Solutions Through Higher Education

Executive Summary - This report offers a breakdown of the student population by institution, full and part-time enrollment status, academic level, and residency.  There are now more than 118,000 full time equivalent students enrolled in the state university system.  Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona each saw increases in full- and part- time student enrollment in the fall of 2008.  System-wide, the number of freshmen has grown more than 46 percent over the past 10 years.

• Between fall 2007 and fall 2008, headcount enrollment in the Arizona University system rose 3.8 percent, with undergraduate enrollment up 4.0 percent and graduate enrollment up 3.1 percent.  Overall, Arizona State University reported an increase of 4.2 percent, Northern Arizona University reported a 5.6 percent increase, and the University of Arizona reported a 2.3 percent increase.

• Total enrollment of 127,446 is ahead of enrollment projections contained in 2020 Vision made earlier in 2003-04.

• The greatest percentage increase in Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) enrollment occurred at Northern Arizona University.  The largest absolute increase in headcount enrollment occurred at Arizona State University.  The percentage of non-resident students is greatest at University of Arizona, which also has the highest percentage of full-time undergraduates. 

• FTE enrollment rose even more rapidly, rising 5.0 percent for both undergraduate and graduate students in fall 2008 compared to fall 2007.  At Arizona State University, FTE enrollment grew 5.7 percent, while Northern Arizona University reported 6.9 percent growth and the University of Arizona reported 2.7 percent growth.

• Headcount and FTE enrollment in the last five years have grown 12.2 percent and 15.9 percent, respectively. This is the most rapid growth recorded since the current formula for calculating FTE enrollment was implemented in 1987-88.

• Nonresident undergraduate students comprise 24.8 percent of the Arizona University System student body.  Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University are within the policy limitation of 30 percent, at 22.4 percent each.  The University of Arizona slightly exceeds ABOR Policy 2-103A with 30.4 percent of its undergraduate student body being nonresident.

Download Fall 2008 Enrollment Report PDF