Back to School 2026: UC remains a destination campus

Back to School 2026: UC remains a destination campus

UC enrollment powered by first-year and first-generation college students

The University of Cincinnati welcomes a record first-year class as the academic year begins Monday, Aug. 24, underscoring UC's status as a destination campus for students from across Ohio, the nation and the world.

Incoming Bearcats attracted to the university's academic strength, campus culture and dynamic learning communities are increasingly first-year, undergraduate, first-generation and UC Blue Ash College students.

First-generation college students - the first in their family to attend an institution of higher learning - are projected to account for nearly 30% of all undergraduates, or about 15,300 students. Among first-year students they will account for nearly 39% of the incoming class, reflecting UC's growing role in expanding access to higher education.

To support this momentum, the university launched the Bearcats Affordability Grant in January to help Ohio students and families enjoy the promise of higher education. The new grant now offers tuition-free college for students of families who make less than $75,000 per year. The Bearcats Affordability Grant will cover the remaining cost of tuition for Ohio residents who are Pell eligible.

Activities to welcome new Bearcats at the University of Cincinnati will continue throughout the week. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand.

First-year students at all UC campuses - Uptown, Blue Ash and Clermont - are expected to account for more than 9,700 students or an increase of 13%.

Undergraduate enrollment at all three UC campuses is projected to increase 2% to more than 43,500 students, including growth in the College Credit Plus Program, the program that enables junior high and high school students to take college-level courses in advance for which they earn both high school and college credit. The program is projected to enroll more than 3,600 students, an increase of 16%.

UC Blue Ash is expecting a 3% increase in enrollment topping 5,000 students, while at the Uptown campus the College of Nursing is expecting its first-year class to increase by a third or an additional 100 students. The increase in first-year nursing student enrollment is expected to help address the need for a growing demand for nurses in the region.

The Donald P. Klekamp College of Law also is expecting its largest enrollment within a decade with more than 500 students. The college saw JD applications jump by 18% over the previous year for a spot in its incoming class.

The College of Allied Health Sciences is expecting its incoming class to grow 23% with more than 600 students.

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"We will enroll 9,700 freshman students this fall with more than 7,000 of those at our Uptown campus," says Jack Miner, vice provost for enrollment management. "Not only is that an increase of 1,000 students over last year's freshman class but is also one of the largest increases in the country.

"What has really set UC apart this year has been the dedication to affordability and the launch of the Bearcats Affordability Grant," adds Miner. "That is not only why we have seen so much growth but why we are seeing so much growth specifically from Ohio residents."

President Neville G. Pinto, now in his 10th year as UC's chief executive, offered a welcome for new and returning students.

"There is something uniquely exciting about renewing our commitment to the venerable responsibilities of a public research university each academic year," says Pinto. "As we begin again, I am truly grateful for the role the University of Cincinnati plays in fulfilling three foundational obligations: educating our citizens, creating opportunity and advancing both discovery and innovation."

More from President Pinto in his first day welcome message.

New and returning Bearcats should check out Welcome Week activities.

Real-world experience with co-op makes UC stand out

UC's cooperative education or co-op program remains a major draw for students seeking strong return on investment and career-ready experience.

UC founded cooperative education in 1906 and has since been a leader. The first co-op class involved 27 engineering students and 13 Cincinnati-area companies. After proving its success, the co-op experience began expanding to other fields. Today UC is consistently highly ranked in the U.S. News & World Report's list of leading institutions for co-op and internships.

In the 2025-26 academic school year, UC students earned $99.5 million in paid work experiences - an increase of 5.69% over the previous year's reported earnings. UC students logged over 9,614 co-op placements, with some students holding multiple co-op experiences.

Students average $13,130 in co-op earnings per semester and $21.89 in hourly wages. (Co-op wages vary based on factors including field/industry, geographic location and level of experience.) UC partnered with 1,798 employers for co-op experiences that were local, national and global in nature. Many, like leading medical device manufacturer AtriCure, based in Mason, Ohio, have long and impressive ties to UC's co-op program.

Real work experience at companies, local, national and global, help UC students stand above the rest when entering the workforce. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand.

