UA Little Rock Sees Largest Undergraduate Enrollment Increase in Over 20 Years, Driven by Affordability, Retention, and Student Success Initiatives

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is celebrating another semester of enrollment gains, highlighted by the university’s largest undergraduate enrollment increase since 2001 and its most significant growth in student credit hours since 2009.

For the fall 2025 semester, UA Little Rock enrolled 7,011 undergraduate and graduate students, up from 6,913 last fall, representing a 1.4 percent increase. With the addition of students at the William H. Bowen School of Law and high school concurrent enrollment students, the university anticipates a total enrollment of about 8,000 students this fall.

Even more encouraging than the overall headcount are the momentum indicators behind the numbers. Student semester credit hours increased 4.5 percent, first-time freshmen enrollment rose 31.9 percent, continuing undergraduates increased 7.1 percent, and student housing occupancy grew nearly 10 percent compared to last year.

“These milestones are a testament to the dedication of our faculty and staff, the impact of our academic programs, and the growing recognition of the value we provide,” said Chancellor Christina S. Drale. “Most importantly, they reflect a vibrant and engaged student body choosing to invest their future with us.”

Freshman enrollment has been especially critical in strengthening the university’s future enrollment outlook. Continuing freshmen increased by 43.3 percent and sophomores by 44 percent, signaling strong progress in student retention.

“These tremendous enrollment gains reflect the collective effort of our faculty, staff, and partners who work every day to help students access and succeed in higher education,” said Dr. W. Cody Decker, vice chancellor for student affairs and chief data officer. “We are especially proud of the multi-year growth in our freshman class, which will have a lasting positive impact on our campus community. These results demonstrate that our commitment to affordability, retention, and student engagement is resonating with Arkansans.”

The university’s Corporate Partnership Program also continued its rapid expansion, enrolling more than 470 working professionals from over 120 partner organizations. Participation is up more than 40 percent from last year, helping Arkansas employers reskill and upskill their workforce while providing employees with an affordable path to higher education.

“These numbers show that UA Little Rock is on the rise,” Chancellor Drale said. “With continued investments in our students, our campus, and our community, we are building lasting momentum that will strengthen both our university and the state of Arkansas for years to come.”