UNC Charlotte and East Carolina University reported higher enrollment for this year’s class.
Charlotte enrolled 31,091 students for the fall 2024 semester, surpassing the previous record of 30,488 in the fall 2021 semester. The campus had 30,298 students last year, according to UNC System reports.
“These record-breaking numbers reflect the outstanding work of our faculty and staff and our commitment to the success of all students, through rising retention and graduation rates,” Chancellor Sharon Gaber said in a release.
ECU said it had a total enrollment of 26,941 for fall 2024. That compares with 26,785 last year, the UNC System said. Total enrollment at ECU peaked at 29,131 in 2017, and had declined over the past three years.
NC State had the largest enrollment in the UNC System last year, with about 37,323 students. UNC Chapel Hill was second at 32,234. Both campuses have much larger graduate enrollment than the Charlotte and Greenville universities, which rank as third- and fourth-largest in the UNC System.
UNC Charlotte said 42% of its students this year identify as Black, Hispanic, Asian American, Pacific Islander and Native American, including nearly 16% who are Hispanic.
UNC Chapel Hill and NC State haven’t reported their total enrollment. The numbers aren’t official until later in the semester.