UW System Enrollment Down Slightly This Fall

Students walking along Johnson Street on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. Bill Martens/WPR Direct admission and high school dual enrollment programs kept overall enrollment figures from dropping significantly this year across at the state’s four-year public universities, despite a drop in international students. Overall enrollment totaled 164,579 in fall 2026, according to 10th day enrollment figures, released Friday by the Universities of Wisconsin. That’s a decrease of 1,233 students, or 0.7 percent from fall 2025. Much of the overall decline was attributable to international enrollment, which decreased by 1,134 students to 8,889. Mark Pitsch, UW spokesperson, said the universities continue to monitor international enrollment trends and will try to “maximize enrollment opportunities.” Wisconsin’s flagship university, UW-Madison, had a slight decline in enrollment this year. Six other universities — Eau Claire, La Crosse, Oshkosh, Platteville, River Falls and Stevens Point