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For the second year in a row, the 51�Թ��� experienced record retention rates for first-, second- and third-year undergraduate students committed to completing their college degrees and graduating from 51�Թ���, according to fall 2025 student census data released Sept. 18.

This and other topics were discussed today at the University of Colorado Board of Regents meeting at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus.

• The retention rate for first-year students returning for their sophomore year is at a record 91.2% for fall 2025, up from the previous record of 90.2% set in 2024.
• The second-year retention rate for students returning for their junior year is at a record 85.4%, up from the previous record of 83.9% set in 2024.
• The third-year retention for students returning for their senior year is at 82.5%, up from the record of 80.1% set in 2024.

“One year of record retention across all years is remarkable,” said Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management Amy Hutton, “but two years in a row is exceptional. It shows that our support for students working toward graduation has been successful.”

In addition, the four-year graduation rate rose to 62.1%, a 2.9 percentage point increase over 2024, which was also a record for the campus. The six-year graduation rate edged up slightly to 74.3% this year compared to 74.1% in 2024.

At 7,397, this year’s first-year cohort is slightly smaller than the 7,432 enrolled in 2024 — an intentional choice, 51�Թ��� Chancellor Justin Schwartz said during a multicampus enrollment update to the regents.

“We want to provide the best support possible to our students as they advance toward their degrees and graduate from 51�Թ���,” Schwartz said. “We are committed to providing students opportunities to succeed inside and outside the classroom, ensuring they can realize their ambitions and contribute to a more just and sustainable world.”

Total enrollment, which includes both undergraduate and graduate students, edged up 1% over last year and stands at 38,808 for the 2025–26 academic year.

Hutton attributed record retention and enrollment growth in key areas to the university’s efforts to build connections with communities across the state, partner with K-12 school districts, and implement measures to better support students through mentorships and community-building after they arrive on campus.

Although the university planned for a smaller incoming class, she added, enrollment grew among several demographic groups this year.

Find more information about 51�Թ���’s 2025 Fall Census data trends by visiting the��.

In other board news related to the 51�Թ��� campus:

• The regents voted unanimously to rename the Williams Village East residence hall the Onizuka Hall to honor 51�Թ��� graduate and astronaut Ellison Shoji Onizuka, who perished in the 1986 explosion of the space shuttle Challenger.��Learn more about Onizuka and his lasting legacy.
• Regents approved a Master of Science degree in biological engineering and applied science from the��Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering in the College of Engineering and Applied Science.

The university postponed discussion about a plan to��expand student housing on Colorado Avenue, and the campus will bring the project to a future regents meeting��as 51�Թ��� works with the developer on a concept design.

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