The University of Toledo is delivering on its commitment to provide in-demand and innovative degrees and support student success with record-breaking graduation rates and growth in new undergraduate programs and well-respected graduate degrees.
The fall 2024 enrollment numbers released Tuesday provide support for the institution’s strategic enrollment plan that includes efforts to diversify enrollment, improve student success, and better tell the UToledo story to prospective students.
“UToledo offers an exceptional opportunity for students to earn high value degrees in important fields that our community needs from this generation,” UToledo Interim President Matt Schroeder said. “We are repositioning UToledo as a destination for students with a strong resolve to accomplish their goals to do what inspires them and make a difference in the world.”
Student enrollment for fall semester 2024 is 14,440 students, according to the 15-day census numbers, which includes 11,036 undergraduates and 3,404 graduate students. The numbers are aligned with UToledo’s projections and show important success with strategic efforts to positively impact student enrollment.
UToledo set a new highest graduation rate on record with 57.9% of students who first enrolled at UToledo in 2018 graduating in six years. It is the sixth year in a row that UToledo has improved the six-year graduation rate. First-to-second year retention also climbed to 77.3%, up 1.4% from last year and the highest rate in four years.
UToledo’s graduate and professional programs continue to be an area of strength, with a 7.8% increase in new domestic students choosing UToledo for their advanced studies. This growth is led by one of the largest classes of first-year law students in the past decade and more new students choosing one of UToledo’s 100% online graduate programs.
UToledo’s robust academic research efforts are a draw for many graduate students and the University’s research awards grew to $72.2 million in 2024, the second highest in the institution’s history. More than 82% of UToledo’s research awards last academic year were federally funded, led by the National Institutes of Health and Department of Defense.
Several new academic programs are attracting students to UToledo, including the new master’s degree in cosmetic science and formulation design that builds on the strength of the nationally recognized undergraduate degree. In addition, UToledo’s new undergraduate health sciences degree and neuroscience degree drew significant interest for the fall 2024 semester.
“I am encouraged to see early results of our efforts to position UToledo as a regional force powering opportunities to learn, care, work and play,” Schroeder said. “I am confident we are doing the right things today that will have a positive impact on our future. We appreciate the support of our community as we make important progress.”
UToledo is implementing a new strategic enrollment plan and student recruitment plan that will increase efforts to attract students from within the tri-state area to their hometown university. At the same time, UToledo is looking to provide more pathways for students to transfer seamlessly to the university, for adults to pursue their goals of a college degree, and for more people to take advantage of the convenience of 100% online programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
UToledo launched its new brand this summer, The Power To Do, that embraces the impact the University has as a public research institution and an academic medical center. New marketing materials highlight the power of UToledo’s teaching, research and care through the stories of faculty experts, successful students and alumni, and dedicated staff, and are introducing UToledo to new audiences.
