UTA sees enrollment growth for fall 2024

Continues to be top choice for undergrads

Monday, Sep 23, 2024 • Joe Carpenter : contact

Students walk through the University Mall during the fall Activity Fair

Students from across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and beyond continue to seek out The University of Texas at Arlington for its high-quality education and research opportunities.

In just-released fall 2024 preliminary enrollment statistics, UTA’s total enrollment is 41,613, representing an increase from fall 2023. UTA’s undergraduate growth continued with a 3% increase to 29,271.

Five UTA colleges also experienced enrollment jumps, including more than 5.5% each for both the College of Nursing and Health Innovation and the College of Science.

“UTA is so proud to offer a top-tier education taught by expert dedicated faculty right in the middle of one of the fastest growing parts of the country,” said President Jennifer Cowley. “With rich research opportunities, signaled by our R-1 Carnegie Classification status, and welcoming student body, it is no wonder that UTA attracts new Mavericks from all over Texas and around the world—with students coming from 98 different countries.”

Additional affirmations that students choose UTA as the place to reach their higher education goals include a 3.8% increase in returning undergraduate students as well as an impressive 6.1% increase in undergraduate students transferring to UTA.

UTA takes pride in its dedication to providing access to a world-class education for students. Through the dedicated efforts of UTA staff, the University works closely with students and their families to identify the funding resources for which students are eligible.

Demonstrations of that commitment include $400 million in financial support received by UTA students, with tuition and fees fully covered for 49% of all undergraduate students and for 44% of all new freshmen.

Additionally, this year 47.5% of all enrolled undergraduates are Pell Grant recipients, an increase of 27.7%, with more than 49% of the new entering undergraduate class receiving the grant.

Another indicator of increased student interest in UTA was noted by the 2% increase in the total number of FAFSA applications as compared to last year. This was particularly noteworthy given the much-delayed national rollout of the new FAFSA.

“Credit goes to the collaborative and focused efforts of UTA’s admissions and financial aid teams to educate students and their families on the application and financial aid processes,” said Luisa M. Havens Gerardo, vice president of enrollment management. “Despite the national challenges with FAFSA this past year, this team of dedicated professionals was tireless in engaging and helping them navigate the financial aid application process and identify resources to make attending college and pursue their academic goals a reality.”

Once at the University, UTA is committed to providing students with the resources and support to succeed in achieving their academic and career goals.

For example, last year the Office of Transition Programs implemented the Transition Support Initiative, which reaches out to first-gen students and encourages them to take advantage of campus and academic resources that will help them be successful.

"As more students choose UTA, the University is hyper-focused on ensuring their success," said Tamara L. Brown, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. "Through coordinated efforts across campus, our goal is to holistically and proactively support our students, in and out of the classroom. The positive trends in retention are reflective of students' Maverick spirit and the University's efforts to provide them with the resources they need."

Consistently ranked among the top 4% of all research universities, with dozens of academic programs ranked in the top 100 nationally, UTA recently has been recognized by the Wall Street Journal and Washington Monthly as a top national university and the best in the DFW region— citing how well UTA improves both students’ chance for graduating and their future earnings. UTA graduates have the highest first-year median wage of any non-medical UT System institution, according to a 2023 UT System survey on earnings for baccalaureate graduates working in Texas. UTA also ranks No. 56 nationally for least amount of debt among graduates, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 rankings.

About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)

Located in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, The University of Texas at Arlington is a comprehensive teaching, research, and public service institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through scholarship and creative work. With an enrollment of approximately 41,000 students, UT Arlington is the second-largest institution in the UT System. UTA’s combination of outstanding academics and innovative research contributes to its designation as a Carnegie R-1 “Very High Research Activity” institution, a significant milestone of excellence. The University is designated as a Hispanic Serving-Institution and an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education and has earned the Seal of Excelencia for its commitment to accelerating Latino student success. The University ranks as the No. 1 national public university in the U.S. for veterans (Military Times, 2024), No. 3 in Texas for advancing social mobility (U.S. News & World Report, 2024), and No. 5 in the United States for its undergraduate ethnic diversity (U.S. News & World Report, 2024). UT Arlington’s approximately 270,000 alumni occupy leadership positions at many of the 21 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in North Texas and contribute to the University’s $28.8 billion annual economic impact on Texas.