The recently reported that Kentucky led the nation in one-year gains in undergraduate persistence and retention from 2023 to 2024, with increases of 9.8% and 7.9% respectively. These gains pushed the commonwealth above the national average in both measures and UofL is proud to be a driving force behind that progress, with its own historic milestone of record retention and enrollment.

What sets UofL apart is the way it supports students not only when they begin college but throughout their entire academic journey.

Smoothing path for transfer students

As a top transfer destination in the state, one major way UofL supports the state is by making it easier for students to transfer and continue their education. ÌýFrom fall 2021 to fall 2023, UofL’s transfer student total grew from 868 to 1,207, a significant 39.1% increase.

To build on that momentum, the university expanded its partnership last year with all 16 Kentucky Community and Technical College System schools, offering scholarships, financial aid, advising and satellite offices on partner campuses. This initiative ensures students transition seamlessly to UofL and keeps them on track toward their degrees.

Programs built for persistence

Supporting transfers is just one piece of the puzzle. Staying in college is about more than academics as life can throw unexpected challenges in the way. Imagine right before the semester starts your car gets vandalized, and the money you’d saved for tuition suddenly has to cover repairs. You start wondering if staying in school is even possible.

That’s where a comes in. This unique on-campus role helps students navigate a wide range of challenges from financial worries and personal struggles to academic hurdles and uncertainty about majors. Their mission is to give every Cardinal the support and confidence they need to keep going.

“We are your designated helpful person at the university,â€� said Anika Strand, a coordinator in the . “If you need a problem solver, if you need someone who’s just going to help you get the information you need or get to the right person, that’s what we’re here for. We are your teammate, your advocate when either something’s going wrong or you’re just feeling uncertain or confused about just college life.â€�

Expanding access

Another important effort to keep students in school through graduation is to ensure their education remains affordable. UofL gave thousands of Kentucky students access to additional aid to attend the university by expanding the Cardinal Commitment Grant, which is renewable throughout a student’s college tenure. The grant narrows the gap between financial aid and the total cost of attendance, which includes housing, dining, transportation, books and other miscellaneous expenses.

UofL’s dedication to redefining student success is driving real results and moving Kentucky forward together. Learn more about how UofL is creating thriving futures in the commonwealth and beyond at uoflnews.com. ÌýÌý

The university also boasts a record high fall-to-fall retention rate of 84.1%, showcasing student satisfaction and success.

“Our enrollment and retention numbers send a clear message – students want to be here at the University of Louisville,â€� said President Gerry Bradley. “This remarkable growth is a powerful vote of confidence from thousands of students who have weighed their options and chose UofL and Louisville as their home. We’re committed to providing an outstanding education that prepares them for the careers and challenges of tomorrow.â€�

Enrollment highlights

Preliminary figures show that 3,373 first-time college students enrolled for the fall 2025 semester, a nearly 8% increase from the previous year.

Other highlights of the Class of 2029 include:

• 38.6% are first-generation college students
• Nearly 27% are from other states
• Top five majors are engineering, nursing, biology, education and business

Overall undergraduate enrollment increased by nearly 1,000 students, with notable gains in the Kent School of Social Work and Family Science, the College of Business, the School of Nursing and the College of Arts and Sciences. Graduate and professional enrollments also rose, particularly in the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law.

This year’s student body also includes representation from every Kentucky county, a testament to UofL’s statewide impact and reach.

Expanding student opportunities

Behind these record numbers are intentional efforts to expand access and affordability. The university has invested in targeted recruitment, launched new and innovative academic programs and increased financial aid opportunities. For example, the is one opportunity that makes college more affordable for many out-of-state students. In-state tuition is available to students from Illinois, most of Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia and select counties in Tennessee starting next fall.

“I chose UofL because coming here gave me the opportunity to become debt free after college,� said Casey Beck, a third-year College of Business student from Cincinnati, Ohio. “The Border Benefit cut out-of-state tuition in half, and UofL quickly became a top pick in college choices due to the jumpstart on college expenses.�

Final enrollment numbers will be available in November 2025. For more information, visit .

TRIO offers individuals one-on-one and group academic advising, tutoring, financial counseling, cultural excursions, professional mentoring, career exploration, workshops and more. The initiative also works with pre-college students and provides summer programming, college tours and college application assistance.

This year, during Kentucky TRIO Day in February, UofL TRIO provided two days of workshops, speakers and academic competitions. TRIO Day was established in 1986 by Congress to commemorate the annual achievements of the federal TRIO programs in communities across the country.

UofL News sat down with Laila Shell, a beneficiary of the program and a sophomore in the College of ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ and Human Development studying middle and secondary education.

