Alexandra Williams, Freshman Leaders on Campus Nest C chair, joins hands with other members before Oozeball on Sept. 19 on the corner of Summit Avenue and Greek Row Drive. UTA enrolled more than 5,100 first-time college students in fall 2025, its largest freshman class in history.
Biology freshman Mai Caraveo said she has been getting used to the college experience and living away from home.
As part of the largest freshman class in school history, she’s gone to events and club meetings on UTA’s packed campus.
“The people are nice,” Caraveo said. “I haven’t had any problems. The dorm is nice too. I’m just having fun.”
UTA Enrollment Data
– 42,710 total students enrolled for the fall, an annual increase of 2.6%.
– 5,100 first-time college students enrolled for the fall, a 7.6% increase compared to fall 2024.
Admissions as a whole at UTA have seen increases, with 42,710 total students enrolled. The university brought in more than 5,100 first-time students this fall, an 7.6% increase from fall 2024 and the most in the institution’s 130-year history.
With so many new students on campus, UTA has implemented systems and resources over the years to keep freshmen here and successful as they continue their learning journeys.
Many freshmen on campus are adjusting to college and possibly being away from home for long periods for the first time in their adult lives.
Ashley Purgason, vice provost for the Division of Student Success, said that as freshmen transition from high school to college, they face unique challenges.
“Coming to a new place like this, it’s a new culture, it’s a new vocabulary, it’s a new way to learn,” Purgason said. “The university is their oyster. They can join anything, they can start anywhere. They’ve got a lot of different directions they can take, and that’s exciting.”
Provost Tamara Brown said that being a freshman is about the whole college experience. She said that high school is structured, while college allows for freedom and flexibility.
Since 2018, UTA has offered the UNIV 1000 course, a first-year seminar designed to help freshmen navigate campus life and encourage engagement not just in the classroom but outside of it, too.
Brown said the class has changed over the years, going from something centrally managed by the university to being managed in colleges.
“You’re getting some college-specific information included as well: What to do with this major, job opportunities,” she said. “But it’s not supposed to be so specific that if a student changes their major, none of this is useful.”
When freshmen aren’t in classes, they have plenty of options for support. NL RK
The Division of Student Success is the dedicated home of academic advising, Purgason said.
“Our advisers are almost exclusively dedicated to the freshmen,” she said. “We consider ourselves experts in their advising needs. We’re really dedicated to what it is that they might need to have a successful academic transition.”
All of the colleges advise through the division; Supplemental Instruction and Peer-Led Team Learning are also run through the Division of Student Success. The division has recently added a peer academic coaches program.
Purgason said these programs aim to help freshmen navigate and succeed their coursework in their first few semesters.
She said they try to be as accessible as possible. Students can make in-person or online appointments.
“I want to make sure students know that it’s built into the cost of what they’ve already paid to come to school here; there’s no additional fees that they need to cover to utilize those services,” Purgason said.
Student advisers Yadid Cerda and Caitlyn Melton said the program gives students the ability to engage and learn more about the campus while having a group of fellow students to rely on and experience freshman year together.
“I’ll help build them up as leaders and overall get them out of their shell,” Cerda said.
Freshmen Leaders On Campus provides programs and events for its members to connect with organizations and leaders across campus.
“The whole point of FLOC is to help them develop and grow with other people in their freshman year so they can go and be leaders and better people on campus through the following years,” Melton said.
Outside of the classroom and student organizations, the university is also helping freshmen in their residence halls.
Quinton Lane, assistant director of residence life, said that the incoming freshman class offers a unique opportunity to impact a larger body of students. Residence life student staff members are given annual training and updates on campus resources to be prepared for the challenges and questions incoming students have.
“We make sure they have awareness of any and all campus resources that can supplement a student’s experience in any capacity,” Lane said.
Residential learning communities help students connect with their peers and have intentional, informal interactions facilitated by the communities, he said.
“Students are in classes together, they live together and the camaraderie that they’re able to develop is definitely a supplement to their experience and ability to progress through general student development milestones together,” Lane said.
Many freshmen at UTA feel that the university provides adequate resources and events to help them shift into university life.
Social work freshman Kamdyn Bailey said she has found many resources helpful, including those available in the library and Canvas.
Social work freshman Jordan Montgomery said he also likes Canvas, and that all of his teachers email and put the work he needs to do in one place.
He said college so far has been fun and chill, but also a little tiring.
Bailey said that while transitioning to college life has been difficult, she has liked her time at UTA.
“I’ve really enjoyed it,” she said. “It’s been a lot, but it’s been good.”
The College of Nursing and Health Innovation saw an 11.5% increase in enrollment, College of Science 10.6%, College of Liberal Arts 6.6%, School of Social Work 5% and College of Business 3.9%. (CQ picture) RK
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