The University of Kentucky has a record number of first-year students, greater diversity and more quality and preparedness of students, the Board of Trustees was told on Friday.
UK says the record first-year class of 5,396, represents 319 more students than last year and underscores their commitment to educate more Kentuckians and other young people.
President Eli Capilouto told the board they are the university for Kentucky.
“We demonstrate that through our research, service and health care. But we also demonstrate that commitment by educating more students, preparing them for lives of meaning and purpose and supporting and challenging them to dream boldly and achieve greatly, in Kentucky and in the world beyond our state’s borders.”
In addition to record first-year enrollment, other highlights include:
— The first-year class has 1,014 students from underrepresented populations, nearly 19 percent of the class, up from 863 last year. The number of African American students increased to 383, up from 367 last year. The number of Hispanic students reached a record level of 353, up from 250 last year.
— The number of Kentucky residents in the first-year class increased to 3,422, up from 3,259 last year, and the largest number of Kentuckians in the first-year class since 2009.
— 1,055 transfer students from community colleges and other institutions enrolled at UK this fall, the highest in five years.
–22 first-year students had a perfect ACT or SAT score, a record. The previous record was 15. The average ACT score in the first-year class was 25.8 and the average GPA was 3.78, both of which are roughly the same as last year. For the
Fall semester, 848 first-year students enrolled in the Lewis Honors College, compared to 604 last year.
“We have outstanding enrollment and student and academic life professionals who tirelessly work to recruit students and to support and challenge them as they join this special community,” Capilouto said.
“We put students first in everything that we do at the University of Kentucky. In doing so, we honor our mission and purpose as Kentucky’s university.”
“These numbers reflect the continued momentum of the University of Kentucky in recruiting outstanding students from Kentucky and, increasingly, the region and across the country,” said Britt Brockman, chair of the UK Board of Trustees. “These students are imagining anew what is possible for our university and for the state we serve.”
University of Kentucky
