enrollment at UWL remains stable and strong," Sjoquist says. "Exceeding our new student enrollment goals is due to UWL offering a high-quality, in-person residential college experience students desire and the remarkable recruitment efforts of our Admissions Office. Students and their families have discovered that a UWL education produces results and is an excellent return on their investment."

UWL's enrollment stability is particularly notable as higher education faces what experts describe as a demographic cliff: an expected 13% drop in the number of traditional college-aged students in the United States by 2041.

That trend carries implications not just for colleges and universities, but also for employers who depend on a well-trained workforce.

Chancellor James Beeby says UWL's ability to continue attracting and graduating students is a testament to the university's academic quality, student-centered culture and commitment to meeting the needs of the state of Wisconsin.

"Students and families choose UWL because they know they will receive an outstanding education, for an exceptional value, on a welcoming campus dedicated to student success," Beeby says. "While strong enrollment is important, our true measure of success is the experience we provide for our students - the transformational educational opportunities that prepare them to build successful careers and make a real difference in their communities. That is how we not only improve individual lives but create lasting benefits that can be felt across our state."