AtriCure develops surgical treatments and therapies for atrial fibrillation (A-fib), left atrial appendage management and postoperative pain management. The company sells its tools and systems to hospitals, surgeons and electrophysiology teams worldwide.

It is also the largest employer of biomedical engineering co-op students at UC. Since 2013, AtriCure has hired a total of 593 UC co-op students - 428 of those have been biomedical engineering co-op students, explains Raechel Scarchilli, assistant professor in the UC College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies.

"We utilize our co-op students as full-time employees," explains John Dreyer, vice president of manufacturing engineering at AtriCure. "They are assigned to teams and have a full workload. This is not a co-op experience where they are going to be working in a corner and given minimal tasks. They are an integral part of the team. At this point, the co-op program has expanded to just about every area of the company."

Dreyer is a 2001 graduate of UC's College of Engineering and Applied Science, which he was first introduced to the benefits of co-op.

"It is a huge talent pipeline for us," adds Dreyer. "Co-op students come here and get great experience. We try to do the same thing as the experience that I had, which was a great platform for me to launch my career. We give that, and I think very successfully, to the co-op students today, which sets them up very well for us to hire them."

Bearcat spirit is at all-time high as UC continues to be a destination campus. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand.

What's fresh at UC: New degrees, AI tools, Online education

Degree offerings

UC continues to expand its academic portfolio with new degrees and certificates that reflect workforce demand. UC offers 454 degree programs and 130 online programs. It is adding more this fall, including a new Master of Science Degree in Artificial Intelligence through Lindner College of Business, which is also available through UC Online. Another new degree, the Master of Science Degree in Clinical Data Science is being offered by the College of Medicine.

Lindner College of Business in partnership with the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning has launched the new Bachelor of Science in Fashion Business. Additional UC Online programs include a Bachelor of Science in Special Education and a Doctorate of Clinical Speech Language Pathology.

"UC's commitment to innovation is not only about what we teach, but how we make a UC education accessible to students," says Julie Thalman, vice provost of UC Online. "As workforce needs and the lives of our students continue to evolve, we have an opportunity to create more flexible pathways to the same academic expertise, real-world learning and student support that define the University of Cincinnati.

"That flexibility is increasingly reflected in how UC delivers its programs," adds Thalman. "Online education provides another modality through which students can access programs offered by UC's colleges, extending the university's academic expertise to learners who may be balancing careers, families or other responsibilities. Whether a program is delivered on campus or online, the goal is to connect students with a rigorous UC education while creating pathways that better reflect how and where today's students learn."

The Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence is building on existing momentum around AI education at Lindner College of Business and the university at large. The degree is really designed to prepare students for managerial and leadership roles within AI, explains Andrew Harrison, associate dean of graduate programs at Lindner and associate professor of information systems.

Lindner launched a graduate certificate in AI (also available online) back in 2024 and it is now the college's most popular graduate certificate. Harrison says the college was able to build from that strong interest, along with faculty expertise, to create a full master's degree program focused on "the knowledge and skills students need to be able to leverage expertise and business acumen within a business context."

Harrison stressed that the program reflects UC's emphasis on experiential learning and co-op industry engagement. Lindner wants students to learn through partnerships with employers, real-world projects, classroom involvement from industry experts and AI-related internship opportunities so graduates are prepared to meet workforce demand for skilled AI management.

"There is actually theory that exists behind how these tools work. There's best practices for how to use them, when they're appropriate to use and when they aren't appropriate to use," adds Harrison.

UC has no shortage of quiet spaces for study and reflection. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand.

BearcatsGPT, UC's private AI platform

Students, staff and faculty can now use BearcatsGPT, the university's private AI platform. It allows users to create tools for study guides, tutoring, and digital assistants. It is the first private AI platform developed by a university in Ohio and among the first in the nation. Earlier this month, a model option, Claude, with stronger reasoning abilities, was also added to the platform.

"AI is already shaping the way we work, learn and think about workforce development," explains Josette Riep, associate vice president of Digital Platforms and Innovation. "In higher education, we have a responsibility to ensure our students are prepared for the work environments they will enter.

