Fall Enrollment Highlights

At its November meeting, the Board of Regents will receive the Fall 2026 Enrollment Report. Total student enrollment at Iowa’s public universities is 71,520 students, a decrease of 352 students, or 0.5%, from Fall 2025. Undergraduate enrollment grew by 98 students, or 0.2%, to 57,651, the highest total since 2019. 

By university, UNI’s total enrollment increased 1.8% (9.366), while UI decreased 0.6% 31,382) and ISU decreased 1.1% (30,772). 

First-Year Students and Transfers
UNI welcomed 10.3% more new first-year undergraduates than last fall. UI and ISU saw declines of 5.3% and 4.7%, respectively. Iowa community college transfers were up 2.2% at UI but down 3.8% at UNI and 3.3% at ISU.

Residency
The number of Iowa residents decreased by 286 students, or 0.7%, while out-of-state enrollment grew by 327. Iowa residents make up 58% of the total student population at Iowa’s public universities, including 61% of undergraduates. 

UNI led the way with a 27.6% increase in out-of-state students, a figure that largely can be attributed to its neighboring state tuition program. International enrollment fell by 393 students and declined at all three universities. Since 2016, half of the decline in total Regent enrollment is attributable to fewer international students.

The Enrollment Cliff
2026 marks the peak of Iowa high school graduates, and projections now extend through 2041. Nationally, the number of high school graduates is expected to fall 12% between 2026 and 2041. Illinois, the largest source of out-of-state students, is projected to drop 29%.