University freshman boom outpaces campus housing

State of play: About 1,300 students have university housing contracts but are living off-campus at the Atmosphere, Cardinal, Locale and Marshall, university spokesperson John Thomas told Axios in an email.

• A new dorm, Maple Hill Central, is under construction and set to open in 2028 with 740 beds. Maple Hill North is another being designed and is projected to open in 2029, pending Board of Trustees approval, he said. Its number of beds is TBD.

By the numbers: About 7,100 freshmen are attending the University of Arkansas this fall, the university announced.

• Early estimates for total enrollment, including undergraduate, graduate and law students, show the university is likely in for its second-largest enrollment ever with about 34,000 students.
• The newest Razorbacks have the highest-ever average high school GPA of 3.87, which university leaders say is promising for its goal to increase graduation rates.

NorthWest Arkansas Community College saw a 6% increase in freshmen this fall, compared to fall 2025, with about 1,600 freshmen enrolled on the 11th day of classes, according to a news release.

• Overall, the school's enrollment for academic-credit students increased by 1.8% to 9,177 students.