The University of Arizona will welcome the most academically prepared class of Wildcats ever when the 2019-20 academic year begins Monday.

Approximately 7,750 freshmen will join the Wildcat family, including 193 National Merit Finalists and National Hispanic Scholars, which is an 82% increase over last year. The incoming freshmen excelled in academic quality metrics such as the SAT (1261), ACT (26) and core GPA (3.51), all of which were higher than last year. Additionally, 41% of new freshmen graduated high school in the top 10% of their class.

Nearly half (43%) of this year's incoming freshman class are students from diverse backgrounds, and 55% are Arizona residents. First-generation college students make up 30% of the freshman cohort and 51% of the transfer class. In addition, the new Wildcats hail from all 50 states and 148 countries.  

"I am very excited for the start of the new year," said UA President Robert C. Robbins. "The University of Arizona is doubling down on our commitment to student success, and we have a lot of really exciting programs in place to help ensure that every student will achieve their academic and future goals. We had more applicants than ever this year, and this incoming class of students is truly incredible. I am thrilled to see what they will achieve during their time here."

Approximately 1,100 freshmen, including around 150 transfer students, will join the UA Honors College, which welcomed students to the recently opened Honors Village, one of the few integrated Honors complexes in the country. It features a dining hall, collaborative learning classrooms, an interior courtyard, a community kitchen, faculty and staff offices, a recreation center and a Campus Health Service Counseling and Psych Services satellite, making it a hub for the Honors community.

The UA received a record number of freshman applications – more than 40,000 from around the globe – and a record number of transfer applications. Graduate student enrollment is also expected to reach an all-time high with a substantial increase in diversity.

Transfer students are still enrolling, and the university expects to welcome close to 2,500 transfer students, many through Arizona Online. More than half of new transfers are students from diverse backgrounds, and 33% are transferring from Pima Community College. The university is also still enrolling international students and anticipates welcoming a greater number of freshmen from around the world.

"The entering class is one of great diversity from around the globe with outstanding academic quality. Our exceptional educational offerings, in all modalities, make Arizona the destination for college success," said Kasey Urquidez, vice president of enrollment management and dean of undergraduate admissions at the UA.

Overall, the university will add more than 10,000 freshmen and transfer students this fall.

The UA's total enrollment for the 2018-19 year was 45,217, with 35,233 undergraduate students and 9,984 graduate and professional students. This year's final numbers will be released on Sept. 17.