This fall the University of Utah welcomed its most academically prepared class of first-year students. The freshman cohort for the Fall 2019 Semester includes 4,249 students boasting an impressive 3.66 average high school GPA and an average ACT composite score of 25.8.

“We are thrilled that over 4,200 freshmen from across Utah, the nation and the globe decided to enroll at the U,” said Steve Robinson, senior associate vice president for Enrollment Management. “These students represent the most academically prepared group of students to begin classes at the flagship university of our state. We know that the class of 2023 will succeed and do great things while on campus and beyond.”

The U’s focus on student success has led to an increased six-year graduation rate, which now sits at 70%—well above the national average for four-year schools. The rate has jumped 16 percentage points over the past nine years, making it one of only two public higher-ed research institutions to achieve this success. On Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, the U hosted a College Completion Summit to bring together presidents and senior leaders from institutions that also significantly advanced their college completion rates in an effort to share best practices and develop actionable strategies to continue the work.

“The U offers students opportunities to participate in unique, engaged-learning experiences that facilitate the development of a community and a sense of belonging,” said Robinson. “These types of programs not only set students apart from their peers upon graduation but also provide support and resources that help them stay on track to graduate.”

The incoming class brings more diversity to campus with both a 54% increase in international students and more bilingual students than the previous class. Students of color represent 30% of the incoming domestic class. The U remains committed to providing access to Utah students, with 63% of the incoming class coming from 23 counties.

Overall enrollment includes 32,818 students. Of these, 24,485 are undergraduates, and 8,333 are seeking graduate degrees. The incoming class is just seven students short of last year’s record-setting incoming cohort. Over the past five years, the U’s enrollment has grown by 4%.