The fall 2003 freshman class at the University of Colorado at Boulder is expected to be slightly larger than last year, growing by about 150 students to roughly 5,550 compared to 5,391 in fall 2002.
The 2003 increase follows another year of record applications from prospective students, which totaled 20,880. Applications increased by more than 1,500 from 19,125 in 2002. The increase occurred despite a change in CU-Boulder's application deadline, which was moved one month earlier from Feb. 15 in 2002 to Jan. 15 this year. Despite increasing admissions selectivity, the number of qualified applicants has continued to grow, resulting in the larger number of new students.
Total campus enrollment for fall 2003 is projected at close to 29,000 degree-seeking on-campus students, compared to last year's total of 27,954. Both undergraduate and graduate enrollments are expected to exceed fall 2002. Final fall 2003 figures will not be known until after census in September.
Chancellor Richard Byyny said the continued rise in freshman enrollment and strong retention rates for continuing undergraduates are signs of the continuing strength and appeal of CU-Boulder programs.
Students from Colorado will make up about 67 percent of overall enrollment and 56 percent of the freshman class, the same proportions as in 2002. This year's freshman class is expected to include about 3,110 residents and 2,440 non-residents. Resident and non-resident freshman numbers in 2002 were 3,002 and 2,389, respectively.
Academic credentials for both resident and non-resident students are expected to outpace those from prior years as well. The high school grade-point average of entering freshmen is expected to exceed 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, at or above levels for prior years, according to Barb Schneider, director of admissions and enrollment management. The strong academic preparation and competition for admission continue a trend seen over the last several years, she said.
Although the 2003 class will be large, Deb Coffin, director of Housing, said all freshmen -- except those living at home -- will be housed in campus residence halls. However, some may be in temporary quarters for the opening weeks of the semester because the number of new freshmen enrolling is somewhat larger than had been anticipated.
This year about 600 upperclassmen planned to live in campus residence halls, Coffin said. Because campus policy calls for providing on-campus housing to all entering freshmen not living at home, the Housing Department offered upperclassmen who live in residence halls incentives to break their housing contracts, allowing them to find lodging in the surrounding communities, she said.
During the next week, additional housing spaces will become available through contract cancellations.
The new Bear Creek Apartments at Williams Village are leasing to continuing students, and several members of the Boulder County Apartment Association have also been working with the university to house continuing students.
In the classroom, some students may not get the most desirable meeting times for popular freshman-level courses but in most cases they will get the classes they need, especially if they're willing to sign up for 8 a.m. classes, according to Todd Gleeson, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Freshmen typically take most of their classes through the arts and sciences college for basic course requirements.
Final enrollment numbers for new and continuing students will be available the week of Sept. 16, after the campus census is conducted.