UofL News: How did you discover TRIO’s student support services?

Shell:
I was in middle school — I think 7th grade, and I can’t really tell you how it came about or how I found out about it. But I just know a lot of my friends were like, “Oh, there’s this program called TRIO,â€� and we just all signed up together. We knew that it would allow us to visit colleges, and it was a good opportunity to explore and meet new people.

UofL News:ÌýWhat was the most beneficial support that TRIO provided you?

Shell:
Definitely the tours, visiting campuses and college readiness. They helped us make sure that we were studying for tests like the ACT, really making sure that we were on track to graduate and have a future in a college or whatever else.

UofL News: What would you say to students who are curious about the support services?

Shell:
I would say try it, you could only gain from it. I feel like the dedication and the warm guidance that they give you is one-of-a-kind; they put their all into making sure that you’re on the right track to graduate and just have a good future.

It’s something you should definitely look into if you have the time for it — go to the sessions, attend the trips. Most of it is very low cost or free, so you really have nothing to lose, all to gain. You make the connections, the network and it’s a good opportunity to make sure that you get yourself out there and prepared for college.

UofL News: How has TRIO Student Support Services impacted your experience at UofL?

Shell:
The study areas that we have and the communal vibe. First-generation students and students who fewer financial resources just all getting together and sharing that space for growth. The resources are there. You can’t say, “I don’t have someone or people to confide in,” they’re all going through the same things you’re going through. It’s just a space to be yourself and get the guidance and resources you need to succeed.

UofL News: How has TRIO impacted your experience? Beyond UofL, do you see your future being impacted by the services that TRIO provided?

Shell:
I think it’s really the connections for me. I feel like we’re all individuals who want the best for ourselves. I feel like the connections that I make within this group is long-term, it’s fulfilling to see people that look like me and that want to be successful in the future. The connections and the networking that goes along within the program are probably some of the most beneficial things for me. Stepping outside of academics, social life on campus is really important to make sure that you’re motivated to keep going and have people to depend on. So, I feel like the networking aspect of it has helped me a lot. I am a better person as far as communicating and making myself known and putting myself out there to try new things and be involved with other aspects of campus.

UofL News: What obstacles would you have faced to your education without TRIO services?

Shell:
I wouldn’t be as open-minded as I am. The barriers that you face as a first-generation student can sometimes limit your beliefs and your expectations for your future. This has provided me more knowledge about the resources that I have on campus. They provide it and they give it to you and it’s just easy to grasp information and resources here. So, without them, I don’t know if I would be able to succeed in college or even be the best version of me.

UofL News: Like envisioning your potential?

Shell:
Yeah, I probably would feel the odds are set against me, you know? But here I feel seen, and I feel valued. That allows me to be the best version of me.

Beginning with the fall 2024 semester, the Border Benefit award will expand to include transfer and first-time college students in all counties in Ohio and West Virginia. The Border Benefit is already available to accepted first-time freshmen and transfer students from all counties in Illinois and Indiana as well as select Ohio counties and some counties surrounding the Nashville and St. Louis metropolitan areas.

Students residing in regional areas can receive an estimated $16,000 per year award, which reduces their tuition to the equivalent of Kentucky in-state tuition. Since the award’s inception in 2022, 465 students have received the Border Benefit award. In fall 2023, Border Benefit students made up over 13% of the incoming freshman class.Ìý

“The Border Benefit expansion is just one example of UofL’s dedication to increasing access to and affordability of education,� said Jim Begany, vice president of enrollment management. “We’re eager to help more students find success and earn their college degree without an overwhelming financial burden.�

Incoming students automaticallyÌýreceive the renewable award upon admission to UofL. No additional application is required. Students must submit a to apply before May 1. UofL guarantees the Border Benefit award until May 1 for students entering UofL in the fall.

For more information on the Border Benefit award, visit

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.

The Cardinal Commitment Grant is a last-dollar scholarship that pays for the remainder of a student’s UofL tuition after they have received and applied federal and state grant awards and additional institutional aid.

“Kentucky students deserve a high-quality and life-changing education, and the Cardinal Commitment Grant allows us to provide that while eliminating the stress of wondering where the money to pay the bill is coming from,� said interim President Lori Stewart Gonzalez. “College affordability is a priority for our university and we are continuously looking at ways to increase access to education.�

To be eligible for the Cardinal Commitment Grant, students must be Kentucky residents with at least a 3.25 weighted GPA who are first-year students enrolled full time at UofL for the fall 2022 semester. Students must have filed the 2022-2023 (FAFSA) and be eligible for a Pell Grant.

