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�鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder awarded 10,939 degrees in the 2025–26 academic year, 672 more than the year before, as its four-year graduation rate jumped to a record 66.4%.

The four-year graduation rate climbed 4.3 percentage points (530 students) from 62.1% in 2024–25.��

The projected six-year graduation rate also reached an all-time high of 75.3%, up 1.1 percentage points (142 students) from 2024–25.

“This milestone reflects the tremendous work taking place across the university to support students from enrollment through graduation,” said Chancellor Justin Schwartz. “Reaching record graduation rates is an accomplishment worth celebrating, and it is also motivation to continue improving. Our focus remains on ensuring all students have the resources, support and opportunities they need to succeed and complete their degrees.”

The progress starts well before graduation. For the third consecutive year, �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder recorded its highest-ever second- and third-year retention rates, meaning more students are staying enrolled and making progress toward a degree:

• The second-year retention rate reached a record 86.2%, up from 85.4% in 2025.
• The third-year retention rate reached a record 83.6%, up from 82.5% in 2025.
• The first-year retention rate stands at 90.6%, the second-highest first-year retention rate in university history, following the record 91.2% achieved in 2025.

Total enrollment remains stable as undergraduate enrollment grows. Overall enrollment slipped 0.8% compared to fall 2025, down 300 students to 38,508 and driven primarily by a decline in international graduate student enrollment. Uncertainty around visa and immigration status and reductions in externally funded research opportunities that support graduate education are among the factors contributing to a decline in graduate enrollment.

The incoming first-year class grew 0.6%, from 7,397 students in fall 2025 to 7,438 this fall, an encouraging outcome amid a decline in the traditional college-age population across the U.S. This class also boasts an average high school GPA of 3.786, up from 3.773 last year.��

Overall, the fall census shows continued demand for a �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder undergraduate education alongside record student success outcomes. As enrollment trends continue to evolve, �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder remains focused on strategic enrollment management efforts that support academic quality, student success, access and long-term institutional sustainability. The impact of total enrollment on �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder’s overall budget will be addressed and communicated through the budget true-up process later this fall.

Find more information about �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder’s 2026 Fall Census data trends by visiting the��.

More on enrollment

• Enrollment among first-year students who are first-generation scholars increased 7.6%, from 1,155 to 1,243 students.
• Hispanic/Latino first-year student enrollment hit a record high of 1,161 students, a 5.2% increase over last year.��
• Black/African American student enrollment increased 1.4% from 1,254 students to 1,272 students, an all-time high for the institution.��
• Asian student enrollment increased 1.3% from 3,906 students to 3,958 students, also an all-time high for the institution.
• First-year undergraduate international enrollment increased 26.4%, from 121 students in fall 2025 to 153 this year.
• New graduate student enrollment decreased 14.3% (253 students), with new international graduate enrollment down 49.5% at 203 students compared to 402 in 2025.
• Total international enrollment dropped from 2,154 in 2025 to 1,754, an 18.6% decrease.
• Total transfer student enrollment dropped 5.4%, though first-generation transfer student enrollment increased 11%.

Editor’s note: It was presented at the Sept. 10 Board of Regents meeting that total enrollment was 38,510 students, down 298 students. That data has since been updated on the �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder campus. Final enrollment totals are subject to change slightly upon completion of census on Sept. 30.