"For many majors, AI will have some level of impact, and we have an opportunity at UC to ensure students have access to the tools, resources and experiences they need to be successful," says Riep. "Our approach is to look at AI holistically across teaching and learning, research, enablement, policy and guidelines, and community impact while encouraging innovation and responsible use."

Students listening to a lecture in the College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand.

Riep says five pillars of AI use that shape the university's focus include teaching and learning, research, enablement (ensuring resources and tools are available); policy and guidelines that promote responsible use and community impact (making sure AI has positive impact with ethical use).

UC Digital Technology Solutions is partnering with the College of Engineering and Applied Science and the School of Information Technology to teach students to use BearcatsGPT for coding, apps and development. It is also developing an AI sandbox environment that allows faculty, staff and students to safely run code, test models and execute other tasks.

Private tutor agents, software systems powered by artificial intelligence designed to mimic a one-on-one human tutor, will also be available for students in select courses. There will be a physical space on the fourth floor of Langsam Library designed as an AI hub for individuals needing resources and support.

"AI presents a significant opportunity to advance UC's mission across teaching, research and the student experience," says Bharath Prabhakaran, vice president and chief digital officer. "Our focus is on creating an environment where students, faculty and staff can explore and use these technologies responsibly while building the skills and capabilities needed for the future."

UC leaders focus on well-being, research, collaboration and Bearcats spirit

University leadership

UC welcomes new leaders to guide academic affairs and research across all campuses.

Rudolph Buchheit, PhD, is UC's new executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. His tenure began in June. He comes to UC from the University of Kentucky, where he has served as dean of the College of Engineering since 2018.

Loren Wold, PhD, is UC's new vice president for research. His tenure began in August.

He comes to UC from Ohio State University, where he served as senior associate vice president for research, in support of the university's $1.68 billion research enterprise. In this role, he helped to oversee 17 centers and institutes that together included over 200 staff and 1,500 faculty.

Wold is an internationally recognized scholar in cardiovascular physiology and environmental health, with research focused on cardiopulmonary disease, environmental exposures and cardiovascular function. He earned a bachelor's degree in biology and psychology from Boston University and master's and doctoral degrees in pharmacology, physiology and therapeutics from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

At UC, Wold will lead an important mission: advancing discovery, creativity and scholarship that expands the boundaries of knowledge for the university. He will work across all UC campuses and disciplines to strengthen the university's impressive research enterprise.

Student leaders

New Student Body President Wilaini Alicea is keeping student well-being and involvement at the forefront of her work.

She is continuing initiatives that have worked in the past in which she and other student leaders championed such as improving neighborhood-student relations and adding a few new priorities like improving Bearcat spirit and educating students about how government works.

UC Student Body President Wilaini Alicea and Student Body Vice President Zohair Siddiqui are shown on campus. Photo/Jenna Adkins-Manuel/UC Marketing + Brand.

Alicea and student body vice president, Zohair Siddiqui, were elected to their UC leadership positions in March. Alicea is a fourth-year criminal justice and international affairs major from Union, Kentucky, who was vice president of the student body last. Siddiqui is a fourth-year medical sciences and business economics major from Mason, Ohio.

"We want to create opportunities for students to collaborate across perspectives," explains Alicea. "Right now we are in a world where you can be on one side or the other, and there is not much in the middle. We are finding ways students can advocate and learn how the system operates and impacts their lives."

Alicea and Siddiqui hope to move a few initiatives forward including organizing a statehouse day in which students can visit the state capitol in Columbus to connect with their state legislators. They also plan to offer greater support for commuter students and produce an off-campus living guide for students.

Siddiqui says he and Alicea hope to implement their platform dubbed "The Game Plan." It focuses on enhancing experiences at sports events, promoting fair opportunity and access to programs on campus and championing student mental health and wellness.

"The Game Day experience portion falls on the lighthearted side," says Siddiqui. "We want to boost Bearcat spirit and continue to foster traditions across campus. There are super serious issues that we can touch on but not all things have to be super serious all the time. Some lighthearted issues around campus can help as well."

Housing, facilities and capital projects

Student residence halls take shape

UC is in the midst of building a $326 million new student housing development to better meet the needs of a growing and ever-evolving student body.