“We are proud to serve many Pell-eligible and first-generation students,� said interim Provost Gerry Bradley. “The Cardinal Commitment is another chance for us to redefine our students’ success and do our part to improve social mobility.�

The Cardinal Commitment Grant is renewable until a student earns their first bachelor’s degree; however, the initial award amount is locked in for that time frame regardless of changes to state or federal aid.

Eligible students should by May 1 to be automatically considered for the Cardinal Commitment Grant. Additional details on the scholarship are available at .

Last-dollar scholarships are designed to award additional aid to cover the cost of tuition. The award amount is calculated by taking the cost of tuition minus all federal and state grant awards minus all university/institutional aid. The Cardinal Commitment Grant will cover tuition and bundled fees.

Continuing her passion for helping people realize their educational dreams, Clark recalls the 1999 day that Jenny Sawyer in admissions told her she was getting what Clark described as her then-dream job of admissions counselor to recruit minority students to UofL. She discussed her growth through many UofL roles as student and staff member in a Q&A with Louisville Alumni:

Degrees: Bachelor of science in music education (1993) from University of Arkansas; master of educational psychology with an emphasis in college student personnel (2001) from University of Louisville; PhD in leadership in higher education (anticipated 2022) from Bellarmine University.

Current Occupation: Vice president for student services at Simmons College of Kentucky; owner of Phyllis Clark Consulting; owner of Essence Promotions; founder of EMERGE Institute for Women & Girls.

How has your UofL experience shaped your career or community involvement? I am thrilled to acknowledge that I served 17 years at the University of Louisville in capacities that fueled my professional growth and augmented my personal and professional development. The opportunities I received and the relationships I formed with beautiful colleagues and cohort members, (many of whom I still know and love to this day), coupled with my graduate school experiences have positioned me for the service to which I have been called at Simmons College of Kentucky, the nation’s 107th historically Black college and university.

I distinctly remember the hug Jenny Sawyer, the executive director of undergraduate admissions, shared with me on a warm August afternoon of 1999 after telling me that I was the candidate of choice for the position for which I applied and that I’d be working to also recruit minority students to the university. This was my first professional position at UofL as an admissions counselor and was my absolute dream job after concluding my service as orchestra teacher for seven schools in Jefferson County.

Although my roles changed throughout my tenure on campus, I was always afforded the opportunity to sharpen my skillset and increase my higher education knowledge base in and out of the classroom through a variety of professional development activities, educational badges, trainings, and asset-mapping and building. I’ll never forget being able to sharpen my speaking and presentation skills through sharing information about UofL through our weekly campus visit programs, open houses or representing the university at community and/or faith-based events. Being encouraged and given the space to create innovative programs and services for students through Diversity Recruitment and the Cultural Center stretched me to the max but I loved all of it. I just recently learned that many of the programs my team and I created in the early-to-mid ‘90s remain active in some form today.

What is most memorable for me is that UofL provided me the opportunity to work in critical positions that permitted me to assist in the personal and professional development and persistence of Black students. You might know them collectively as the Porter Scholars and the Martin Luther King Scholars. These scholarship student groups represent the best and the brightest from the local area, region and state. Helping young minoritized men and women realize their educational dreams remains my passion, in this, my 26th year of service to the education profession.

The graduate and professional experiences I received at UofL have shaped who I am today and I am better for it. All of my “learning moments� helped to preserve and prepare me for the service, coaching and entrepreneurial endeavors with which I am engaged today and I am eternally grateful.

To read the entire Q&A, click .Ìý

The coronavirus pandemic prompted some spring test dates to be canceled or postponed. The uncertainty over future testing options caused concern for high school juniors and their families. UofL hopes to alleviate some of that anxiety by making the tests optional.

Tests still will be required for certain programs, such as those in the J.B. Speed School of Engineering, School of Nursing and College of Business. Most scholarships, including competitive and mentored scholarships, also will continue to require test scores. UofL will have some merit aid available for students without test scores.

“We have always attempted to look at students holistically,� said Jenny Sawyer, UofL’s executive director of admissions, “especially students with excellent grades, a strong desire to learn and be a college graduate and those without the resources of others. This gives us the opportunity to provide access to UofL in new ways and reduce the stress of standardized tests to our prospective students, especially during these difficult times.�

First-time freshman who choose not to submit ACT or SAT results will follow the same process as those who do not meet the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥â€™s College Readiness Indicators. They will be required to take one of several exams in math or reading to determine their proper first-year placement in courses after they are accepted.

