GREEN BAY — The University of Wisconsin‑Green Bay announced a 34% rise in enrollment since 2020, bringing the total student headcount to 12,059. That makes UW‑Green Bay the fourth‑largest campus in the University of Wisconsin system, trailing only Madison, Milwaukee and Whitewater.
Growth defies national trend
While many colleges across the country are seeing flat or declining numbers, UW‑Green Bay is bucking the trend. “It’s surprising if you think about the landscape in higher education where other schools are experiencing enrollment declines or stability,” said Provost Kate Burns. “We really are bucking the trends by growing so much.”
Factors behind the surge
Burns identified several contributors to the uptick. The university’s Rising Phoenix program allows high‑school students to earn college credit, attracting younger learners. Transfer students and graduate enrollments have also risen, expanding the campus’s academic diversity.
Affordability plays a major role. Including fees, UW‑Green Bay’s annual tuition is $9,133, which Burns says ranks the institution as the second‑most affordable four‑year university in the Midwest. “If you look at us versus other schools, we’re the second most affordable four‑year university within the Midwest. That plays a huge role in people’s decision‑making,” she explained.
Online and continuing‑education expansion
UW‑Green Bay now teaches the second‑highest number of online‑only students in the UW system. In addition to traditional on‑campus learners, more than 120,000 people participated in professional training and continuing‑education programs over the past year.
“Higher education should be looking to best serve the communities that they’re in and the students that they have, and so we’re really proud that we’ve been able to do that,” Burns said.
Looking ahead
Despite the strong numbers, Burns noted there is still room for growth. She hopes the upward trajectory will continue for years to come, reinforcing UW‑Green Bay’s role as a vital educational hub for the region.
The three UW campuses ahead of Green Bay in enrollment remain Madison, Milwaukee and Whitewater.
Original reporting: FOX 11 WLUK Green Bay (local) — read the source article.