The new 546,606-square-foot residence hall complex spans two city blocks and 2.1 acres on the northwest corner of East McMillan and Vine streets on Uptown campus. Known as Block 1 and Block 2, the new complex straddles Scioto Lane and sits across from Crossroads Uptown (the old St. George church) in Clifton Heights.

A new student housing development under construction on the northwest corner of East McMillan and Vine streets on Uptown campus is set to open Fall 2027. Photo provided.

"This is the largest new housing development project in the history of UC," explains Robert Knarr, capital projects senior manager at UC.

Designed by Ratio Architects and William Rawn Associates, three interconnected structures on the eastern section of the property (Block 1) will include a 20,000-square-foot recreation center and a ground-level common space. A fourth building (Block 2) will rise on the smaller, western block.

The entire complex will offer more than 1,300 student beds. The project began in August 2024, topped out this spring and will be ready for occupancy by fall 2027.

"With its prominent location at the eastern edge of the Clifton Heights neighborhood, the development will serve as a new important gateway to both UC and the local community," explained Monika Watkins, university architect and associate vice president, UC Planning + Design + Construction.

Crosley comes down, STEM rises

An artist's rendering of UC's new STEM Academic Facility.

On the academic side, the university is close to completing demolition of Crosley Tower, and making way for a new STEM academic facility - a classroom and lab building that will replace the iconic Crosley.

Demolition on Crosley Tower is expected to wrap up by February 2027, allowing site work to begin for the new classroom and lab building, UC's first facing Martin Luther King Drive.

Including Crosley's demolition and site preparation, the 200,000-square-foot STEM academic facility represents an estimated $304 million investment to reimagine this side of campus, giving UC a new inviting entrance opposite Burnet Woods.

The new facility will become a central hub for STEM students, offering study spaces, labs and classrooms designed to support hands-on learning, research and co-op preparation. The facility will provide advanced, state-of-the-art spaces for UC students, particularly in the College of Engineering and Applied Science and the College of Arts and Sciences, UC's largest college by enrollment.

"For College of Arts and Sciences students, this facility will open new doors for learning, research and discovery," the college's Dean James Mack says.

"These modern spaces will bring students and faculty together to explore ideas, tackle real-world challenges and translate knowledge into action," adds Mack. "The experiences students gain here will prepare them to lead, innovate and create meaningful impact long after graduation."

Nursing college expansion

Several nursing students dressed in scrubs at the College of Nursing's current building Procter Hall. Photo courtesy of the UC College of Nursing.

UC College of Nursing is anticipating and planning for continued growth.

Currently located in Procter Hall, the college is looking to move to a modernized and renovated Holmes Hospital located on East campus. Holmes Hospital's 185,000-square-foot footprint is distributed over six floors.

The UC Board of Trustees approved $8 million for the design and preconstruction phase of the Holmes Hospital renovation and College of Nursing relocation.

Construction costs will reach $80 million while the total project cost is slated for $105 million. The project will include interior renovation and reconfiguration of the first six levels of Holmes Hospital to accommodate the needs for additional shared teaching spaces for multicollege use along with a dining facility.

The design and preconstruction work will allow preparation of designs and cost estimates. This project will address existing building modernization, systems replacement, envelope improvements and exterior site changes.

"The approval of the Holmes Hospital as the new home of the UC College of Nursing - which will allow us to expand our programs, grow our simulation capabilities and create learning environments worthy of the education we deliver - is a bold statement about the future of this college and the future of healthcare in this region," explains UC Nursing Dean Alicia Ribar.

A welcome center for Bearcats

The UC Welcome Gateway Building will be located near the intersection of Calhoun Avenue and Clifton Avenue. Photo provided.

UC is planning to build a new 200,000-square-foot Welcome Gateway Building near the intersection of Calhoun Street and Clifton Avenue. This is the former location of the UC College of Law and is currently greenspace on Uptown campus.

The structure will sit atop a 400-space underground parking garage. The Welcome Gateway Building will serve as the primary point of entry for prospective students and their families. The structure will be a "public-facing showcase of UC's academic, creative and technological identity."

