UW-Oshkosh enrollments are down

OSHKOSH, WI – (WGBW & WISS) – Enrollment at the Universities of Wisconsin (UWs) this fall increased by 1,900 students overall according to officials 10-day enrollment counts released Tuesday. This includes an almost 6% decrease in the number of students enrolled at UW-Oshkosh (UWO). And an increase in enrollment at neighboring UW-Green Bay.

This is a 1.2 percent increase in the number of students at UW schools statewide, for a total of 164,431 students. It’s the second straight year of enrollment growth across Wisconsin’s 13 public universities.

UW-Oshkosh (UWO) saw a decrease of 814 enrollments from last year, or a 5.9 percent decrease. Ten-day enrollment at UWO for 2024 is 12,964 students. In 2023, UWO’s 10-day enrollment figures were 13,778.  Preliminary enrollment in 2024 showed a decrease of 651 students. That number increased with the official numbers. 

In a press release, UW President Jay Rothman said the increase in the number of students enrolling at UW schools shows that parents and students are seeing the value of an education in Wisconsin.

“Wisconsin students and parents continue to value a Universities of Wisconsin education, and we’re extremely proud that our enrollment has increased for the second year in a row,” said Rothman.

The figures released Tuesday show that eight universities had enrollment growth for fall 2024. UWO was not one of those schools. 

The 10-day enrollment figures for each university are:

UW-Eau Claire: 10,000

UW-Green Bay: 11,188

UW-La Crosse: 10,458

UW-Madison: 51,791

UW-Milwaukee: 22,683

UW Oshkosh: 12,964

UW-Parkside: 3,947

UW-Platteville: 6,391

UW-River Falls: 5,273

UW-Stevens Point: 8,251

UW-Stout: 6,914

UW-Superior: 2,819

UW-Whitewater: 11,752

The 10th day enrollment figures provide the basis for figures reported to the federal government. Earlier this fall, the Universities of Wisconsin released estimates based on first-day counts.