UW System Enrollment Falls 0.7%

Enrollment across Wisconsin’s public universities slipped 0.7% in fall 2026 to 164,579 students, with a decline of 1,134 international students accounting for most of the overall drop. First-year enrollment was nearly unchanged at 28,442, as direct-admission and high-school dual-enrollment programs helped steady totals. UW–Madison and six other campuses lost students, while six universities—including UW–Milwaukee and UW–Superior—grew. Higher-education analyst Jeff Selingo said regional universities face pressure from shrinking high-school graduating classes and declining college-going rates, and urged campuses to distinguish themselves by specializing in different academic fields.