Washburn Makes History with Record Incoming Freshman Class for Fall 2024

    Topeka, Kan. – More students are embracing Washburn University’s strong commitment to affordable, accessible education, leading to the largest freshman class in its 159-year history. Fall enrollment shows the number of new high school graduates and first-time college goers grew by 27% to 1,196 students.

    Overall, Washburn’s full-time equivalency (FTE) climbed by 8.7% with the university seeing an 8.1% spike and Washburn Institute of Technology (Washburn Tech) recording an increase of 11.4%. Spurring growth at Washburn Tech is a 25% increase in postsecondary or adult students while the number of high school students held strong.

    Enrollment at Washburn University School of Law climbed by 7.3% with an incoming law class of 102 students, the largest incoming Washburn Law class since fall 2013.

    “As we mark a second record-setting year in a row, we believe our message is reaching more prospective students and families who are looking for a smaller university with big opportunities,” said Dr. JuliAnn Mazachek, president, Washburn. “Proud to call the Capital City home, Washburn offers a personalized college experience in the middle of a thriving business and governmental community. We are dedicated to providing academic excellence while meeting the workforce needs of our area and forging economic growth regionally and throughout the state.”

    Mazachek credits much of Washburn’s momentum to new and enhanced scholarship opportunities established during the past 18 months. Merit scholarship programs along with new local initiatives such as Together We Thrive provide additional scholarship dollars for students. Last-dollar scholarships, including the Shawnee County Promise and Northeast Kansas Advantage, ensure students from households earning less than $75,000 annually may attend college tuition-free and put their academic dreams within reach.

    “This fall, the number of Shawnee County students in our incoming freshman class grew by 27%, a testament that we are succeeding in keeping more of our hometown talent at home,” Mazachek said. “We also saw an increase in students from across the state.  We believe our efforts to ensure all Kansans know about the educational opportunities at Washburn are working.”

    Dr. John Fritch, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Washburn, credits talented faculty and staff for providing outstanding educational opportunities while exploring innovative ways to prepare students for the workforce. Fritch explains, “we are focused on developing and growing academic programs to meet industry needs and feed the talent pipeline for years to come.” Among the academic majors seeing significant enrollment growth this year at Washburn:

• Education – more than a 100% increase in aspiring teachers
• Business – 21% jump in students pursuing a business degree
• Nursing – 14% increase in future nursing professionals boosted by an early-admissions program that is unique in the state
• Math – 25% increase in math and statistics majors

    "We are Washburn with many pathways. No matter the path to a student’s success, Washburn is committed to supporting students through graduation and beyond,” Mazachek said. “Historic milestones, such as our fall enrollment numbers, do not just happen. They speak to the hard work of our extraordinary faculty and staff, the remarkable support of our alumni and the importance of our mission to create educational pathways to success for everyone. Washburn truly is a special place."

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