Kutztown University Celebrates Increases in Enrollment and Retention for Fall 2024

KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Kutztown University continues to provide new pathways for students to continue their education, as the university grew its graduate studies and new transfer enrollment for the second-straight year, with an overall student body increase for the 2024-25 academic year.

Total headcount enrollment for the 2024 fall semester is 7,468, up 41 students and 0.55% from last fall. Of the students enrolled at KU, 6,307 are undergraduates, while 1,161 are enrolled in graduate studies, a 16.57% increase.

The university’s retention rate of first-time, full-time students improved by 3% to 77.8%. KU’s four-year graduation rate increased by more than 1% to 44.0% (based on the 2020 cohort compared to 2019).

The average high school grade-point average of KU’s fall 2024 freshmen class increased from 3.35 to 3.38, the highest for the university in recorded history for the third-straight year.

“Kutztown University continues to provide lifelong learning opportunities that empower students of all ages for their intellectual, social, civic, and career endeavors,” KU president Dr. Kenneth S. Hawkinson said. “While the change in the federal student aid process (FAFSA) left many uncertain, we are proud to have frozen our in-state tuition for the seventh-consecutive year.

“I want to thank the many new Golden Bears who chose KU, as well as our Admissions Office and all the KU faculty and staff who continually work hard to attract new students to be part of the KU campus community.”

Kutztown University welcomed 1,271 freshmen, 420 transfers (5.53% increase), 258 master’s and doctoral degree students (8.86% increase), and 33 miscellaneous degree/credential-seeking students.

A total of 6,557 students (87.8%) are commonwealth of Pennsylvania residents, while 911 hail from out of state. KU’s student body comprises 40 countries, 34 states and 107 international students (an 11.46% increase).

The overall diversity of the student body sits at 24%.

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