# Page 1
Executive Summary
Summer headcount is positive and COE students are registering for courses, though credit loads may be lighter than last year. Fall credit hours and headcount are both down but tracking closely with main campus trends. The undergraduate admissions funnel continues to grow while graduate fall admissions remains the primary area needing attention.
See bottom of page 2 for potential questions answered.
Growth Areas
Human Services & Behavioral Health doubled in fall applications. Almost all UG degree-seeking programs have seen dramatic application boosts.
Declines
Inclusive Early Childhood Education and post-bacc licensure programs declining. Secondary Education applications have plateaued in recent weeks.
Summer enrollment is flat with last year despite fewer applicants — yield is up to 30% vs. 23%. Fall yield needs attention: applications are up 20% but enrollment is down.
Growth Areas
MA in Special Education leads growth in both terms, likely driven by AMP partnership. Counseling & Human Services department leading summer headcount growth at 191 students.
Declines
Principal Licensure sharply down — note: 2025 had an unusually large cohort; cohorts now run through Extended Studies.
Summer grad enrollment is up by 2 students. Fall grad is catching up but the admissions funnel remains the biggest area needing focus.
| Metric | COE | Main Campus |
|---|---|---|
| Summer SCH | -2% | -10% |
| Fall SCH | -13% | -15% |
# Page 2
Admissions Funnel and Highlights
| Stage | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|
| Applications | â–¼ Down | â–² Up |
| Admits | â–¼ Down | â–² Up |
| Matriculations | â–¼ Down | â–² Up |
| Enrolled | â–¬ Flat | â–¼ Down |
- Secondary Education +225% Summer applications (4 → 13)
- HSBH +144% Fall applications (27 → 66)
- Inclusive Elementary Education +43% Fall enrolled (14 → 20)
- MA Special Education +100% Summer matriculations (3 → 6)
- Counseling & Human Services leading Summer headcount: 186 → 191
| Stage | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|
| Applications | â–¼ Weak | â–¼ Weak |
| Admits | â–¬ Mixed | â–¼ Down |
| Matriculations | â–¬ Recovering | â–¼ Down |
| Enrolled | â–² +2 | â–¼ -2 |
| Term | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | 1,298 | 1,299 | +0.08% |
| Fall | 2,337 | 1,962 | -16% |
What might explain early childhood's data compared to last year?
Inclusive Early Childhood Education continues to face broader statewide and national workforce pressures impacting the educator pipeline. UCCS seems to do a better job than many other programs nationally, many of which are facing great challenges.
What context may explain principal Licensure?
Principal Licensure comparisons should be interpreted cautiously because 2025 included an unusually large cohort cycle. Current cohorts are now operating through Extended Studies, which changes the timing and structure of enrollment reporting. The decline therefore reflects both cohort timing and program delivery structure rather than a simple loss of demand.
Why are Fall headcount and SCH down compared to last year?
Fall enrollment trends are closely tracking broader main-campus patterns, suggesting this is not isolated to the College of Education. Students appear to be registering later and, in some cases, taking lighter credit loads than previous years. Summer enrollment performance indicates students are still engaging with coursework, but overall uncertainty around affordability, work obligations, and enrollment timing may be suppressing early fall registration activity.
What may explain the undergraduate and graduate funnel trends?
The undergraduate funnel shows encouraging application growth across most degree-seeking programs, particularly in Human Services & Behavioral Health and Secondary Education. However, conversion into enrolled students remains uneven, suggesting yield and follow-through are currently the primary challenges rather than awareness or interest.
Graduate enrollment trends appear to vary by program structure and recruitment cycle timing. Programs with cohort-based pipelines continue to show stability, while other programs may still be building momentum for the fall term as recruitment and admissions activity continues.
Anything else notable?
One positive indicator is that Summer SCH has improved significantly from earlier projections and is now nearly flat year-over-year despite a smaller applicant pool. This suggests improved student yield and persistence. Additionally, online Summer SCH is effectively flat with last year, indicating continued demand for flexible course delivery formats.
We must not forget the national trend of declining enrollments in higher education. This is particularly felt in other colleges of educaton. Though we seem to be facing challenges, overall, we are doing very well comparatively given the birthrate trends from the late 2000s, and other variables out of our control.