The University of Colorado at Boulder welcomed a freshman class of 5,555 students this fall, 62 students shy of last year's record-setting freshman class of 5,617. The entering 2007 freshman class follows a two-year increase in freshman applications of 16 percent.
Fall 2007 census figures announced today show that overall enrollment at CU-Boulder changed little from fall 2006. The campus enrolled 28,988 degree-seeking students this fall, 46 more than last year and an increase of 0.1 percent.
"This year's freshman class sets an all-time record for the number of Colorado residents attending the state's flagship campus, demonstrating the university's accessibility to Colorado students," said CU-Boulder Chancellor G.P. "Bud" Peterson. "At the same time, this entire freshman class is one of the best prepared ever to enroll at CU-Boulder, ranking at the top in almost every measure of academic preparation."
Of the 5,555 new freshmen, 3,327 -- or 60 percent -- are Colorado residents, while 2,228 are nonresidents. The resident number represents an increase of 50 resident freshmen and a decrease of 112 nonresidents compared to 2006. The number of resident freshmen is at an all-time high.
Last year's entering freshman class was among the best qualified academically in CU-Boulder's history, but this year's class is equal to or better on nearly every measure. The average high school grade-point average improved from 3.52 to 3.56, average high school rank rose from the 74th percentile to the 76th, average CCHE index score rose from 116 to 117, average ACT composite score increased from 25.4 to 25.7 and average SAT total rose from 1168 to 1170.
Every measure except the SAT total and high school rank is at an all-time high.
Also included in the overall enrollment are increases in transfer students, with 55 more than 2006, and an increase in nonresident graduate students, with 152 more than last year. This year's transfer students total 1,299 and graduate students total 4,515, an increase of 57. Total degree-seeking undergraduates number 24,473, or 11 fewer than last year.
Enrollment of ethnic minorities also is stable. New freshman ethnic minority students number 871, with the freshman minority percentage remaining at 16 percent, the same as in 2006, which marked CU-Boulder's most diverse freshman class ever.
Total undergraduate minority students number 3,691, or 15 percent of undergraduate enrollment, almost exactly matching last year's enrollment of 3,705.
A total of 121 new undergraduates are African-American, numbering 30 more than last year for a 33 percent increase. The freshman class has 102 African-American students, the highest number since 1991. The number of new Asian-American undergraduates also increased, with 438 compared to 422 in 2006. The number of new Hispanic undergraduates declined slightly, from 468 to 445, as did the number of new American Indian students, from 63 to 51.
Other measures of diversity also are similar to last fall. Slightly more than 49 percent of new undergraduates, or 3,359, are women. In 2006, women students made up 47.5 percent of new undergraduates.
The number of first-generation college students in the freshman class also was similar to last fall at 961, or about 17 percent of the class. New freshmen come from 1,538 different high schools, 240 in Colorado and 1,298 outside Colorado.
Among new freshman nonresidents, 436 are recipients of the Chancellor's Achievement Scholarship, an award of $15,000 over four years to those whose academic qualifications put them in the top 25 percent of nonresident admits. Another 115 freshmen also are in the President's Scholars Program, paying $10,000 less per year in tuition.
CU-Boulder also has introduced a new scholarship program for Colorado residents entering in fall 2007. The Chancellor's Citizenship Scholars Program recognizes high-achieving Colorado freshmen for their accomplishments both in and out of the classroom. Twenty-four Colorado students will each receive $25,000 over four years.
"We're pleased with the outstanding achievements and diversity of the group," said Michael Grant, associate vice chancellor for undergraduate education who headed the selection team. "The students come from more than 20 different Colorado high schools and include students of color and first-generation college students."
Psychology remains by far the most popular undergraduate major, with 1,911 students, followed by integrative physiology with 1,309. Other majors with more than 700 students include English; pre-journalism and mass communication; molecular, cellular and developmental biology; international affairs; economics; finance; and political science.
Reference links
Overall enrollment: Total degree-seeking vs. not degree-seeking, over time
By college: Degree-seeking only, by grad/undergrad and college, over time (students in two colleges are counted in both)
By new vs. continuing: Degree-seeking only, by grad/undergrad, residency, and new vs. continuing, over time
Details including diversity for fall 07 vs. fall 06
By degree-seeking/not, with tables on residency, college (first college only), diversity
Most popular undergraduate majors
Enrollment since 1877
Academic preparation or qualifications of freshman applicants, admits, and matriculants over time .
Enrollment highlights from the CU system can be found on the Web at: .