Jonesboro, AR – Contributed – Arkansas State University has set another fall enrollment record, reaching 18,775 students as continued growth among Arkansas freshmen, improved student retention, and rising graduate enrollment helped push the university past last year’s historic high.
Fall enrollment increased by 4.7% from the record 17,926 students in 2025, marking the university’s sixth consecutive record-breaking fall or spring semester.
“Arkansas State is increasingly becoming a university of choice for students from across our state, region and beyond,” said Interim Chancellor Dr. Calvin White Jr. “This growth underscores the opportunities we are creating, the investments we are making in our students and programs, and the work of our faculty and staff to make this campus a place where students want to learn, live and build their futures.”
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Overall, the university welcomed 2,247 freshmen this fall, including 2,045 domestic first-year students at the Jonesboro campus, a 5.9% increase over fall 2025.
Arkansas students continue to make up the overwhelming majority of A-State’s incoming class. A record 1,851 Arkansans enrolled this fall, accounting for more than 82% of the freshman class.
The growth comes as A-State is also retaining significantly more of its current students. A total of 7,138 undergraduate students returned to Jonesboro this fall, compared with 6,623 last year, an increase of 7.8%.
“Growth gives us an opportunity to serve more students, but it also reinforces the importance of student success and making sure all students know they matter here. We want students to build relationships, find support when they need it, feel inspired to succeed, and ultimately leave A-State with a degree in hand,” said Dr. Nikesha Nesbitt, dean of University College.
Demand for the traditional college experience also continued to increase. A record 1,576 freshmen are living on campus, while university residence halls are operating at 99.8% capacity. A-State has intentionally prioritized campus housing for first-year students, who particularly benefit from the connections, resources and support that come with living on campus.
“One of the most important things we can do for new students is help them find their place at A-State,” said Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Dr. Martha Spack. “Living on campus surrounds them with opportunities to meet people, get involved and become part of the Red Wolves community from the moment they arrive.”
A-State’s graduate programs experienced some of the university’s strongest growth. Graduate enrollment reached 5,743 students, including 1,904 new graduate students. New graduate enrollment increased by 21.5%, up from 1,567 last year.
The growth includes the inaugural 120-student class of Arkansas’ first College of Veterinary Medicine. The new college marks a significant expansion of A-State’s graduate and professional education and helps address critical veterinary workforce needs in Arkansas and throughout the region.
“There is a clear message from this year’s enrollment data: Arkansas State is becoming a destination of choice for students seeking advanced expertise and lasting career value,” said Interim Provost Dr. Will McLean. “Sustained growth in our research enterprise and our graduate and professional programs confirms that A-State has established itself as a comprehensive university that supports students at every stage of their academic and professional journey.”
Students are also taking more coursework. Total credit hours reached a record 170,003, up 5% from last fall, another measure of the university’s continued growth.
A-State’s total enrollment has now increased by more than 33% since fall 2022, when the university enrolled 14,109 students. The university has established a new overall enrollment record in each fall semester since.
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