The University of Oregon again expects to hold this year’s overall enrollment at a number close to last year’s figure as it develops plans to expand campus facilities to accommodate larger numbers.

But in the meantime, the university continues to increase the number of college graduates in the state by increasing its graduation rate. And with another broadly representative incoming class, it remains one of the region's most diverse universities.

With students still arriving on campus, the university is not yet able to provide a figure for total enrollment. But the UO has intentionally been holding enrollment close to the current level as the campus maintains the quality of education and turns its focus to enabling affordability for more Oregonians, hiring faculty and building academic spaces after several years of significant enrollment growth.

Official enrollment statistics are typically released after the first four weeks of classes. However, officials say this year’s total student number will be close to last fall’s figure of 24,548.

“The university continues to see rising numbers of applications from Oregonians and from prospective students across the country and around the world,” said Roger Thompson, the UO’s vice president for enrollment management. “We are increasing access and affordability for our students and are working hard to get students graduated on time, which is something we do very well.”

The university plays a major role in the state’s goal of increasing the total number of Oregonians with a college degree. The UO currently has the highest graduation rate among public universities in Oregon and one of the shortest time-to-completion rates, at an average of four years and one term. And a significant number of out-of-state students choose to remain in Oregon to pursue careers.

Expanding campus facilities to allow it to accept and graduate more students will be a prime focus of future fundraising efforts, UO leaders say.

As noted in the recently released U.S. News & World Report's Best Colleges list, the retention rate at the UO is the highest among public universities in the state and is on the rise. The average freshman retention rate increased from 85 percent to 87 percent last year and is expected to remain steady this year.

The demographics of the incoming class -- on target to hold steady with last year at close to 5,100 -- support the mission of the UO to increase access to underrepresented and underserved groups. These efforts are further reflected in the percentage of Oregonians who are first-generation college students, at 32 percent, and the 37 percent of incoming Oregonian freshman who are eligible for the federal Pell grant — a need-based grant that helps lower-income families send children to college.

This year, PathwayOregon will enroll its largest class in program history, with 532 Oregonian freshmen receiving assistance. Enrollment in the program rose by more than 35 percent in the past two years and will total more than 1,800 students this year, also the largest in its history.

In 2008, the UO introduced PathwayOregon as a promise to academically qualified, federal Pell Grant-eligible Oregonians. The program ensures eligible Oregonians will have their UO tuition paid with a combination of federal, state and university funds. In 2013, UO’s contribution to PathwayOregon funds was increased by 69 percent to serve a greater number of students.

“The PathwayOregon program is particularly exciting to me. It is held up by the U.S. Department of Education as national model for serving lower-income students,” Thompson said. “We continue to enroll more than 500 students each year, all Oregonians, all lower-income students. Oregon, and the UO in particular, has long valued equity in education access, and we are thrilled to set the standard for access to higher education.”

The preliminary enrollment information shows that the UO continues to be one of the most diverse campuses in the Northwest. Students of ethnic heritage make up approximately 22 percent of this year’s total enrollment, making this the second year in a row that number has exceeded the statewide average of 20 percent.

Of those students who are United States residents, 27 percent are from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups.

“Every year the University of Oregon welcomes students from an array of backgrounds, and we at the university continue to be amazed by the excitement and drive that each class brings,” Thompson said.

Geographically speaking, more than half of the incoming class hails from Oregon with the remainder breaking out as 36 percent out-of-state students and 12 percent international students. The UO enrolls students from all Oregon counties, 50 states and almost 100 countries around the world.