The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater continues to push forward the legacy it has been building for itself as a prominent higher education institution. This fall, UW-W welcomed more than 3,000 new first-year students over the course of Labor Day weekend.
This first-year student body is the largest incoming class since 2016. According to projections released by the Universities of Wisconsin, 12,075 students are enrolled at UW-Whitewater for the fall 2025 semester. This is a nearly 3% increase from the final fall 2024 enrollment of 11,752.
At the Whitewater campus, 11,303 students are enrolled, compared to 11,042 last year. At the Rock County campus, 772 students are enrolled, compared to 710.
The freshman class is the largest in a decade — 2,459 new freshmen are enrolled.
“I see it as incredibly exciting; it creates wonderful opportunities for our students and the campus as a whole,” said Terry Tumbarello, executive director of University Housing. “Growth brings new energy, fresh perspectives and momentum that benefits everyone.”
With this enrollment boom, UW-Whitewater has set new academic goals that include, but are not limited to, an enrollment minimum of 13,000 total students moving forward, and 800 students at the Rock County campus, with an 82% overall student retention rate by fall 2028.
“We are marking three consecutive years of enrollment growth,” Chancellor Corey A. King said. “This achievement moves us closer to our long-term goal of 13,000 students by Fall 2028 — a target that reflects our continued efforts to grow responsibly and strategically. We see the increase as affirmation that our focus on student access and success, career preparation, inclusivity and affordability continues to resonate with students and their families,”
With an increase in students, sometimes it can make housing more competitive, and while UW-Whitewater has seen some housing-related issues, Tumbarello couldn’t be more excited for the university as a whole.
“As a residential campus, we know that living in the residence halls enhances students’ academic success, overall learning, and retention,” Tumbarello said. “Enrollment growth helps us keep our halls full, which strengthens our community and supports the university’s mission. From my perspective, it’s exciting to see more students choosing UW-Whitewater and all that our campus has to offer.”
This enrollment increase leads to the question: what makes UW-Whitewater worth attending? According to Jordan Whitsett, a freshman from Schofield, they came to UW-W because “of the friendly and supportive community on campus. Everyone has a place here, no matter where you come from.”
UW-W is nationally recognized by the Wall Street Journal as having the No. 1 student experience in Wisconsin. Increasing enrollment is a testament to UW-Whitewater’s mission to inspire, engage and transform the lives of students, faculty and the community.
“The positive impact is exponential,” King said. “Our graduates go on to make meaningful contributions in the workforce and in their communities.”
There are 13 UW system universities and a lot more Midwest schools that any senior in high school or transfer student can choose from, but this year, over 3,000 students chose UW-Whitewater.
“[Our enrollment increase] demonstrates that Wisconsin and our neighboring states recognize UW-Whitewater as an academic powerhouse that offers an affordable, high-quality education,” Tumbarello said. “Having worked on campus for many years, it’s rewarding to see the value of our work and the excellence of our institution reflected in this growth.”
