UW-Stout Polytechnic has opened the 2026-27 fall semester with some of the strongest enrollment growth among its peers across the Universities of Wisconsin, once again demonstrating the draw of a polytechnic education.
Total enrollment at UW-Stout Polytechnic grew to 7,250 Blue Devils this fall, a 3% increase from the beginning of the previous academic year, according to preliminary numbers based on Day One enrollment. The increase was the third largest among the state’s 13 public universities.
The enrollment figures show that college-bound students are attracted to UW-Stout Polytechnic because of its commitment to applied learning and research, business and industry partnerships, and career-focused experiences for all students.
“Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University provides a distinct advantage for students seeking more than a theoretical education,” said Meridith Wentz, vice chancellor for enrollment and quality. “Our growth proves the value students expect from UW-Stout Polytechnic — from project-based learning and lab work on Day One to the unmatched return on investment they earn even before graduation.”
Preliminary enrollment estimates for all 13 public universities in Wisconsin were released Friday, Sept. 11. Final figures, based upon the number of students enrolled as of the 10th day of classes, will be available later this fall.
This semester is the first since the university officially added the word “polytechnic” to its name. In early June, the UW Board of Regents voted to amend the name “UW-Stout” to “UW-Stout Polytechnic,” solidifying the identity the university has carried for generations, most notably since it was declared Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University in 2007. In just three months since the name change, enrollment grew faster than the previous year in many of the university’s key degree programs, including computer and electrical engineering, cybersecurity, computer science, applied math and computer science, construction management, packaging, industrial and product design, game design and development, and many others.
Through ongoing and already-completed campus projects – including the renovation of Heritage Hall and extensive upgrades to campus labs – UW-Stout Polytechnic is strengthening the infrastructure that underlies these and other programs. The university is also planning additional targeted improvements in the coming years to expand opportunities in emerging technologies such as advanced computing and 3D concrete printing.
In addition to serving as a draw for students, UW-Stout Polytechnic’s identity points toward strong career outcomes for future graduates. Before they graduate, 100% of Blue Devils receive applied learning experiences with hundreds of employers who provide nearly 1,000 co-ops and internships to UW-Stout Polytechnic students annually – more than one-third of which lead to accepted job offers. Within six months of graduation, 99% of Blue Devils will be employed or continuing their education. In fact, more than 77% of last spring’s graduates were hired even before commencement. Over the past five years, graduates have been hired by more than 125 firms listed in the Fortune 500.
The reasons for UW-Stout Polytechnic’s appeal are clear in terms of dollars and cents as well: Blue Devil bachelor’s degree graduates have average starting salaries of $59,000 annually. And according to a newly published report on UW-Stout Polytechnic’s economic impact, these graduates will earn an average of $27,900 more annually than Wisconsinites with high school diplomas alone. Over a career, that means $1.2 million in additional earnings, a massive return on a student’s investment in a UW-Stout Polytechnic degree.
The report confirmed that the university – largely through its high-earning alumni – is a statewide economic engine, generating $857.8 million in additional income for Wisconsin’s economy annually, enough to support 9,400 jobs.
