College of Education and Behavioral Sciences News

Western Kentucky University’s fall enrollment numbers won’t be official until November 17, when data are submitted to the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE), but preliminary figures released this week point to new heights in student retention, steady growth in graduate enrollment, increased graduation rates and a positive change in financial performance.

University leaders say the progress reflects a years-long shift – one that places student success and financial stability above raw enrollment totals.

“For a long time, the conversation about enrollment at WKU centered almost entirely around headcount,” said John-Mark Francis, WKU’s Interim Vice President for Enrollment Management. “But chasing larger numbers isn’t necessarily a sign of institutional health. We made the strategic decision to focus on students who are ready to succeed and on the kind of enrollment that strengthens our students, our community and our financial foundation. The results have been nothing short of remarkable.”

Record Retention Nears 2028 Goal

This fall, WKU’s first-to-second year retention rate reached 79.4 percent, the highest in the university’s history and nearly 10 percentage points higher than when its current strategic plan, Climbing to Greater Heights, was launched in 2018. That plan set a goal of reaching 80 percent retention by 2028 – an admittedly ambitious target that the university is now on the cusp of achieving three years ahead of schedule.

The improvement, Francis said, is the product of deliberate, university-wide investments in advising, student engagement and comprehensive support systems designed to help students persist year to year, all the way to graduation. It also reflects a decisive change in admissions policy.

Since 2018, WKU has changed admission criteria to require at least a 2.0 high school GPA for admission and implemented a pre-enrollment summer program for students who have below a 2.5 GPA. Data showed those students often struggled academically and left within a year or two saddled with debt but no degree.

“We knew that tightening admissions standards would lead to smaller first-year classes,” Francis said. “But it also meant we were admitting students who were better prepared for college-level work. What we’ve seen since then is a steady rise in persistence and success.”

Record Graduation Rates

The progress extends beyond retention. WKU also announced the university’s highest ever graduation rate of 59.1%, reflecting an 8.4 percentage point increase since 2017. Additionally, WKU’s most recent four-year graduation rate now exceeds 50% and surpasses that of one of Kentucky’s two Research 1 (R1) universities.

WKU also continues to break records and outpace its peers in degree production. The 4,688 total degrees awarded in the 2024-2025 academic year are the most of any year in university history. The number of undergraduate degrees and credentials conferred by WKU is 33 percent more than the next closest comprehensive university in the Commonwealth, and 13 percent more than one of Kentucky’s two R1 institutions according to data available via the CPE Data Center.

University officials attribute those gains to consistent collaboration between faculty, staff and academic support teams working to remove barriers to completion.

“Our faculty and staff have been relentless in their focus on student success,” said WKU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Bud Fischer. “It’s not just about getting students in the door – it’s about seeing them through to graduation and beyond.”

Graduate Growth

Total preliminary enrollment stands at 15,920, maintaining stability from the previous year. Within that figure, the university saw pronounced growth among graduate students.

New graduate student enrollment increased by nearly 25 percent compared to fall 2024, and total graduate enrollment rose by more than 8 percent during the last five years. Administrators say that growth reflects the demand for WKU’s flexible, career-oriented master’s and specialist programs, as well as the university’s growing research emphasis.

“Graduate education is central to our evolution as a research university,” said WKU President Timothy C. Caboni. “We’re expanding opportunities for advanced study and preparing to launch new PhD programs that align with workforce needs and industry priorities. It’s an exciting time to be part of WKU.”

WKU’s push toward Research 2 (R2) classification – defined by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as an institution engaged in high research activity – represents a significant step in its broader academic ambitions. The move will strengthen the university’s capacity for research funding, faculty recruitment and collaboration across disciplines.

Financial Stability and Net Tuition Growth

WKU’s financial stability, fueled by net tuition gains, may be the university’s most substantial current success.

In recent years, the university shifted from measuring enrollment success by total headcount to focusing on net tuition revenue, a metric that captures the actual tuition and fee income the university receives after accounting for scholarships, waivers and discounts. In other words, it reflects how much money truly supports the university’s operations after financial aid and other incentives are applied.

That approach has paid off. WKU’s net tuition revenue has grown more than 15 percent – over $18 million – since Fiscal Year 2023, including an 8 percent increase ($10 million) in the past year alone. For three consecutive years, the university exceeded its budget expectations for net tuition revenue.

“Focusing solely on gross headcount without working to shape the class and optimize revenue can be financially counterproductive,” said Francis. “In many cases, it means spending more dollars to recruit students who are unlikely to persist. By shifting our focus from headcount to student preparedness and success, we’ve created a more stable model that benefits both our students and the institution.”

Thanks to this shift in focus, WKU’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget is structurally balanced without the use of one-time cash reserves – a milestone the university has not reached in 20 years (since 2005).

“That’s a powerful statement about the health of our institution,” said President Caboni. “We’ve built a sustainable model that allows us to invest confidently in people, programs and facilities that enhance the student experience and dramatically increase their chances for success. Our strategies are working. Our students are thriving. And the Hilltopper spirit continues to climb to greater heights.” 

By the Numbers

• 79.4% – Record first-to-second-year retention (up from 69.9% in 2017)
• 15,920 – Preliminary total fall student enrollment
• 3,624 – undergraduate degrees and credentials conferred in academic year 2025.
• 4,688 – degrees and credentials awarded to all Hilltoppers in academic year 2025.
• 8.4 percentage points – Growth in overall graduation rate since 2017
• 24.8% – One-year increase in new graduate students
• $18 million + – Net tuition revenue growth since FY23

Key WKU Fall 2025 Enrollment Successes

• Record Retention Nears 2028 Goal:
  WKU achieved a record-high 79.4% first-to-second-year retention rate – just shy of its 80% goal set for 2028, three years ahead of schedule. This reflects focused investments in advising, engagement and student support.
• Student Success Over Headcount:
  A strategic, intentional shift from chasing total enrollment to prioritizing student preparedness and persistence has resulted in smaller but stronger incoming classes and markedly higher retention and graduation outcomes.
• Graduation Rates Rising:
  WKU’s overall graduation rate climbed 8.4 percentage points since 2018 and now sits at 59.1%. Its four-year graduation rate now surpassed 50% in the most recent year and is higher than one of Kentucky’s R1 universities in publicly available data. WKU leads the state’s comprehensives in degree production. The 4,688 total degrees awarded in the 2024-2025 academic year represent the most graduates ever in university history. 
• Graduate Enrollment Growth:
  New graduate student enrollment is up nearly 25% year-over-year, and total graduate enrollment rose 8% over five years, reflecting strong demand for WKU’s flexible, workforce-aligned advanced programs.
• Financial Transformation and Stability:
  Net tuition revenue – the true measure of tuition income after scholarships and discounts – has grown over 15% ($18M) since FY2023, including 8% ($10M) in the last year. For three straight years, WKU’ net tuition revenue has exceeded budget expectations.
• Balanced Budget for the First Time in Two Decades:
  FY2026 marks WKU’s first structurally balanced budget in 20 years (since 2005), achieved without one-time reserves. This milestone underscores a sustainable, student-centered financial model that strengthens both institutional health and student success.

Contact: Jace Lux, (270) 745-4295

-- WKU –

Western Kentucky University prides itself on positioning its students, faculty and staff for long term success. As a student-centered, applied research university, WKU helps students expand on classroom learning by integrating education with real-world applications in the communities we serve. Our hilltop campus is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which was recently named by Reader’s Digest as one of the nicest towns in America, just an hour’s drive from Nashville, Tennessee.