UB enrolled 31,888 students this fall, 211 fewer than last year, according to data released by the university this week.
Although that figure exceeded administrators’ goal of 30,000 enrolled students and follows record-setting enrollment in 2019 and 2020, it marks the SUNY flagship’s smallest fall enrollment since 2018, according to the UB Factbook.
Tripathi, seemingly undeterred by the modest decrease, touted the university’s enrollment numbers at this month’s UB Council meeting.
“As we start UB’s new academic year, it has been terrific to see our campus bustling with the activity and energy of our new and returning students, some 30,500-strong,” Tripathi said. “It is so exciting to see our student body back on the campus. With their diversity of experiences, backgrounds and perspectives, they enrich our scholarly community.”
UB also welcomed 4,197 “undergraduate first-time students” — which includes first-year and new transfer students — to campus, again down from last fall’s 4,268 first-time students and 2020’s record-setting total of 4,510. This fall’s first-time undergrads hail from 40 states and 79 countries, a university spokesperson said.
This fall, 46.2% of enrolled students are non-white while 47.8% are white. The remaining 6% are international students.
The university recorded historically high enrollment numbers over the past three years, even as enrollment in higher education institutions and other four-year public universities fell nationwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. That “historic” national enrollment decline has only eased up within the past year, according to NPR.
Undergraduates make up 19,118 of enrolled students, with graduate students comprising the remaining 11,262.
UB’s enrollment figures include the 1,508 students who are enrolled in the university’s Singapore programs.
Grant Ashley is the editor in chief and can be reached at grant.ashley@ubspectrum.com
Grant Ashley is the editor in chief of The Spectrum. He's also reported for NPR, WBFO, WIVB and The Buffalo News. He enjoys taking long bike rides, baking with his parents’ ingredients and recreating Bob Ross paintings in crayon. He can be found on the platform formerly known as Twitter at @Grantrashley.
