Record number of degrees awarded, record retention and graduation rates at UW-Whitewater

September 25, 2018

With the new academic year under way at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, the campus is celebrating several milestones related to student success.

Preliminary numbers show the freshman-to-sophomore retention rate for fall 2018 is a record 81.9 percent.

UW-Whitewater is also graduating more students than ever before. In 2016-17, the most recent year of data available, a record 2,733 degrees were awarded. The graduation rate is at a record 61.7 percent.

"High graduation and retention rates are critical benchmarks that show UW-Whitewater students are achieving success while receiving outstanding support from our faculty and staff members," said Chancellor Beverly Kopper. "While we are all very focused on admitting more students to UW-Whitewater, keeping them here on a clear path to graduation is also an important component of enrollment."

Student success is paramount at UW-Whitewater, where tutoring and supplemental instruction are free of charge to all students. The campus recently opened a new building dedicated to these efforts — the Mary Poppe Chrisman Success Center. The university's Undergraduate Research Program — where students conduct research with faculty mentors in all disciplines — is one of the most robust in the nation.

Newer programs and initiatives like the UW-Whitewater Food Pantry and the Warhawk Emergency Fund assist students in overcoming financial situations to ensure they stay enrolled and achieve success.

Preliminary numbers show UW-Whitewater's total enrollment for fall 2018 — including the main campus and branch campus in Rock County — is 13,025 students. The main campus enrollment is 12,051, down 379 from last year. Rock County enrollment is 897, down 11 students. Final enrollment data will be available later in the fall semester.