MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Overall enrollment in the Universities of Wisconsin system's four-year schools ticked upward this fall compared with last year, data released Tuesday shows.

What You Need To Know

  • New data shows enrollment at the Universities of Wisconsin system's four-year schools ticked upward this fall

  • It shows that total enrollment across the four-year schools stood at over 160,000 students on the 10th day of the 2024 fall semester

  • UW-Green Bay saw a 10% increase, the largest of any of the 13 four-year campuses. Enrollment fell at Eau Claire, Oshkosh, Parkside, Platteville and Stout

  • Overall enrollment at two-year branch campuses dropped by more than 20%

The system released enrollment numbers as of the 10th day of the 2024 fall semester. They show overall enrollment stood at 164,431 students, up 1.2% from the 10th day of the 2023 fall semester.

UW-Green Bay saw 975 new students for a 10.5% increase in enrollment, the largest percentage jump among the 13 four-year schools. Enrollment at UW-Madison, the system's flagship university, increased nearly 3%. UW-Superior, the most remote campus, in Douglas County in far northwestern Wisconsin, saw a 3.6% increase.

Five schools saw their enrollment shrink, including Eau Claire, Oshkosh, Parkside, Platteville and Stout.

Overall enrollment at the system's two-year branch campuses fell 22%. The most dramatic drop-off was at UW-Stevens Point's Marshfield campus, where enrollment plunged nearly 45% compared with fall 2023.

UW officials have blamed declining numbers of high school graduates and more graduates eschewing college for the workforce for faltering enrollment.

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