WHITEWATER, Wis. — October 22, 2025. The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater College of Business and Economics (CoBE) is celebrating unprecedented growth with near record-breaking undergraduate enrollment, approaching the historic milestone of 5,000 total students for fall 2025.
CoBE enrolled 4,969 students this fall, driven by exceptional undergraduate growth of 9.6% — adding 352 new undergraduate students compared to last year. This surge significantly outpaces the university’s overall growth rate and reflects the college’s expanding reach across both traditional campus programs and innovative online offerings.
“This is a defining moment for our college,” said Dean Dr. Paul Ambrose. “We’re not just growing in numbers — we’re growing in impact. With nearly 5,000 students choosing CoBE, we’re educating the next generation of business leaders, entrepreneurs, and finance professionals who will drive Wisconsin’s economy forward. This growth validates our commitment to delivering exceptional, career-ready education that meets the evolving needs of today’s students and tomorrow’s employers.”
The undergraduate surge was powered by strong performance across all program delivery formats. Traditional on-campus undergraduate programs grew by 278 students to reach 3,424 students, while online undergraduate programs saw remarkable 14% growth, adding 74 students for a total of 604 students. This demonstrates CoBE’s success in serving both traditional students and working professionals seeking flexible, high-quality business education.
“What excites me most about these numbers is what they represent,” said Kari Pahl, Assistant Dean of Student Success and Academic Services. “Every one of these students is investing in their future, and they’re choosing CoBE because they know we deliver results. Our size allows us to invest in the student experience in a way that offers a truly unique environment from other institutions. We offer smaller class sizes, engaging championship-level student organizations, faculty who are subject matter experts, and above all, no TAs [teaching assistants] — all CoBE classes are taught by professionals not graduate students. Our graduates are thriving — achieving exceptional placement rates and launching careers that make real impact in organizations across Wisconsin and beyond.”
The college is releasing this milestone announcement as it approaches its second fall semester. CoBE’s online graduate programs admit students six times a year, which includes two intakes each semester: fall, spring, and summer. For students, this means increased flexibility with convenient 8-week sessions – ideal for working professionals. Graduate programs include Wisconsin’s best single school MBA, multiple master’s degrees and graduate certificates, and innovative offerings like the state’s only AACSB-accredited Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) to serve advanced professionals seeking to deepen their expertise and leadership capabilities while balancing career and educational goals.
CoBE’s growth comes at a time of strategic expansion and recognition. As Wisconsin’s largest accredited business school, the college continues to distinguish itself through academic excellence and real-world impact:
- Elite Global Standing: CoBE is one of only 27 universities in the United States to hold membership in the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD).
- Top 1% Worldwide: The college holds AACSB accreditation in both business and accounting — a distinction achieved by fewer than 200 institutions worldwide and less than 1% of business schools globally.
- Wisconsin’s #1 Online Business Programs: CoBE is Wisconsin’s top-ranked online business program for both graduate and undergraduate programs in the 2025 U.S. News and World Report review, including Best Online MBA of single schools, Best Online Business Graduate Program, and Best Online Business Undergraduate Program.
The enrollment growth reflects CoBE’s strategic investments in program innovation, including the recent launch of an online banking emphasis designed to meet critical workforce needs in Wisconsin’s financial services sector, as well as continued expansion of experiential learning opportunities that connect students directly with industry partners.
“As we approach 5,000 students, we’re also approaching new heights of achievement,” Ambrose added. “Our students are winning national competitions, our faculty are pioneering research that shapes business practice, and our graduates are building careers that transform communities. This enrollment growth gives us the opportunity to amplify that impact even further.”
CoBE’s success is inseparable from the strength of the UW-Whitewater campus as a whole. The university has been recognized by The Wall Street Journal as the Best UW for both student experience and social mobility for the second year running — a testament to the exceptional opportunities, support systems, and transformative education available to all Warhawks. CoBE students benefit from this vibrant campus community, gaining access to resources, experiences, and connections that extend far beyond the classroom and prepare them for leadership in an ever-changing world.
For more information about the College of Business and Economics, visit uww.edu/cobe or email cobe@uww.edu.
Bakhtear Talukdar, right, associate professor of finance and business law, in class in Hyland Hall on April 15, 2024. Finance repeatedly represents the largest major at UWW followed closely by Accounting and Marketing. (UW-Whitewater photo/Craig Schreiner)
Marketing major Peyton Boelk talks with Andrew Dahl, associate professor of marketing, during a class in Hyland Hall on April 3, 2024. CoBE marketing students have claimed the American Marketing Association’s National Chapter of the Year award for 14 straight years, cementing the program’s reputation as one of the nation’s elite. (UW-Whitewater photo/Craig Schreiner).
