HONOLULU (KHON2) -- The University of Hawaii at Manoa has reached a significant milestone this fall, surpassing 20,000 students for the first time since 2013. Get Hawaii's latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You As of September 17, enrollment stands at 20,012, marking a 4% increase over last year. Official numbers will be released in early October. “This achievement reflects the hard work of many who have built an exceptional enrollment management program to attract students from Hawaii and beyond,” said UH President David Lassner. “But it’s not just about bringing students in; it’s also about keeping them here, thanks to our outstanding faculty and support staff.” In addition to overall enrollment growth, UH Manoa is welcoming a record 3,123 first-time freshmen this fall. This marks the third consecutive year the university has welcomed more than 3,000 freshmen, following the historic milestone reached in 2022. “These numbers highlight UH Manoa’s reputation as a top-tier university that offers a world-class education at an affordable cost,” said Provost Michael Bruno. “This success is the result of years of dedicated effort and effective communication about our strengths.” Community invited to create pool art around the State Capitol The university also reported impressive increases among specific student demographics among the incoming freshmen: 1,849 are Hawaii residents, up from 1,581 in fall 2023 489 identify as Native Hawaiian, a rise from 382 last fall 406 identify as Filipino, up from 355 “I’m proud of the growth in our Native Hawaiian and Filipino student populations, as supporting these underrepresented groups has been a top priority,” said Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Nikki Chun. “The changes we made to the merit scholarship program have played a key role in this success.” Despite challenges with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process this year, UH Manoa managed to boost enrollment. The federal government’s updates to the FAFSA form were delayed and faced technical difficulties, creating uncertainty for students. “Thanks to our Financial Aid staff's proactive efforts, we were able to navigate the FAFSA delays effectively,” Chun noted. “This year, we disbursed $81.6 million to over 11,400 students, compared to $74.6 million for more than 9,900 students last year.” Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Final enrollment figures for the University of Hawaii’s ten campuses will be announced in October. As of mid-September, enrollment was up at eight campuses, with a systemwide increase of 2.8% compared to a 1.8% rise last fall. Fall 2024 Student Body Profile at UH Manoa: 62% (12,439) local students (up 5% from 2023) 31% (6,232) out-of-state U.S. students (up 2% from 2023) 6% (1,245) international students (up 5% from 2023)