New data from the University of Maine shows an increase in enrollment, contrary to national trends. 

A formal census taken throughout the university system on Oct. 15 showed 25,286 students enrolled this fall. That’s 763 more enrollments, or 3.1%, compared to fall 2023. 

“Our strong enrollment numbers show that Mainers of all ages increasingly recognize the unmatched value proposition of our public universities,” said Chancellor Dannel Malloy. 

The total number of undergraduate students systemwide is more than 20,000, which university officials said is the first increase year-over-year in more than 20 years. The system attributed the increase in part to transfers from online programs at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. The system also credited transfers from the state’s community colleges, which are up this fall by more than 30%. 

The graduate student population is also setting a record. The university’s data showed nearly 5,000 graduate students enrolled this year, an increase of 4.8% compared to 2023. 

The University of Maine School of Law has 277 students. That’s 18 more students than the school had five years ago, according to the data. 

University officials said the new numbers buck national trends. According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, four-year public institutions saw an 8.5% decrease in first-time undergraduate students nationwide. In Maine, by contrast, there was an 8.2% increase. 

According to the clearinghouse, Maine also had the largest increase in graduate student enrollment this fall compared to last year, with 2.7%, compared to 2.2% nationwide and only 0.9% in the northeast.