WWU says small pandemic classes are behind us as latest enrollment numbers show growth
Western Washington University’s total enrollment numbers are rising for the first time since the pandemic brought smaller class sizes and fewer students, university officials announced on Wednesday.
The fall 2024 quarter saw 3,019 first-year students enrolled — the school’s sixth-largest incoming class ever.
This incoming class is smaller than the classes of the last two years, which were WWU’s largest-ever and second-largest first-year classes in 2022 and 2023, respectively. However, the university’s total enrollment numbers are up overall due to three consecutive years of large incoming classes.
“As the smaller pandemic-era classes graduate out, and as larger first-year classes come in, the university can now report an increase in total enrollment continuing from spring 2024,” the announcement states.
WWU had a total of 14,700 registered students for fall 2024 as of Oct. 7. Enrollment numbers of transfer students, graduate students and first-year students of color have remained stable, according to the university.
“Spring 2024 was the first time since the pandemic that we saw total enrollment take an upward turn from the previous year. Fall 2024 is confirmation that our enrollment is on an upward trajectory,” WWU Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management Shelli Soto said in the announcement.
An increase in financial aid filings and Pell eligibility is playing a role in continued high enrollment numbers, according to the university.
“Despite national FAFSA delays, new first-year students at WWU continue to outperform the state and national averages on FAFSA filings,” the announcement states.
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) filing is up by 3% among incoming first-year students at WWU, with more than 86% having completed a FAFSA. About 63% of all WWU students applied for FAFSA this year.
Western has also disbursed more funding from Federal Pell Grants compared to last year. By mid-October of 2023, WWU had distributed $4.3 million in Pell grants to almost 2,400 students. By mid-October of 2024, the university had distributed $6.3 million in Pell grants to almost 3,200 students.
“We are proud of our enrollment turnaround, but we still have more work to do,” WWU President Sabah Randhawa said in the announcement. “Given the fact that less than half of Washington high school graduates enroll in any post-secondary educational institution, we must continue to find ways to increase access to Western and other public universities and colleges in the region,” “As we look to the future, our focus will be on maintaining our enrollment momentum, continuing to build on our retention and advising strengths, and investing in the high-quality academics that empower our students and make Western one of the best universities in the region.”
