Students flock to campus
UW‑Green Bay sees double digit increase in new freshmen
Green Bay, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay will welcome 859 students in its new freshman class this week — a 10 percent increase over last year’s freshman enrollment figure. The effort reflects both strong demand and increased efforts in recruitment.
At UW‑Green Bay, classes begin Tuesday, Sept. 6, with freshmen move-in day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, September 1.
“Students and parents say they want a high-quality learning experience, excellent academic programs and a vibrant learning environment,” says Jen Jones, UW‑Green Bay Director of Admissions. “We know we deliver all of that and are preparing a workforce that will meet future needs of our region and world.”
Jones says “fit” has much to do with college and university selection, and she believes there is a general profile for those who find UW‑Green Bay as the right fit school.
“These are students who are excited about learning from faculty who are passionate about helping students be their best selves and realize their potential; are ready for a challenging and engaging program; are looking forward to a vibrant campus experience including Division I athletics; and are prepared to engage in learning experiences outside the classroom via internships, employment and research in the ever-supportive Greater Green Bay community.”
Additional students are likely to enroll before the official start of the fall, but the campus already has a clear picture of this year’s cohort:
Demographics
- 97% of them are either 18 or 19 years old
- 95% completed high school in 2016 and are entering directly into college
- 91% are Wisconsin citizens
- 67% of freshmen are female; 33% male
- 49% will be the first in their family to pursue a four-year degree
- 47% come from one of the 18 counties in the NEW North region
- 15% graduated from a high school in Brown County
- They will range in age from 17 to 46 years old
The racial and ethnic profile of the new class largely mirrors the demographics of the state as a whole (see the table below).
| Racial/Ethnic Profile | UWGB Freshmen, Fall 2016 |
Wisconsin, 2015 (Census Bureau) |
|---|---|---|
| White, not Hispanic | 86% | 82% |
| Hispanic, any race | 5% | 6% |
| Asian | 3% | 3% |
| Black | 2% | 6% |
| American Indian | 1% | 1% |
| Two or more races | 3% | 2% |
| Total | 100% | 100% |
- One in every seven students has a non-white heritage.
- 40% of students of color in the class have White parents or grandparents as well their non-white relatives.
- A third of the 2016 students of color have some Hispanic heritage, but 85% of those students have additional backgrounds as well.
In addition to the U.S. citizens tallied in the table above, freshmen are from Canada, Finland, Guadeloupe, India, Nepal, Norway, the Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan and Zimbabwe. While 91% of U.S. citizens come primarily from Wisconsin, the remainder are from Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, South Carolina and Texas.
Academic Preparation
- Entering freshmen scored a composite 22.6 on their ACT — above national and state averages in all components of the assessment.
- The fall 2016 freshman have a GPA of 3.33.
- The new class includes 14 scholars with perfect 4.0 GPAs.
- 42% of the class enters having completed one or more college courses.
- On average, UWGB freshman have already completed 4.4 college credits.
- 29 students will enter with sophomore standing.
- Regional schools with the largest pools of students enrolled include Green Bay Preble (23); Bay Port (17); Ashwaubenon (16); Pulaski (13); De Pere (11) Green Bay West (10).
The Student Experience
- Almost 700 of the new freshmen (80%), plan to live on campus
- Students show strong interest in all four of the University’s colleges
| Interest Areas by College | UWGB Freshmen, Fall 2016 |
|---|---|
| Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences | 25% |
| Science and Technology | 25% |
| Cofrin School of Business | 15% |
| Health, Education and Social Welfare | 12% |
| Undeclared | 23% |
| Total | 100% |
Phoenix Freshmen Fun Facts:
- On Saturday, Sept. 3 and Friday, October 28 seven freshmen will celebrate birthdays.
- Not a single freshman was born on Dec. 25, Feb. 14 or Feb. 29.
- Of those with the most popular names, 18 are named Emily (3% of all women in the class); followed by Hannah (15), Alyssa’s (14), Elizabeth (12) and Michaela (12) (nine different spellings).
- Of the males, 13 are named Jacob (almost 5% of all the men in class); followed by Michael (9), and Ryan, Tyler, Zachary and Alexander (7).
- About 30% of the class has a name that no one else has in the class. Several long-standing common names have no representatives at all in the class… not a single Barbara, Lisa, Susan or David. There is not a Hillary or Donald.
