By Kelley Meyerhofer
Enrollment at Wisconsin’s public universities remained stable from last year despite a challenging political landscape and an 8% drop in international students.
Two statewide programs showing promise in making college more affordable and accessible to students helped compensate for the fewer students that came from overseas.
The Universities of Wisconsin, the rebranded name for the UW System, reported about 700 more students enrolled at its 13 institutions this fall than in 2024, or a 0.5% increase, according to official enrollment data released Oct. 22.
Here are six takeaways from the latest report:
Direct Admit Wisconsin is driving freshman enrollment growth
In-state freshman enrollment increased by more than 1,000 students, or 6%. It’s the highest percentage increase on record, according to the UW system.
UW system President Jay Rothman partially attributed the growth to two initiatives.
This fall’s incoming class is the first under Direct Admit Wisconsin, in which high school students are automatically admitted into universities based on their grades at the end of their junior year. The program is intended to reach students who wouldn’t have considered college or never would apply on their own.
Seven of the universities participating in the Direct Admit program reported freshman increases above 9% compared to the previous fall.
One in every four Wisconsin freshmen were enrolled through Direct Admit Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Tuition Promise also helped
Rothman said the Wisconsin Tuition Promise also played a role in freshman enrollment growth.
The power of a tuition promise program is in its messaging: If a family’s income falls below a particular threshold, the student is eligible for full tuition coverage. Universities cover the remaining balance of an eligible student’s tuition bill after federal financial aid and scholarships.
The UW system launched a statewide version of the program for campuses in 2023. The program was cut in 2024 due to lack of funding but a $5 million gift from Ascendium Education Group brought the program back this fall.
Funding to continue the program for the fall 2026 freshman class has not yet been secured.
Which universities gained students? Which lost students?
UW-Whitewater led the way in growth, reporting a 4% increase, or 433 more students. UW-Stevens Point reported the second-largest increase of nearly 4%, or 269 students.
UW-Eau Claire and UW-Oshkosh reported roughly 5% drops.
Weren’t enrollment figures already released?
Enrollment figures released in September were taken on the first day of classes and were considered preliminary. The snapshot was a “headcount” of every student on campus, regardless of whether they were full time or a high school student taking one class through a dual enrollment program.
The latest figures are taken on the 10th day of classes and considered official. The numbers represent the equivalent of the full-time student body. Part-time students are calculated on partial basis, leading to fewer students reported than when using a total headcount.
International student enrollment drops at UW-Madison, UWM
The freshman enrollment gains were offset by an 8% drop in international students. The latest data shows more than 800 fewer international students compared to last year, including 520 UW-Madison students and 324 UW-Milwaukee students.
Colleges had braced for a significant drop in the number of international students due to changes in federal policies. The Trump administration said it would pause new international student visas, revoke the visas of Chinese students and ban travel from a dozen countries.
2 branch campuses report enrollment increases; 3 report drops
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville is shuttering its Baraboo campus after the spring semester. It’s the eighth of the 13 UW branch campuses to either close or downsize since 2023.
Five two-year branch campuses remain open. Their full-time equivalent enrollments are:
- UW-Whitewater Rock County: 612 students, up from 523 in 2024
- UW-Green Bay Sheboygan: 314 students, down from 329 in 2024
- UW-Green Bay Manitowoc: 432 students, up from 358 in 2024
- UW-Eau Claire Barron County: 241 students, down from 280 in 2024
- UW-Stevens Point Marshfield: 91 students, down from 117 in 2024
Rothman declined to offer any guarantees these campuses would remain open, saying each should be looked at on an individual basis.
(This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.)
Kelly Meyerhofer has covered higher education in Wisconsin since 2018. Contact her at kmeyerhofer@gannett.com or 414-223-5168. Follow her on X (Twitter) at @KellyMeyerhofer.
Source: How many students are going to each UW school in fall 2025?