Data Shows UW System Enrollment Down 2.6 Percent

Enrollment at the University of Wisconsin System has
dropped 2.6 percent compared to last year. Preliminary enrollment data for the
2019 academic year announced by the UW System Thursday showed just over 167,000
students are enrolled, which is down nearly 4,500 students from last year.

Enrollment at the system’s flagship campus, UW-Madison, was
up two percent, with UW-Green Bay, UW-La Crosse, UW-Parkside and UW-Superior the
only other campuses where enrollment was up. Locally, the three campuses of
UW-Oshkosh saw a total of a 6.8 percent decline – with data showing enrollment
at the Fond du Lac campus dropped nearly 25 percent from last year. UW-Stevens
Point and UW-Platteville saw the steepest enrollment declines at 9.7 percent
each.

System President Ray Cross said in a statement the drop was
“not unexpected”, and that it is part of a trend of fewer high school graduates
and low unemployment rates amid a strong economy. Cross says they will “continue
their efforts to attract and retain students at all levels across the system.”