Western Washington University's total student population has fallen to 14,564, the lowest number recorded since 2007. The university also welcomed its smallest first-year class since 2020, with 2,690 new students enrolling this fall.
The decline is part of a broader trend impacting higher education institutions across Washington and the nation. In response, WWU has launched a new initiative aimed at increasing student numbers by simplifying the admissions process for local high school and community college students.
Key Takeaways
- WWU's total enrollment of 14,564 is the smallest since 2007.
- The first-year class of 2,690 students is a drop of 329 from the previous year.
- The university is addressing the decline with a new guaranteed admissions pilot program for local students.
- Other state universities, including WSU and CWU, have also experienced significant enrollment drops since 2019.
Enrollment Figures Show Significant Drop
Western Washington University (WWU) is navigating a challenging enrollment period. The total student body has shrunk to 14,564, a figure not seen in over 15 years. This represents a continuation of a downward trend observed in recent years.
The incoming first-year class for the fall semester totals 2,690 students. This is a noticeable decrease from the 3,019 first-year students who enrolled in the prior year, marking a reduction of 329 students in a single cycle.
By the Numbers: WWU Enrollment
- Total Students: 14,564 (Lowest since 2007)
- First-Year Students (This Fall): 2,690
- First-Year Students (Last Year): 3,019
- Transfer Students (This Fall): 866
- Transfer Students (2019): 1,179
The number of transfer students has also seen a decline over several years. In fall 2019, the university welcomed 1,179 transfer students, but that number has fallen to 866 this fall. Provost Brad Johnson noted this has been a decade-long trend, though he pointed to some recovery in the last two years.
A Widespread Challenge for Washington Universities
WWU's situation is not unique within the state. Many of Washington's public universities are facing similar or even more pronounced enrollment challenges. This trend is often linked to the "demographic cliff," a term describing the national decline in birth rates that has resulted in fewer high school graduates.
The Demographic Cliff Explained
The "demographic cliff" refers to a sharp drop in the number of traditional college-aged students (18-year-olds) in the United States. This is a direct result of lower birth rates following the 2008 economic recession. Universities across the country are now competing for a smaller pool of potential students, leading to increased pressure on enrollment figures.
For comparison, Washington State University's total student population across all its campuses fell from 31,607 in fall 2019 to 25,477 this fall. Similarly, Central Washington University saw its enrollment drop from 11,828 to 8,209 over the same period. While WWU's decline has been less severe, it is clearly part of a larger pattern.
In an emailed statement, Provost Brad Johnson acknowledged that the "specific reasons are not clear" for WWU's recent dip but confirmed it is part of a "larger pattern" affecting institutions beyond their campus. The university also cited student "affordability" as a contributing factor in a recent news release.
WWU's Strategy to Boost Enrollment
In response to these trends, Western Washington University has announced a comprehensive enrollment growth initiative. The plan sets ambitious goals: increasing the first-year class to 3,200 students and boosting transfer enrollment to 1,200 students.
Guaranteed Admissions Pilot Program
A central component of this strategy is a new guaranteed admissions pilot program. This initiative targets eligible high school graduates from five specific counties: Island, San Juan, Snohomish, Skagit, and Whatcom.
Students from these counties who maintain a grade point average of at least 2.75 will be guaranteed admission to the university. This approach is designed to remove uncertainty from the application process for local students.
Streamlining Transfer Pathways
To address the decline in transfer students, WWU has also created a guaranteed transfer pathway for community college students. Anyone with at least a 2.5 GPA from a partner institution, including Whatcom Community College, will have a clear and direct route to enrolling at Western.
Provost Johnson stated that this part of the initiative will create more "streamlined pathways" from community colleges, aiming to reverse the long-term decline in transfer rates.
"Our goal is to widen the entry into higher education for Washington students who might not have thought that a university education was possible," WWU President Sabah Randhawa said in a news release. "Western will be the university where those students find both opportunity and belonging, and where their success contributes directly to the vitality of our state and its communities."
Bright Spots Amid Enrollment Concerns
Despite the overall decline in student numbers, the university highlighted several positive metrics. According to a news release, WWU achieved a record-high completion rate for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), with 88% of students completing the form.
This high completion rate suggests that students are actively seeking financial assistance, reinforcing the university's point about affordability being a key concern for families.
Additionally, the retention rate for first-year students saw a slight improvement. The rate increased from 78.7% last year to 79.2% this year, indicating that a slightly larger percentage of new students are choosing to continue their studies at WWU after their first year.
International student enrollment, which makes up about 1.5% of the total student body, remained stable this year. This is notable because, according to reports, international student arrivals were down 20% nationwide in August.