University of Arizona welcomes its largest & most diverse class ever

The University of Arizona set records by welcoming its largest and most diverse class ever.

Last week, the University of Arizona opened its doors to the largest and most diverse freshman class in the institution’s history. More than 9,300 first-year students, including a record 4,900 Arizona residents, began their Wildcat journeys as classes commenced on August 26.

This year’s enrollment marks a significant increase, with numbers nearly 5% higher than in 2022 and 10% higher than in 2021. The growth is particularly notable in certain Arizona counties, with Coconino County seeing a 19% increase, while Maricopa and Pima counties both experienced a 3% rise since 2023. Yavapai County showed an impressive 75% growth in enrollment.

Kasey Urquídez, vice president of enrollment management and dean of undergraduate admissions, attributes this success to the university’s diverse offerings. “The University of Arizona offers so much opportunity for its students,” Urquídez said in an August 23 news release. “With our wide variety of majors, you can come here and do anything.”

The class of 2024 is not only the largest but also the most diverse in the university’s history:

• 50% of students self-identify as ethnicities other than white, up from 49% last year
• There was a 6% increase in Hispanic/Latinx students
• Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander student enrollment increased by 29%
• Approximately 28% of the incoming class are first-generation college students

University of Arizona President Robert C. Robbins expressed pride in welcoming this record-breaking class. “These accomplished students exemplify the academic rigor, determination and spirit of exploration that makes this university so great,” he stated.

The university received a record 58,160 first-year student applications this year, a 3% increase over last year and a 12% increase since 2022. This growth is credited to various initiatives, including the Arizona Road Trip program, which brings high school students to campus for a firsthand look at university life.

Academically, the incoming class is well-prepared, boasting an average unweighted high school GPA of 3.49. The class includes 11 Flinn Scholars, 209 National Hispanic Scholars, 37 National African American Scholars, 18 National Indigenous Scholars, and 70 National Rural/Small Town Scholars.

In addition to the first-year students, the university welcomed over 2,700 new transfer students, with 60% self-identifying as ethnicities other than white and 52% as first-generation college students.

As the fall semester gets underway, the University of Arizona community is buzzing with the energy and potential of this record-setting class, setting the stage for an exciting and diverse academic year.

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This story was generated in part by AI and edited by The Copper Courier staff.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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