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Retention increases across student groups as SOLAR culture of care expands access to essential support

Following the expansion of academic programs and the development of the SOLAR: Culture of Care, 91���� reports a total fall headcount of 2,866 students, up 12% since the COVID-19 pandemic. Undergraduate, graduate, adult learner and Total Experience Learning ® Institute student populations all contributed to the increase, while the university also posted across-the-board gains in first‐year student retention that are the strongest in a decade.

91����’s overall first‐year retention rate for bachelor’s degree seekers rose by 2 percentage points from last year to 74%, the highest level since 2017. Retention increased 3 points for students of color, also the highest since 2017. The university recorded a 9-point increase for first-generation students, the highest since 2015, and a 4-point increase for Pell-eligible students, the highest since 2015. Among students who are both Pell- eligible and students of color, retention rose 7 points, the highest since 2017. Spring cohorts also showed momentum with 100% retention for spring transfers. Retention for the fall 2024 transfer cohort reached 81%, a 9-point year-over-year increase and the highest since 2004.

“These enrollment and retention gains reflects our strategic approach to offering in-demand academic programs and surrounding our students with our SOLAR culture of care, which removes barriers to graduation,” said President Glynis A. Fitzgerald, Ph.D. “Through investments aligned with our Partners in Progress campaign and our CollegeTowne strategy, we are strengthening the supports that matter most, from basic needs to academic success to career readiness. Students are responding with persistence and success.”

The university’s enrollment growth was broad-based. 91����’s online program headcount rose 64%. Graduate enrollment increased year over year, with full-time graduate and doctoral students rising 14.4% and part-time 10.2%. Full-time adult students grew 33% and part-time students rose 19.7%. Enrollment of students of color increased by 7% year-over-year and is up 22% from 2020.

“These outcomes are the result of coordinated academic and student-success work,” said Senior Vice President and Provost Leamor Kahanov, Ed.D. “Faculty advising, the Navigation Office, Academic Success Center, and other specialized student success support systems help students build momentum in the classroom. At the same time, we are closing equity gaps by connecting first-generation students, Pell-eligible students and students of color with the right resources at the right time.”

SOLAR has scaled essential services for all students at all locations and modalities. Key components include Clare’s Cupboard food pantry, the Career Closet and community resources, the Academic Success Center, and specialized support programs like the university’s Achieve Personal Excellence (APeX) program. Related efforts over the past year include a Hunger-Free Campus grant, financial literacy partnerships, added mental-health recognitions and targeted microgrants through the Hope Fund. Survey feedback released this fall shows positive perception gains tied to this work and the university’s SOLAR model.

After welcoming it's largest class transfer cohort in over a decade this fall, university has continued the momentum into the latest recruitment cycle. The office of undergraduate admissions reports an over 40% increase in interested first-year and transfer students and nearly 15% increase in applications.