The Rock is on the rise with students and their families continuing to choose Slippery Rock University. SRU has welcomed its largest first-year class and the most graduate students on record for Fall 2026, according to enrollment data released on Sept. 16.
The highlights include:
- 1,627 first-year, full-time students, the largest class on record and a 5% increase compared to last fall.
- 1,577 graduate students, the most in school history and a 2.6% increase from 2025.
- 8,654 total enrollment, which is up 0.3% compared to last year.
Click to enlarge – SRU’s Fall 2026 Fall Enrollment Infographic.
“Welcoming the largest first-year class in Slippery Rock University’s history is a powerful sign that more students and families are choosing The Rock as their first-choice destination,” said Michael May, SRU’s vice president for enrollment management. “This growth, as well as our record number of graduate students, reflects the trust families place in SRU and the commitment of our faculty and staff to invest in every student who joins our campus community. From the classroom to advising, mentoring and the many experiences that help students find their path, we are creating an environment where students can thrive at every stage of their academic journey. We’re proud of the progress we’re making together and even prouder that students are choosing The Rock.”
The 15th day of classes at SRU, which was Sept. 14, is used as the official date for national and state reporting purposes; however, the data are considered preliminary because Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education verifies and reports official enrollment statistics next month.
More information is available on this infographic or by visiting archived data reports on the SRU website.
