UW-Whitewater surpasses 12,000 students, welcomes the largest freshman class in a decade
September 09, 2025
Written by Jeff Angileri | Photos by Craig Schreiner
As students, faculty and staff begin a new academic year, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater continues to see steady enrollment growth across both of its campuses.
According to projections released Tuesday by the Universities of Wisconsin, 12,075 students are enrolled at UW-Whitewater for the fall 2025 semester. This is a nearly 3% increase from the final fall 2024 enrollment of 11,752.
At the Whitewater campus, 11,303 students are enrolled, compared to 11,042 last year. At the Rock County campus, 772 students are enrolled, compared to 710.
The freshman class is the largest in a decade — 2,459 new freshmen are enrolled.
“At UW-Whitewater, we are marking three consecutive years of enrollment growth,” said Chancellor Corey King. “We are thrilled to welcome new students, both first-year and transfers, to the Warhawk family and excited for those who are continuing their college journey with us. Our commitment to student success aligns with our institutional mission of academic excellence, inclusivity, access, and affordability, which continues to resonate with students and their families.”
“In addition to our increase in new freshmen, another area we are seeing growth is in the number of college students transferring to UW-Whitewater,” said Jackie Briggs, assistant vice chancellor for enrollment and retention. “About 660 students transferred to UW-Whitewater from other institutions this fall, compared to 540 last year. Data shows they experience strong outcomes after becoming members of the Warhawk family. We have one of the top retention rates in Wisconsin for transfer students at 84.6%.”
Briggs said UW-Whitewater has an exceptional reputation across the state and new programs like Direct Admit Wisconsin allow the university to reach an even wider audience.
UW-Whitewater is home to Wisconsin’s largest accredited school of business and licenses more new teachers than any other university in Wisconsin. More than 80 undergraduate majors — including newer programs like cybersecurity and health and leadership studies — and 24 graduate programs are now offered at UW-Whitewater.
From left, Gabe Hansen, Cali Kidman and Ciara Martine talk together. Students on the UW-Whitewater at Rock County campus attended the first week of fall semester classes on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025.
On the Rock County campus, three bachelor’s degree programs are driving increases in enrollment — the online Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences, which offers a flexible degree completion pathway for students who hold an applied associate degree from a technical college; the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a collaborative degree program in partnership with Edgewood University; and the Bachelor of Science in Medical Sciences, which offers emphases in diagnostic sonography and radiologic technology.
Students enrolled in programs on the Rock County campus have the option to live in university housing on the Whitewater campus.
“This is a unique opportunity that sets UW-Whitewater apart and draws students from a larger geographic area than in the past. Nearly 180 Rock County students are living in Whitewater campus housing this fall, compared to about 140 last year,” said Tricia Clasen, assistant vice chancellor of the Rock County campus and dean of the College of Integrated Studies.
The figures released by the Universities of Wisconsin represent projected enrollment based on data from the first day of classes. The university’s official census will take place on the 10th day of instruction (Sept.15).