The University of Nevada, Reno welcomed 20,898 undergraduate and graduate students to campus for the fall 2015 semester, representing a 4.8 percent increase over the fall 2014 enrollment of 19,934 students.

Undergraduate student enrollment increased 5.9 percent this year, from 16,330 in fall 2014 to 17,295 in 2015. Graduate student enrollment increased 1 percent, from last year's 2,820 students to 2,851 in 2015.

Incoming freshmen account for 3,851 students this fall, a 13.7 percent increase over last fall's 3,387 freshmen students. This year's freshman class, The Class of 2019, is well prepared academically with an average high-school grade-point average of 3.4 and average ACT score of 23.6.

The class includes 16 National Merit Scholars, which brings the total National Merit scholarship recipients on campus to 50, a 30 percent increase over five years. The incoming class also includes 121 Presidential Scholars, a 20 percent increase over last year. The student body now includes more than 300 recipients of the Presidential Scholarship, a University scholarship awarded to high-achieving students.

"The University of Nevada, Reno increasingly is being seen as a quality academic offering and experience, and the ability to attract these students is an important contribution toward the regional economic resurgence," University President Marc Johnson said. "As the University grows, we continue to emphasize academic preparation and student success."

Contributing to the enrollment increase is the fall-to-fall retention rate of 81 percent. Retention rates are based on the number of students returning following their freshman year.

Both in-state and out-of-state representation within the undergraduate student body increased with in-state students up 4.5 percent and non-resident students up 8.2 percent. Exemplifying the University's statewide mission, the incoming freshmen class includes students from 16 Nevada counties. For the first time, the incoming freshmen class includes more students from Nevada's Clark County (1,122) than Washoe County (1,099).

Diversity of the student body also continues to increase. This year, underrepresented students comprise 35 percent of the total enrollment, compared to 33 percent last year.

"During their time with us, students contribute much to the vibrancy, economy and social fabric of our community and region," Shannon Ellis, University vice president of student services, said. "The combination of a well-rounded experience and completion of their degree prepares them for careers and productive citizenship."

"There are many aspects to preparing our campus for continued growth, and this effort is guided by our Capacity Study, completed in late 2014, and our strategic and master plans, which were updated in late 2014," Johnson said. "In addition to construction of new campus facilities, we are adding faculty positions and hiring in other key areas."

The University also learned Sept. 9 it is again ranked in the top tier of the "best national universities" by U.S. News & World Report.

"This is dynamic time for the University of Nevada, Reno," Johnson said. "I am enormously proud of what our faculty, staff and students continue to accomplish."