Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to correct WKU’s peak in enrollment. WKU’s enrollment peaked in 2012.

WKU’s fall 2025 enrollment dropped below Eastern Kentucky University’s, making WKU the fourth-largest public university in the state, according to Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education data.

WKU was one of four public universities in the state to see a decline in enrollment alongside Morehead State University, Murray State University and Northern Kentucky University. Overall enrollment in four-year public universities increased from 128,399 in 2024 to 131,634 in 2025. 

WKU’s enrollment has declined by over 5% since 2023 and 2.3% from 2024. EKU’s enrollment has increased each year since 2021, ultimately trumping WKU by 49 students in 2025. 

WKU’s enrollment peaked in 2012 at 21,124 students and has declined by 24.6% since.  

WKU President Timothy Caboni has been outspoken on prioritizing retention rates over enrollment numbers. Caboni said in a press conference earlier this month that the university “achieved a record retention rate” of 79.4% this academic year.

“We continue to shift measures of success away from pure headcount,” Caboni said at the press conference. 

WKU’s undergraduate enrollment dropped below EKU and Jefferson Community and Technical College in 2025, giving WKU the fifth most undergrads in the state. WKU had the second most undergrads from at least 2005 until 2019, when the University of Louisville took its spot.