Higher Grad Rate Frees Up Space For New Freshmen

"We are very happy with these numbers," he says. "We increased our freshman class size and were able to enroll 3,701 new freshmen." Washburn says that there was more room for entering freshmen this year because the UW graduation rate is up. About two-thirds of entering freshmen graduate in six years, the highest rate at any state four-year institution.

About 3,700 new freshmen entered the UW this fall.

Last year the UW had 33,719 students. The record was set in 1979 with 37,547 students. Beginning in 1980, the state Legislature put a limit on how many students the UW could enroll.

The 1995-96 count includes 24,904 undergraduates, 7,772 graduate students and 1,320 students in professional schools, such as law, medicine and dentistry. Of these students, 84 percent are residents and 16 percent are non-residents.

The UW minority enrollment is also up slightly from last year. Minority students make up 25.1 percent of this year's enrollment; last year it was 24.9 percent. The ethnic breakdown is 17.2 Asian American, 3.2 percent African American, 3.6 percent Hispanic American and 1.1 percent Native American.

UW branch campuses achieved record enrollments this fall, with UW-Tacoma registering 799 students and UW-Bothell drawing 772.

The UW was a top choice for high school seniors from in-state or out-of-state schools. "We're delighted with the quality of the entering freshman class," says John Swiney, associate director of admissions. The average high school G.P.A. for entering freshmen is 3.6. The UW received a near-record 12,527 applications for a freshman class that holds 3,701 students.

Contrary to some assumptions, in-state students have an excellent chance to get into the UW. Out of 7,233 Washington applicants, 5,991 were accepted, an 83 percent rate. The odds were less favorable for out-of-state students. With 5,294 applications, the UW made 2,116 offers, a 40 percent rate.

Children of UW alumni who live out-of-state have one advantage over other out-of-state students: Their SAT and high school G.P.A. scores need to match in-state targets rather than the higher, non-resident targets. However, all out-of-state students must pay non-resident tuition. In-state tuition this year is $3,019 while non-residents pay $8,523.

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