Led by increases in the numbers of Black and Latino/Hispanic students, as well as students from outside Kentucky, UofL has welcomed more first-year Cardinals this fall than ever before, said Lori Stewart Gonzalez, interim president.

“More than 65% of these students are living on campus, many in our new, state-of-the-art residence halls,” Gonzalez said. “We are honored they chose us and are looking forward to a productive, successful year.”

Black students total 16.47% of first-time, baccalaureate degree-seeking students, up from 13.99% last year, while Latino/Hispanic students total 8.49% of that group, up from 7% last year.

The most popular majors are business, engineering, education, psychology, nursing and biology. More than a third — 34.38% — are pursuing a degree in a science, technology, engineering, mathematics or health field (STEM+H).

Other highlights of the Class of 2026 are:

• 45.52% have some college credits

• 5.54% are Asian

• 5.84% identify as multi-racial

• 65.22% live on campus

• 35.12% are first-generation college students

• 27.58% are from outside Kentucky, representing 37 states

• 3.6 is the average high school grade-point average, based on a 4.0 scale

• 237 are part-time.

UofL this year completed construction of a Belknap Campus residence hall complex primarily for first-year students. The new buildings are in the heart of Belknap Campus near classroom buildings, the Swain Student Activities Center, Ekstrom Library and the Interfaith Center. In addition, a new Belknap Campus residence hall, Denny Crum Hall, opened near the basketball practice facility on Floyd Street.

“She’s going to do big things so watch out for her!” said Ted Sauer, who was pushing a cart filled with dorm essentials for his daughter Kelsey Tyler at Belknap Residence Hall. 

Tyler, accepted into the School of Nursing, is one of about 2,000 first-year students moving into campus housing for the 2022-2023 academic year. Almost half of them are settling into twin residence halls that are part of an $87 million construction plan to transform the heart of Belknap Campus. One opened last fall, the other opened Tuesday near the Swain Student Activities Center.

Alli Edwards and her mother, Mary Edwards, of Cincinnati, couldn’t contain their excitement — or their tears — as they hugged.

“I was really excited that she picked Louisville because the campus seems very safe and the opportunities here, it seems like there’s a lot of them,” Mary Edwards said, holding a shopping bag filled with items.

Nolan Macklin, a track star from Dallas, Texas, who committed to UofL about six weeks ago, walked around Belknap Campus with his mother, Elisa Macklin. He is eager for track season to start, he said.

Mom’s best advice to her only child? 

“I want him to really enjoy college life. I want him to make sure he focuses on his studies. I know he is going to run track but the important thing is getting the grades and getting a good education and everything else will fall into place,” she said.

Other residence halls on Belknap Campus are Unitas Tower, also primarily for first-year students; the suites in Community Park, Kurz Hall, Louisville Hall and Billy Minardi Hall, and apartments in Cardinal Towne, Bettie Johnson, University Pointe and University Tower.

UofL Athletics has also opened a new residence hall this year on Belknap Campus near the basketball practice facility and closer to Cardinal Stadium, where the UofL football team plays and practices. Denny Crum Hall, named for the legendary UofL men’s basketball coach, will be dedicated in September.

Dozens of have been planned for incoming first-years, commuting students and transfer students.

Just some of the activities include a Cardinal Kickoff Picnic with UofL interim President Lori Stewart Gonzalez; the traditional SOUL community service day; a pep rally and late-night outdoor games at Cardinal Stadium; a “Taste of Louisville” lunch; a “Looking for Louie” scavenger hunt; yoga classes and late-night ice cream treats.

Classes begin Aug. 22.

Gabrielle Ayers, marketing communications coordinator for UofL’s Office of Communications and Marketing, contributed to this story.

The traditional-style hall is the second to open in two years on Belknap Campus, providing modern, affordable housing that goes to the heart of student success.

Called New Residence Hall (NRH), the building will accommodate 450 primarily first-year students in one- and two-bedroom units on five floors. It will also be home to UofL’s new, where  students can find hands-on job and research opportunities.

“We know students, especially in their first year, thrive when they are immersed in the college experience,” said Lori Stewart Gonzalez, interim president. “This new hall and its twin neighbor place 900 first-year students as close as they can be to the Swain Student Activities Center, the Interfaith Center, Ekstrom Library, numerous classroom buildings and our beautiful outdoor spaces.”

As part of its strategic plan, UofL has invested $87 million in these two Belknap Campus student housing projects over the past two years. Last year, UofL celebrated the opening of NRH’s neighbor and twin, currently named Belknap Residence Hall.

“The opening of this new residence hall is a culmination of over a decade of planning and implementing capital improvements to make the University of Louisville a vibrant learning and residential community for our students,” said Michael Mardis, vice president for student affairs and dean of students. “We at the university are excited to see a large number of new freshmen and returning students choosing to live on campus this year. Students who live on campus both here at UofL and nationally are more likely to be successful students.”

To make room, UofL demolished Miller and Threlkeld halls, which had been home to first-year students for close to six decades.

“Our new residence halls have the amenities students are looking for in the 21st century and will contribute to their success,” said Tom Hardy, executive director of university housing and the resident experience.

NRH was designed with input from students and offers common areas with abundant natural light, classrooms, private study rooms, a game room, a kitchen and several laundry areas. It also features private bathrooms.

Messer Construction was tapped to complete the project. During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Messer’s Jason Larkin said the company wanted to “meaningfully engage students” throughout the building process and created five co-ops for students to work on the project. Three of those students have since graduated and are now full-time employees at Messer. 

“I had the opportunity to tour the New Residence Hall shortly before construction was complete,” said Dorian Brown, 2022-2023 president of the UofL Student Government Association. “I thought it was pretty cool seeing a friend of mine who graduated from UofL after my freshman year, was on the construction team and was involved in bringing the New Residence Hall to life!”

A time capsule focused on the construction years of 2021 to 2022 was placed near the building’s dedication marker by the main door. It holds items such as the university’s strategic plan, a message from Gonzalez, Covid tests and masks, a newspaper marking the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine and sports updates.

In addition to these halls, UofL Athletics will soon celebrate the opening of the new 128-bed Denny Crum Residence Hall near the basketball practice facility.