This fall, UTSA enrolled more than 35,900 students, breaking its previous enrollment record of 34,864 students from last year. This 3% increase in the student body is in accordance with UTSA’s Strategic Enrollment Plan which aims to enroll over 45,000 students by 2028, however, it has fallen short of the Phase One goal of 38,400 students. Nevertheless, expansion efforts continue, as seen in the university’s recent approval to purchase a $22 million office building downtown and its merger with UT Health San Antonio.
Of the students enrolled at UTSA this fall, more than 5,100 are high school students who are close to graduating, or first-time-in-college students. It was found that 97% of these students were from Texas, and of them, 38% percent were from Bexar County. A similar pattern can be seen in the 9,000 transfers and first-time students — those who have no post-secondary school experience; 97% were from Texas with 43% of them residing in Bexar County.
The freshman class alone totals over 7,120 students, which is yet another record set for the university. The undergraduate juniors and seniors are taking 4% and 6% more semester credit hours than last fall. Additionally, enrollment has increased at every level, including bachelor’s students, master’s students and doctoral students.
Doctoral enrollment saw an increase of 8% while entering doctoral students saw an increase of 16%. There are more than 1,000 students enrolled in UTSA’s 29 doctoral programs.
“UTSA continues to be the preferred destination for students from across Texas,” said Heather Shipley, UTSA Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs. “Students and their families appreciate UTSA’s commitment to accessibility, affordability and career preparation, providing exceptional opportunities for long-term career success.”
The university offers eight fully online degree and certificate programs via UTSA Online. This year and last year enrollment was over 1,000 students. This fall has seen a 14% increase in enrollment with over 1,100 students. The online student body is primarily made up of adult learners as seen in 73% of them being 23 or older.
“As we’ve built our curriculum, we’ve been intentional about ensuring our online programs are as meaningful and engaging as the experiences that students would receive in the classroom. This commitment to innovating with technology, investing in faculty development and creating a high-quality online curriculum is resonating with students who are eager to build successful careers while maintaining the flexibility to manage family, work and personal responsibilities,” Melissa Vito, UTSA vice Provost for Academic Innovation, said.
In recent years, the university has prioritized creating an environment conducive to student success, strategic growth and innovative excellence. More details on how UTSA will implement these initiatives can be found in the Phase One report at https://www.utsa.edu/strategicplan/documents/UTSA_Phase-I-Report_9-20-18.pdf.
