Lee University’s fall 2026 enrollment profile reflects encouraging results across the university, including growth in its traditional undergraduate population and new student enrollment, along with record-high retention and graduation rates.

“These results show we are making progress in the areas that matter most to the student experience,” said Lee President Dr. Phil Cook. “More students are choosing Lee, our traditional undergraduate population is showing renewed growth, and more of our students are staying and completing their degrees. This reflects the intentional work of our faculty and staff and the community we are committed to providing our students. We are grateful for the opportunity to support them as they grow academically, personally, and spiritually, and to help prepare them to live out their God-given purpose.”

The university’s traditional undergraduate enrollment increased this fall, supported by increased retention of returning undergraduate students.

Lee welcomed 705 new students this fall, including beginning freshmen, transfer students, and readmits, representing an increase over fall 2025. The university’s 128 transfer students comprise its strongest transfer class since 2021.

For students and families considering where to pursue a college education, however, enrollment is only part of the story. The ability of students to remain enrolled and ultimately earn their degrees provides an important measure of the value of that experience.

Freshman-to-sophomore retention reached an all-time high of 83%, surpassing the national average and meaning more than four out of every five first-year students returned for their second year. Lee’s graduation rate also reached an all-time high of 65%.

“Retention and graduation rates tell us much more than how many students are enrolled on a particular day,” said Dr. Jeff Salyer, vice president for enrollment and marketing at Lee. “They tell us whether students are finding a place where they can succeed, whether they are being supported along the way, and whether they are reaching the goal they came to Lee to achieve. Seeing both of these measures reach historic highs is an outstanding accomplishment.”

Lee’s dual enrollment program also reached a record high this fall, with 332 students participating. The program has grown by nearly 50% since fall 2021, giving high school students opportunities to earn college credit while gaining experience in a university environment.

That growth is reflected in the academic profile of students entering Lee. Nearly three out of every four beginning freshmen arrived this fall with college credit already completed, the highest proportion in the university’s six-year enrollment comparison.

In 2021, 54% of beginning freshmen entered Lee with college credit. By 2025, that figure had risen to 60%, before reaching 73% this fall. The trend reflects a changing higher education landscape in which students are increasingly earning college credit before graduating from high school through dual enrollment, advanced coursework, and other college-level opportunities.

The continued growth of dual enrollment also strengthens the connection between Lee and the surrounding community, giving local and regional high school students an opportunity to begin their college experience earlier while exploring what a university education can offer.

“Students are arriving at college with different experiences and expectations than they did in the past,” said Salyer. “We want to be intentional about meeting students where they are, recognizing the work they have already accomplished, and helping them continue that progress toward a degree and a promising future.”

International enrollment increased by 11% this fall, bringing additional perspectives and experiences to a campus representing 47 countries and serving students from across the United States and around the world.

On-campus graduate enrollment increased as well, with several academic programs experiencing enrollment growth. Education, nursing, music, and engineering all saw gains, reflecting continued interest in programs that prepare students for professional fields and areas of workforce need.

Taken together, the fall 2026 results reflect more than changes in enrollment numbers. They point to a university focused on attracting students, supporting them throughout their college experience, and helping them persist to graduation, while preparing graduates to contribute to the communities and professions they will serve.

“Higher education is changing rapidly, and universities have to be intentional about how they serve students,” said Cook. “At Lee, we provide an education that challenges students academically, invests in them personally, and prepares them to live lives of purpose and service. These results give us confidence that we are moving in the right direction.”

Lee’s fall enrollment profile is based on the university’s annual fall census, which provides a snapshot of enrollment across undergraduate, graduate, dual enrollment, international, and other student populations.