After five consecutive years of declining enrollment, The University of Alabama in Huntsville is projecting its first increase since reaching a record 10,000 students in 2020.
UAH expects total enrollment to climb about 2% this fall to approximately 8,529 students, fueled by increases among new undergraduate and graduate students.
New first-year undergraduate enrollment is currently up 5%, new graduate enrollment is up 6.5% and overall undergraduate enrollment is tracking 2.5% higher, according to preliminary numbers released by the university.
Official fall enrollment figures will not be available until after UAH’s enrollment census.
“This is an exciting moment for UAH because these numbers show that our enrollment strategy is working,” said Dr. Michael Poll, vice provost for enrollment management. “Through our strategic enrollment roadmap, we have been very intentional about how we engage with students and families, and we are seeing the results in the number of students choosing UAH.”
The projected turnaround comes after a sustained enrollment decline at the Huntsville university.
UAH reached a record 10,000 students in fall 2020 following six consecutive years of growth. Enrollment then fell to 9,636 in 2021, 9,237 in 2022, 8,743 in 2023, 8,564 in 2024 and 8,362 last fall.
That amounts to a decline of more than 16% from UAH’s 2020 peak.
The university has previously acknowledged the enrollment challenge. In its 2024 financial report, UAH cited declining enrollment and credit-hour production, particularly among out-of-state students, and said it had realigned its enrollment management operations and was making strategic investments in advising and student services aimed at improving retention.
The decline also came as some other public universities in North Alabama were expanding. The University of North Alabama has reported enrollment growth each fall since 2020, climbing from 8,361 students that year to more than 10,700 in 2025. UNA has reported its enrollment has increased by nearly 4,000 students since 2017, the strongest rate of growth among Alabama’s public universities.
At UAH, administrators say a more deliberate recruitment strategy is beginning to produce results.
For undergraduate recruitment, the university has emphasized more personalized guidance for prospective students and families, scholarship strategy, stronger relationships with high school counselors and improvements to the campus visit experience.
“We know students have choices, and we want to make sure they have the information, support and experience they need to make UAH their choice,” Poll said. “The growth in our first-year class is especially encouraging because it tells us that our message is resonating with students.”
UAH also has expanded its efforts to recruit graduate students.
The university launched Charger EDGE in 2025 and later expanded the program. Alumni EDGE provides tuition discounts to UAH graduates pursuing additional graduate education, while the Community Partnerships program offers discounts to employees of participating organizations.
Graduate recruitment communications also were revamped to provide prospective students with more individualized assistance and clearer information about programs.
The early gains build on signs of improvement in UAH’s freshman recruitment. The university enrolled 1,220 freshmen in fall 2025, its second consecutive year of freshman-class growth, even as total university enrollment continued to decline.
“We are encouraged by the momentum we are seeing across the university,” Poll said. “Our goal is not simply to grow enrollment. It is to attract students who recognize the quality and relevance of a UAH education and who will thrive here.”
If the preliminary numbers hold, fall 2026 would represent an important reversal for UAH, although enrollment would remain well below the university’s 2020 high.
Official enrollment numbers are expected later this fall.
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