UNMC’s fall enrollment climbed for the 25th consecutive year – totaling 4,818 students, a 2% increase over last year’s total and a testament to UNMC’s continued focus to grow the state’s health workforce.
Enrollment increases were seen across six UNMC colleges: allied health professions, dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy and public health.
“Our enrollment growth reflects UNMC’s ongoing commitment to meeting the health workforce needs for our state,” said UNMC Interim Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD. “With more than 75% of our students coming from Nebraska, we consistently partner with the communities we serve to identify new opportunities and to remove barriers that enable us to expand the pipeline of next generation health care professionals who will provide much needed care close to home and beyond.”
Dr. Davies also noted that while UNMC’s steady enrollment growth continues to be fueled by the demand for both traditional and new degree offerings, including programs in public health and allied health, there is no room for complacency.
“Growth alone is not enough because we continue to face significant health workforce shortages across our state,” he said. “We will continue to innovate and expand opportunities for meeting local needs through partnerships with our critical access and regional hospitals, NU campuses, community and state colleges, and K-12 schools.”
In the past five years, UNMC enrollment has grown steadily, from 4,387 in 2021 to the current total, an increase of 431 total students, or nearly 10%.
“I am excited to welcome our new students,” said Interim Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Jane Meza, PhD. “Each of them plays a vital role in our mission to transform lives and create a healthier future.”
College of Allied Health Professions
The College of Allied Health Professions enrollment is 859 students, a 4% increase in new enrollees from 2024. In the past five years, UNMC’s allied health enrollment has grown from 744 in 2021 to the current total. Of the total, 719 students are on the Omaha campus; 140 are on UNMC’s Kearney campus.
College of Dentistry
The College of Dentistry admitted 99 new students. The total student enrollment is 307, a 2% increase from 2024. In the college, which includes dental students, dental hygiene students and certificate students, 233 are Nebraska residents and 74 are non-residents.
College of Medicine
There are 144 new students entering their first year of medical school in Omaha, bringing the total enrollment to 542, up 4% from 2024. Nearly 85% of the medical students are Nebraska residents. In addition, there are 734 house officers (resident physicians and fellows) training at UNMC, up 3% from 2024. In 2026, UNMC will launch its first cohort of medical students on the Kearney campus.
College of Nursing
The College of Nursing enrolled 1,049 students across UNMC’s five campuses in Omaha, Lincoln, Kearney, Scottsbluff and Norfolk. This includes 784 students in the bachelor’s in nursing program, 113 students in the master’s in nursing program, 133 students in the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program (DNP) and 15 post-graduate certificate students. Enrollment at the UNMC Norfolk campus – which celebrated 15 years of service this fall – increased 11% from 99 in 2024 to 110 students this fall.
College of Pharmacy
The college admitted 72 new students, a 3% increase in new enrollees compared to 2024. Of the 217 total students in the four-year pharmacy program, 81% are Nebraska residents. For the first time this fall, nine pharmacy students started their PharmD program at UNMC’s Kearney campus; 208 students are on the Omaha campus.
College of Public Health
Enrollment for the College of Public Health’s professional programs is 383, a 9% increase from 2024. Forty-three percent of the college’s students are Nebraska residents. The majority of UNMC’s public health students are pursuing a Master of Public Health or Doctor of Public Health; others are working toward a certificate in public health or master’s degree in health administration.
Graduate Studies
Graduate Studies enrollment is 727 students, a 6% drop from 2024 with 44 fewer students. Graduate Studies offers advanced instruction leading to Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in fields ranging from basic biomedical sciences to public health to patient-oriented research. Among all UNMC graduate students, 71% of students are enrolled in PhD programs. The drop was due to a combination of fewer international graduate students and a cautious approach in taking graduate students given uncertainty in federal funding.
Munroe-Meyer Institute
The Munroe-Meyer Institute offers interdisciplinary clinical and research training to 227 students from universities across Nebraska and the nation, including UNMC. This cohort includes 33 students in the joint master’s program in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), 21 students in the ABA doctoral program, 15 postdoctoral and clinical fellows and 116 visiting scholars. In addition to these programs, MMI actively participates in training efforts across more than 10 allied health disciplines, supporting clinical practice, research, outreach and community engagement. (Since students participating in these programs are enrolled at other institutions or other UNMC colleges, MMI enrollees are not counted in total UNMC enrollment numbers.)