Student enrollment at the University of Arkansas has shown drastic growth throughout its 152-year history. Starting out with only seven boys and one girl, the university broke records with over 32,000 students enrolled for the fall 2023 semester. The new freshmen class totaled to 6,344 students, making it the second-biggest class in the university’s history. 

Although the university attracts students from diverse locations, this year marked an increase in the amount of in-state enrollment. According to the 11th-day enrollment report for fall 2023, the number of Arkansans attending the university increased by 5.9% from the previous year.  

“I never really saw myself going out of state and I just wanted to stay close to home,” Anette Castillo, a junior from Springdale said. “The U of A was at the top of my list.” 

Castillo majors in Childhood Education through the 5-year program offered by the College of Education and Health Professions.  

Aside from the proximity to home, Castillo said the community and financial aid the university offered were two other elements that made the university special to her.  

 Castillo said she enjoys working with children, which is one of the reasons she chose her major. Representation of the Latinx/e community was another.  

“I think that representation really matters for children,” Castillo said. “I just really want to be that representation here in Northwest Arkansas”.  

She is one of the 18% of students majoring in teacher education and 6,274 students enrolled at the college.  

Tzitlaly Lopez is also a junior enrolled in the College of Education and Health Professions, majoring in Communication Science and Disorders. 

Lopez said her workload can get difficult, which requires about 1-2 hours of study time multiple times a week. 

“The courses are hard, yes, but to know what I am going to achieve at the end of it is very rewarding,” Lopez said. She said she hopes to be a speech therapist after graduating. 

According to the U.S. News and World Report, a few of the most popular majors chosen at the university are business management, engineering and health professions with related programs. The College of Health and Professions is home of two of the largest departments at the university: The Department of Health and Human Performance and Recreation.