OGDEN — Weber State University has a lot to celebrate in 2023.

According to a press release, WSU surpassed an enrollment of 30,000 students and its largest enrollment of Hispanic and Latino students.

“I’m always eager to see these numbers each year because it gives us a picture of the students we’re serving — and this year it’s a big picture,” WSU President Brad Mortensen said in the release. “We’re excited to exceed 30,000 students, but it’s also a reminder of our responsibility to them, and it motivates us to explore ways we can better meet their needs moving forward.”

According to a release from the Utah System of Higher Education, WSU’s fall 2023 enrollment was 30,536, up 2.1% from the same recording period last year. That’s the third highest among the state’s eight degree-granting institutions, behind Utah Valley University and the University of Utah.

“We’re bucking the national trend, and I think that has a lot to do with our return on investment,” WSU Provost Ravi Krovi said in the release. “We’re a destination school because we offer high-quality education that’s focused on outcomes, both in and outside of the classroom. We’re invested in student success and pushing for a better life after graduation.”

A growing part of this growing student body is the Hispanic and Latino population.

According to the press release, 13% of the student body identifies as Hispanic or Latino, an all-time high for the school.

“We’re intentionally streamlining services and resources to provide access to the Hispanic and Latino population in our region, and that’s going to benefit every student and will have positive impacts on Utah’s economic development,” said Yudi Lewis, executive director of WSU’s Hispanic-Serving Institution Initiatives.

Additionally, the university saw a 20% jump among nontraditional (25 or older) students and issued a record 6,775 degrees and certificates during the 2022-23 academic year.

According to USHE data, WSU gained ground among high school concurrent enrollment students (up 4.6%) and undergraduate students (0.2%) but registered a dropoff in graduate students from last fall (minus 0.9%). Only two other institutions had an increase in undergrad enrollment: Southern Utah University and the U of U.