University of Charleston Sustains Historic Enrollment Levels as Campus Residential Population Reaches Decade High

For the third year in a row, about 3,000 students are calling the University of Charleston (UC) home, marking one of the strongest enrollment periods in school history.

The milestone follows a record-setting 2025, when UC recorded its highest enrollment since 1969 across its Charleston campus, Beckley location, and online programs.

That growth is especially visible on the Charleston campus, where undergraduate enrollment reached a five-year high of 823 students. UC is also seeing one of its largest residential populations in years, with 723 students living in residence halls this fall, the most in a decade.

“UC is as strong as ever,” UC President Marty Roth said. “Our enrollment remains near historic levels. We have more students living on campus, and we continue to see high demand across our academic offerings in Charleston, Beckley and online. That strength comes from our focus on delivering a career-relevant education that prepares students with the knowledge, skills, and experience to succeed in the real world.”

That strength is also evident in some of the institution’s newest healthcare graduate programs. A combined 144 students are now enrolled in the university’s Doctor of Nursing Anesthesia Practice (DNAP), Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) and Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs, a 106% increase from last year and the highest combined enrollment since the programs launched.

“The growth we’re seeing in our healthcare programs reflects both the demand for highly skilled professionals and the kind of education students are looking for,” Mindy Smith, Dean of Health Sciences, said. “They want hands-on experience, faculty who know and support them, and a clear path from the classroom to a meaningful career. We’ve been intentional about building programs that deliver on those expectations while preparing graduates to meet critical healthcare needs in West Virginia and beyond.”

The strong enrollment comes amid broader success for the university. Niche named UC the Best College in West Virginia for the second consecutive year, while Business Insider found that UC undergraduates lead the state in early-career earnings. UC was also recently named a Top Yellow Ribbon School by U.S. Veterans Magazine, recognizing its commitment to military and veteran students.

“These results tell us we are moving in the right direction, but we are not standing still,” Roth said. “We will continue investing in our students and creating new opportunities that position UC for an even stronger future.”