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More than a dozen cheerleaders with pompoms perform before hundreds of new UC students inside Fifth Third Arena

Record enrollment continues at UC

Growth at regional campuses and College Credit Plus program lift university

headshot of Cedric Ricks By Cedric Ricks 260-415-8554
3 minute read September 15, 2025

The University of Cincinnati recorded its largest enrollment ever as the official head count landed at 53,682 students for fall semester 2025.

The figure represents nearly a 1% increase over last year’s enrollment, or an additional 447 students. Since President Neville Pinto launched his Next Lives Here strategic direction in 2018, the university has grown by nearly 9,000 students.

Highlights for enrollment this fall 2025 include:

  • Online learners account for 9,534 students or nearly 18% of the student body. 
  • UC Blue Ash enrollment increased 7.3% to 4,891 students.
  • UC Clermont enrollment increased 4.4% to 3,228 students.
  • Lindner College of Business enrollment increased 4.6% to 6,496 students.
  • Undergraduate enrollment is up 3.3% across all campuses at 42,566 students.
A dozen students with four female cheerleaders on top form a pyramid in fifth third arena

The UC Cheer Team celebrates during Bearcats Kickoff 2025 in Fifth Third Arena. Photo/John Jones/University of Cincinnati student.

“This represents our largest enrollment and second largest freshmen class in the history of the university,” says Jack Miner, vice provost for enrollment management.

“I am most proud that we continue to see growth in areas that are so important to this community including larger numbers of students from Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, and a growing number of first-generation college students," says Miner.

Growth in College Credit Plus, a program that enables junior high and high school students to take college-level courses in advance for which they earn both high school and college credit, continues at UC. The program has enrolled 3,168 students, an increase of 17.3%.

“The College Credit Plus program allows high school students to take college courses for free while still in high school,” explains Miner. “UC has partnered with local schools to not just offer courses but also direct pathways into a college major. UC will see growth of almost 500 students in that program this year over last year.”

The College Credit Plus program was established to enhance high school students’ college readiness and is designed to reduce tuition costs and to make college more affordable, allowing students to use those credits at UC or another institution of higher learning if they choose.

Featured top image of the Bearcats Kickoff event in Fifth Third Arena taken by Kelley Bennett/University of Cincinnati.

Five students pose with the Bearcats mascot, Bengals mascot and Cincinnati Red mascot on Sigma Sigma Commons

Students celebrate the first week of school and enjoy a light moment with the Bearcat mascot, Bengals mascot and Cincinnati Reds mascot on Sigma Sigma Commons. Photo/Kelley Bennett/University of Cincinnati.

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