UB anticipates record-breaking first-year class

For the seventh consecutive year, UB anticipates total enrollment of more than 30,000 students.

That number is bolstered by significant growth at the undergraduate level after a surge of undergraduate applications for this fall, resulting in a projected record first-year enrollment of more than 5,000 students for fall 2025.

UB enrolled 4,146 first-year students in fall 2024.

“This growth reflects substantial efforts undertaken across the institution over the past year,” Provost A. Scott Weber said in a memo to faculty and staff. “To ensure we are prepared to meet the needs associated with this unprecedented growth — including increased pressure on classrooms, student housing, support services and academic infrastructure — senior leadership, faculty and staff from across the university worked throughout the summer to assess immediate capacity issues and develop coordinated solutions that uphold the quality of the UB student experience.”

In preparation for the increase in undergraduate students, the university added new course sections to accommodate the large class of first-year students. In recent years, the university has hired additional academic success coaches and expanded counseling services to meet the evolving needs of students.

The university has also expanded campus dining options and hours, enhanced the shuttle bus schedule with increased routing to on-campus parking, boosted Wi-Fi coverage across indoor and outdoor campus spaces, and began adding Wi-Fi to buses. 

Like most major research universities across the country, UB is also projecting a decline in international graduate enrollment in select STEM master’s programs due to visa-processing delays, challenges securing visa appointments and U.S. labor market corrections, particularly in the tech sector, Weber noted. These declines will likely have resource implications for the university.  

UB remains committed to supporting international students and serving as a welcoming campus for students from more than 100 countries. International Student Services is working closely with international students to provide guidance on the visa process and discuss potential options for deferred enrollment.

“As the fall semester gets underway, I welcome new students, faculty and staff to UB and look forward to working with all of you to advance our university’s research, educational and engagement missions,” Weber said. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to being a welcoming, inclusive and global research university.”