University of Wyoming Freshman Class Grows 4.7%
Fall 2026 enrollment shows strong growth in first-time and nonresident students, while overall enrollment slips slightly.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in College Applications
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The University of Wyoming's freshman class grew 4.7% this fall, with 1,512 new first-time students counted on the 15th day of the semester. Total enrollment fell 1.7% to 10,630 students, driven in part by a large graduating class.
Why it matters
The rise in nonresident first-time students, up 19.9% to 620, signals growing interest in the university beyond Wyoming's borders. For residents, the 3.8% drop in in-state first-time enrollment highlights a shift in the composition of the incoming class.
The 15-day census counted 1,512 new first-time students, a 4.7% increase over fall 2025, while in-state first-time enrollment fell 3.8% from 927 to 892. Degree and certificate totals for 2025-26 are preliminary at 3,135, with final figures expected in October.
The players
University of Wyoming
The state's flagship public university in Laramie, which reports the enrollment figures described in this story.
Shane Reeves
The president of the University of Wyoming, who attributed the enrollment gains to growing regional, national and international awareness of the institution.
The details
The census, taken after the class drop/add and first tuition payment deadlines, showed transfer enrollment up 6% to 818 students and online enrollment up 1.1% to 2,081. Graduate enrollment fell from 2,681 to 2,571 over the same period.
Timeline
2025-26 academic year: UW awarded a preliminary record 3,135 degrees and certificates.
September 2026: Fall 2026 enrollment figures were presented to the UW Board of Trustees.
Fall 2026, 15th day of semester: The census recorded 1,512 new first-time students.
October 2026: Degree and certificate totals are scheduled to be finalized.
Career Pathways
The growth in online enrollment at the University of Wyoming follows the national trend toward remote higher education, which university officials expect to continue. For students weighing their options, the university's record 3,135 degrees and certificates awarded in 2025-26 provides a benchmark for the scale of graduates entering the workforce.
Prospective students in Wyoming and beyond can see that the University of Wyoming is drawing more first-time and transfer students, which may affect the competitiveness of admission for the coming year. Families comparing in-state options should note the 3.8% decline in Wyoming first-time enrollment alongside the growth in nonresident applicants.
The takeaway
Growth in out-of-state and transfer enrollment at the University of Wyoming shows that admissions pathways are widening even as overall headcount edges down. Students planning applications should track both first-time and transfer routes when comparing schools.
What happens next
Final 2025-26 degree and certificate totals for the University of Wyoming are scheduled to be finalized in October 2026.
Further reading
For more on how students choose schools, explore College Applications coverage in Wyoming.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Casper Star-Tribune.
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