Whitewater and Rock County campuses celebrate significant enrollment gains for fall 2023
September 14, 2023
Written by Jeff Angileri | Photos by Craig Schreiner | Video by Kyle Winter
As the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater marks the beginning of a new academic year, both of its campuses are welcoming more students than in recent years.
Projected enrollment for the fall 2023 semester is 11,462, an increase of 375 students or 3.4 percent, compared to fall 2022.
The Whitewater campus is expected to reach 10,764 students, up 2.6 percent from last year. At the Rock County campus in Janesville, enrollment is projected to be 698, up 105 students, a 17.7 percent increase. This marks the first year-to-year rise in total enrollment at the Whitewater campus since fall 2016, and the first increase at the Rock County campus since fall 2018.
“We are immensely pleased to see that our high-quality academic programs, our mission of accessibility, our standing as the most affordable school in the UW System and our commitment to student success are all resonating with students and their families as they choose a university home,” said Corey A. King, chancellor. “Over the past several months, we have strategically expanded our recruitment, persistence, and retention efforts to a university-wide responsibility. The Warhawk family is starting this new academic year strong!”
UW-Whitewater is experiencing enrollment increases across the board.
“Our School of Graduate Studies, which awards master’s degrees and doctorates, is at 1,710 students, which would be the second largest total in our history. The freshmen class of 1,975 students is the largest in six years, and the number of students taking face-to-face classes, as well as those individuals taking online classes, are all on the rise,” said John Chenoweth, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. “More students are transferring to UW-Whitewater from other colleges and universities, and the number of students who are the first in their family to pursue higher education is also increasing.”
New students on the UW-Whitewater at Rock County campus attended an orientation on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. They enjoyed food and music outdoors during their lunch break.
UW-Whitewater boasts Wisconsin’s largest accredited school of business and licenses more new teachers than any other university in Wisconsin. More than 79 undergraduate majors — including newer programs like cybersecurity and legal studies — and 24 graduate programs are now offered at UW-Whitewater. This fall, the Rock County campus will welcome its first class of students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a collaborative degree program in partnership with Edgewood College.
The university’s official census will take place on the 10th day of instruction.