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Dear AU Community:

Last week marked the university’s official census date, when we finalized our enrollment count for the semester. With that milestone behind us, we wanted to share some positive news.

Our incoming first-year class of 1,612 students grew 4 percent over last year’s. Together with 123 transfer students, we proudly welcome 1,735 new undergraduate Eagles.

On the graduate side, we reached 18,111 credits, falling approximately 800 credits short of our goal. This result reflects strong performance during a challenging period for graduate education nationally. The decline in international students has disproportionally affected graduate programs, particularly in business, engineering, and STEM.

AU also performed better than expected on first-year retention, which landed at 87 percent.  This outcome shows continued progress, though we will not settle until first-year retention reaches 90 percent or higher.

Those numbers only tell part of the story. The students joining us this fall fill in the rest:

• They come from near and far. Our first-year undergrads represent 44 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and 25 countries. They come from 1,137 high schools (including 50 that sent four or more students to AU). Our new graduate students represent 89 countries and more than 700 undergraduate institutions, while our incoming law students represent 27 countries.
• They already raise the academic standard. Our first-year undergrads came with an average 3.5 GPA (unweighted); while our incoming law class brings the strongest entering LSAT scores and undergraduate GPAs in Washington College of Law’s (WCL) history. WCL had one of its strongest enrollment cycles in years, with applications up almost 11 percent, leading to a much lower admit rate.
• They want to serve: New students responded to both the call for public service and AU’s commitment, unique among major universities, to finance a paid internship for every undergraduate student.  The School of Public Affairs welcomed its second largest first-year class ever, and the School of International Service’s first-year class grew by 16 percent. These students can turn their commitment to service into meaningful careers by building experience through internships and pursuing opportunities to help shape the country’s future after the next presidential election.
• Their talents extend beyond the classroom. Our new undergrads include a Resident Kid DJ for the NBA, a musician who performed with John Williams and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and an Eagle Scout who placed sixth at the 2025 world championship in competitive yoga. Our athletes include a two-time Florida basketball champion and the highest-ranked wrestling recruit in our program’s history.
• They know what it means to serve, lead, and compete. Our graduate students include 59 veterans or current service members. Our 1Ls include eight former Peace Corps volunteers, four AmeriCorps members, 24 NCAA athletes, and 37 students who have worked on Capitol Hill.
• They remind us that many paths lead to an AU education. Our graduate students range from GenZers to Baby Boomers; 320 double Eagles chose to continue their educational journey with us. Eighteen percent of our new undergraduate class will begin their AU journey as first-generation college students.

We proudly welcome every one of our new Eagles and will continue to work to ensure that they have what they need to succeed, graduate, and build impact.

Thank you to all of you who helped bring these students to AU and to the faculty and staff supporting them every day. To our newest Eagles, welcome home!

Sincerely, 

Dave Marchick
Interim President

Vicky Wilkins
Provost, Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer

Jeremy Lowe
Interim Vice President, Undergraduate Enrollment Management