As a trial, UofL allowed some students to apply for the freshmen fall 2020 class without submitting ACT or SAT scores. Those students provided a personal statement and resume, and grades and curriculum weighed more heavily in the decisions. The test-optional policy will be reviewed by the university to see if it will continue beyond fall 2021. For more information, visit

Ìý

More students are taking advantage of , a partnership with United Parcel Service that makes it possible for students to earn a degree and graduate debt-free. There also is an upsurge in new students enrolled part-time, many of whom are interested in the university’s growing number of online degree programs, which tend to attract adult students who work full-time.Ìý

“UofL strives to be an institution where every student can create their own path to graduation, including traditional, online and part-time students. I’m excited to see continued growth in programs that serve every type of student,� said UofL President Neeli Bendapudi. “This will be my second incoming class, and I’ve been counting down the days until the fall semester begins.�

The increased participation in the Metropolitan College program is most likely attributed to UPS’ boost in the starting wage to $14 for overnight package handlers, effectively drawing a greater number of students who work for the shipping company, which then pays for their full-time undergraduate tuition. Metropolitan College also recently implemented an option for students to begin the program part time during a “transitionalâ€� semester, contributing to the university’s uptick in freshmen attending school part time.Ìý

Another factor in the increase of part-time students is the growing number of completely online programs.ÌýUofL offers more than 35ÌýonlineÌýprogramsÌýincluding master’s, bachelor’s, certificates and teaching endorsements. Of this fall’s new students, 485 plan to earn their degrees completely online; most of those are adults returning to college. UofL’s current online enrollment for all students is 1,469.Ìý

The increased availability of online programs and strong partnerships with Metropolitan College and Jefferson Community & Technical College have helped UofL attract 77 transfer students for fall semester. JCTC students can participate in the Metropolitan College program.

Of students starting today, nearly 2,600 are freshmen. Here’s a snapshot of the first-time freshman class:

• 56% have some college credits
• 17% are African American or identify as mixed race
• 6% are Hispanic/LatinoÌý
• 72% live on campusÌý
• 17% are first-generation college students
• 25.6 is the average ACT score, well above the 2018 Kentucky average of 20
• 3.6 is the average high school grade-point average, based on a 4.0 scale
• 22% are from outside Kentucky
• 38 states represented
• 271 part-time incoming freshmen, up 70 from last year
• Psychology, biology, business, education and nursing are the five most popular majors.

The awards ceremony recognizes high achieving graduates based on their merit and contributions to the community. Each year, one alumna or alumnus of the year is selected along with 13 Alumni Fellows from each of the schools, colleges, libraries, and student affairs.Ìý

Alumna of the Year

• Jenny L. Sawyer ’78,Ìýexecutive director ofÌýadmissionsÌýat the University of Louisville.

Alumni Fellows

• Brandeis School of Law
  Edwin S. Hopson, Sr. ’67, ’69, partner atÌýWyatt, Tarrant and Combs.
• College of Arts and Sciences
  George Nichols, III ’85,Ìýpresident and chief executive officer of the American College of Financial Services.
• College of Business
  Raymond E. Loyd ’68, founder of Derby Industries and Derby Fabricating.
• College of ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ and Human Development
  Linda F. Hargan ’71, ’73, ’93,Ìýfounder, president, and chief executive officer emeritus of CTL.
• J. B. Speed School of Engineering
  Gerald G. Hubbs ’64, ’76, retired vice president and director of engineering at the Brown-Forman Corporation.Ìý
• Kent School of Social Work
  Ruby Gordon ’66, ’72, former social worker with JCPS and Hillebrand House.
• School of Dentistry
  Karen L. Pierce-West ’77, ’82,Ìýdean and professor of biomedical sciences at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine.
• School of Medicine
  Shawn C. Jones ’82, ’86, ’93,Ìýfounder of Purchase ENT, an ENT-otolaryngologist specialty group in Paducah, Kentucky.Ìý
• School of Music
  John M. Hoover ’63, ’69, former director of bands at the University of Louisville.
• School of Nursing
  Flora Ponder ’87, former head nurse at the Louisville and Jefferson County Health Department and director of nurses at the Park-Duvalle Community Health Center.Ìý
• School of Public Health and Information Sciences
  Lewatis D. McNeal ’16,Ìýassistant dean of administration of inclusive excellence and special projects at Northern Kentucky University.
• Student Affairs
  Todd A. Schmiedeler ’97,ÌýTrilogy Health Service’s senior vice president of Foundation & Workforce Development and founder and president of Thumbprint Consulting.
• University Libraries
  Morris M. Weiss Jr. ’58, cardiologist with Medical Center Cardiologists and clinical professor of medicine in cardiology at the University of Louisville.

This year’s awardees will be honored at the 2019 Alumni Awards ceremony October 24.