It will include a bookstore, cafe, 1,200-seat auditorium, rehearsal and practice spaces, art galleries, classrooms and a variety of public engagement areas.

The project's total cost is estimated to total $200 million, while construction costs are slated for $160 million, according to a Request for Qualifications Design-Build contract document filed with the state of Ohio.

The UC Board of Trustees approved $12 million for the design of the Welcome Gateway Building. Initial design and build services for the project should be completed by December 2029.

Transportation, campus recreation and dining updates

Students enjoy studying in the Marketpointe dining hall. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand.

UC is expanding transportation options, fitness spaces and dining choices to support a growing student body.

Through the Ride Free UC program, students, faculty and staff can ride Metro fixed-route services at no cost using the Transit app and EZFare account. The program provides convenient access to destinations across Greater Cincinnati.

This fall, a new Metro Route 70 service replaced UC's previous Blue Ash transportation model, providing students with an enhanced transit option connecting UC Blue Ash to key destinations. Route 70 is integrated into Metro's broader transit network, offering greater flexibility and expanded transportation choices for students.

Campus Recreation is expanding fitness offerings with the addition of Movement on Main, a new fitness space located in the Campus Recreation Center breezeway. Scheduled to open in late fall 2026, the facility will feature cardio equipment, strength machines, functional training areas and additional workout options designed to increase access and convenience for members.

Students returning to campus this fall will discover a refreshed dining destination in Tangeman University Center. Formerly Bearcats Café, the space has been reimagined as Bearcats Social, creating a gathering place for students to connect, study, and enjoy a variety of dining options. Students can now also use up to one meal swipe per week at Shake Smart through the Signature Meal Exchange program.

UC Dining has expanded offerings at Chick-fil-A with the addition of two highly anticipated menu enhancements. Students can now start their day with Chicken Biscuits and Chicken Minis, bringing Chick-fil-A breakfast to campus for the first time. In addition, macaroni and cheese has joined the lunch menu, giving students access to one of the restaurant's most popular comfort-food favorites.

Regional campuses extend a warm welcome

UC Blue Ash nursing student Kendall Jansing (left) learns about the new Anatomage table from science learning lab tutor Michelle Bodey. Photo courtesy of UC Blue Ash.

UC Blue Ash College continues its momentum heading into the 2026-27 academic year as it increases enrollment, creates more student spaces across campus and adds exciting new technology to support student learning.

There will be approximately 5,000 students enrolled at UC Blue Ash this fall as its student population grows for the fifth consecutive year. Campus renovations continue with updates to the Veterinary Technology Building that include a much-needed student lounge to provide a place to study or take breaks between classes, as well as a new office suite for faculty and staff.

Students in healthcare and science programs will benefit from the new state-of-the-art Anatomage table that provides access to real-life 3D images of humans and animals that offer accurate representations of anatomy, physiology and digital pathology. It also allows for virtual dissection as users can peel back skin and muscle layers, and it gives students the ability to visualize beating hearts, trace blood flow and simulate specific health conditions by using the interactive touch screen.

Students in UC Clermont's physical therapist assistant program are shown above. Photo provided.

This fall, UC Clermont is expanding opportunities for students with the launch of fully accredited neuroinclusive business degree programs designed to support a wide range of learners through clear course design, consistent expectations and applied learning experiences.

"Neuroinclusive means the courses are designed differently from the start, rather than relying on individual accommodations," explains Patty Goedl, professor of accounting. "Students meet the same learning outcomes, but with clearer design that helps more students succeed."

The college is also opening a new MakerLab near the Frederick A. Marcotte Library, where students can explore creativity, innovation and hands-on learning through projects ranging from printing and crafting to multimedia production.

Adding to the momentum, UC Clermont's physical therapist assistant program was recently named the 2026 Program of the Year by the Ohio Physical Therapy Association, recognizing the excellence of one of the college's most popular hands-on degree programs and the impact its graduates are making across the profession.

Photo/Connor Boyle/UC Marketing + Brand.

Featured top image of a UC family posing with the Bearcat Mascot for a selfie taken by Connor Boyle/UC Marketing + Brand.

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