Enrollment tops 9,000 students for second consecutive year

Undergraduate enrollment of 7,334 includes 969 new freshmen, the largest freshman class since 1979. New freshman enrollment is up nine percent over last year.

Student housing at The Union at Dearborn helped drive new freshman growth, according to Stanley E. Henderson, vice chancellor for enrollment management and student life.

“More than 120 students from outside of our normal recruitment area are calling The Union home this year,” he said. “Housing allows us to open the university to a new demographic, to be visible and accessible throughout the state and beyond.”

Henderson believes the new student experience that housing brings will continue to attract students, regardless of whether or not they choose to live in The Union.

“UM-Dearborn will always be primarily a commuter school. But housing allows us to grow our resources for all students,” he said. “Growing intramurals and recreation, having a place where students can gather, a place where performance groups can rehearse—student housing opens up a more engaged college experience for everyone.”

Academic achievement among the incoming class continued to steadily increase with an average high school GPA of 3.61 and ACT score of 24.51. The diversity of the freshman class also grew, with a 57 percent increase in Hispanic students and a 55 percent increase in African American students.

“We see that having a diverse student body that reflects Southeast Michigan is crucial to the education our students receive,” Henderson said. “Our students indicate that they appreciate our inclusive environment, which celebrates differences and encourages interaction.”

The university’s overall graduate enrollment is up 8.87 percent to 1,669, bolstered by a substantial increase in new students. New student enrollment is up more than 30 percent from last year to 501 students. This is the third consecutive year of new graduate student growth.

New international enrollment in graduate programs is up 200 percent in the last year, spurred in part by the success of the College of Engineering and Computer Sciences’ 3+2 program.

"We offer more than 40 graduate degrees across our four colleges with on-campus classes generally offered in the late afternoon or evening and many programs available in a fully online format.  This allows working professionals the flexibility they  need to balance their work and personal commitments while obtaining their master's or doctorate," said Trista Wdziekonski, director of graduate studies.  "Our stellar graduate programs have been a bit of a hidden gem and in the past year; we have tried to do a better job of communicating the graduate opportunities on our campus."