Building Momentum for Student Success Strategic Enrollment Plan

The first year of the Strategic Enrollment Plan has produced measurable progress in student success, enrollment effectiveness, and operational improvement.
Key outcomes include:

• More first-year students returned for their second year, with retention increasing to 71.0%, up from 68.4%.
• Students who participated in Nearpeer were retained at rates above 83%, underscoring the importance of early connection, belonging, and peer support.
• UCCS surpassed its goals for turning applicants into enrolled students. Graduate programs performed particularly well, exceeding the 2027 target by 3.1 percentage points, while freshman enrollment also finished ahead of goal.
• Undergraduate and graduate applicants received admissions decisions more quickly, improving the student experience and reducing the time between application and enrollment.
• Online learning continued to grow, with online course enrollment nearly reaching the university's annual target.
• Enrollment of military-affiliated and Pell-eligible students exceeded established goals, reflecting UCCS's commitment to access and opportunity.
• A simplified tuition structure made costs easier to understand, improving transparency for students and families.

While these results reflect significant progress, there is more work ahead. During Year Two, we will continue to focus on supporting transfer student success, improving access to courses, strengthening the residential experience, and advancing initiatives that help more students enroll, persist, and graduate.