Enrollment at The University of New Mexico in Albuquerque is on the rise again, highlighted by the University’s single largest first-year class. New first-year student registrations at the Albuquerque campus for Fall 2023 are up 3.1 percent, or 110 more students, compared with last year at this time. Fall 2023 marks only the second time since 2013 that the incoming freshman class has surpassed 3,500 students. With this autumn’s enrollment of 3,636 new first-year students, UNM will post its largest first-year class in school history.   

UNM’s preliminary total enrollment stands at 22,852 students, an increase of 752 students, or 3.4 percent, and more than double last fall’s increase of 1.6 percent. This fall’s enrollment represents UNM’s highest in total first-year student enrollment since 2013 and is the second consecutive year the institution has seen an overall marked increase. Enrollment figures are not official until submitted to the state. The fall term began on Aug. 21; UNM will submit official figures to the state later this month.   

“The University of New Mexico continues to see enrollment growth and it’s especially pleasing to see the record number of students in our incoming first-year class,” said Dan D. García, vice president for enrollment management.  

A number of key categories saw continued increases at the state’s flagship university for the 2023-24 academic year. In addition to beginning first-year students, other notable enrollment increases include a 4.6 percent (703) increase in returning students, a 16.9 percent increase (556) in the sophomore class, and a 6.2 percent (231) among juniors. While senior class enrollment dropped 1.1 percent (56), full-time international students increased 12.5 percent.   

UNM’s first-year class is one of the most diverse incoming classes in school history with 71 percent of new students coming from traditionally underrepresented populations. Hispanic students comprise 54 percent of the class and grew by 3.5 percent over last year.   

Three of UNM’s Branch Campuses —Gallup, Taos, and Valencia— also grew their enrollment. Collectively, UNM Branch Campus enrollments grew by 369 students (6.1 percent) this fall compared with last year’s figures.   

 
Below is a snapshot of the Fall 2023 first-time freshman class at UNM’s Albuquerque Campus:  

  • This year’s first-year class reflects an increase of 110 more students over last year (3.1 percent increase).  

  • Among new first-year students, 81.9 percent are from New Mexico, 16.9 percent are from out-of-state, and 1.2 percent are international.  

  • Students in the freshman class come from 44 U.S. states and territories, and 24 different nations outside the U.S. 

“It is so encouraging to see that our first-year enrollment has not only increased for the fourth year in a row, but will also likely be our largest class of Lobo freshmen ever,” said UNM President Garnett S. Stokes. “I am especially pleased to see that our first-year class continues to be exceptionally diverse and includes such a large number of in-state students. We are truly proud to be the University for New Mexico.”  

The University of New Mexico is one of only 146 institutions in the nation—and the only one in New Mexico–classified as a Carnegie Research I University, the highest research activity. Additionally, it is one of only 21 Research 1 Universities in the nation that is also designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). 

For more information on enrolling at UNM, visit UNM Admissions.