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Ohio University enrollment continues to rebound with help from another big freshman class

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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — Ohio University enrollment is posting another year of growth, including the third-largest freshman class in its history.

Ohio University's Cutler Hall on the first day of the semester.
Ohio University’s Cutler Hall [Aaron Payne | Ohio Valley ReSource]
Overall Ohio University enrollment, which includes all class levels and the regional campuses, is up more than 1,300 students to 29,625, according to preliminary figures.

The last two years of enrollment gains follow years of decline that saw enrollment drop nearly 25 percent from its peak of 36,872 students in fall 2015.

The recent growth is driven in large part by large freshman classes at the Athens campus. Freshman enrollment set a record in fall 2022 at 4,441 students and then another record the following year at 4,517. This fall, the campus welcomed 4,345 first-year students.

The university also saw growth in the number of out-of-state students, with 628 enrolling as part of the first-year class. Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Illinois continue to be the largest feeder states. 

“We are continuing to see students and families interested in the value we offer in terms of affordable, level-rate tuition but more importantly our focus on outcomes,” President Lori Stewart Gonzalez said in a news release. “Our focus is on ensuring our students leave ready to seize the success they deserve.”

The university is also keeping more of the freshmen who attend. The first-year to second-year retention on its Athens campus jumped significantly for the second year in a row to 84.1 percent. This is the highest retention rate since 2002.