KU Grows in New Students, Retention and Diversity for 2021-22

Overhead view of campus.

KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Kutztown University welcomed 2,140 new degree-seeking students for the 2021-22 academic year, while retention of students increased to 78%, the highest since fall 2008.

Total enrollment for the 2021 fall semester is 7,675, down slightly from last fall (7,892 students). The university's increasingly high four-year graduation rate is a positive contributing factor to the reduction in total enrollment. KU's four-year graduation rate is 42%, which is a 5% increase over the prior year.

New students, which increased by one over last year, include 1,491 freshmen, 442 transfers and 207 master’s and doctoral degree students. In addition, the average high school grade-point average of the fall 2021 freshmen class increased from 3.26 to 3.31, the highest for the university in recorded history.

KU's commitment to enhancing campus diversity also received a considerable boost with this year's freshmen class. The class boasts an all-time high of 26% minority students. The overall diversity of the student body currently stands at 23%.

"I want to thank the incoming students and their families for selecting KU as their college of choice," KU president Dr. Kenneth S. Hawkinson said. "This is a true endorsement of the outstanding educational experience we offer and the hard work of our campus community. I want to thank our Admissions team, faculty and staff, and many others, who created an environment at KU over the past year that resulted in students wanting to return to our university or enroll for the first time. While overall our enrollment is slightly down, we are excited to have a higher graduation rate and be among the best enrollment numbers in the State System."

Of the 7,675 students enrolled at KU, 6,697 are undergraduates, while 978 are enrolled in graduate studies. A total of 6,693 students (87%) are Pennsylvania residents, while 982 hail from out of state.

Official figures are reported after the university's fall freeze date for enrollment status, which occurs in mid-September.