Smaller class, dorms offline as U of A starts new school year | Local News

TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) – Thousands of students returned to the University of Arizona campus as another school year kicked off, with the university expecting a smaller incoming class this year.

The U of A is requiring first-year students to live on campus this year, with some exceptions. The university said it is also building new campus housing as it implements that policy.

The changes come as the university confirms three dorms are offline this academic year for routine maintenance, including the five-story Kaibab-Huachuca dorm. The university said taking dorms offline for maintenance is “common practice” and was also done last year.

The University of Arizona’s last update on open enrollment said “it is likely” this year’s incoming class will be smaller than last year’s, with enrollment among non-resident and international students down from previous years.

Freshmen News 4 Tucson spoke with said the size of the class doesn’t change their excitement about starting college.

“I don’t mind it. With me I’ve been to small schools, I’ve been to big schools, so it doesn’t make much of a difference for me,” Chelsea Smith said.

“I feel like I’ve met like a billion people at my dorm, I’m going to class and it’s new faces, and I’m just super excited to meet everybody,” Landan Allen said.

When it comes to the number of PhD students accepted, the University of Arizona said it’s doing better than its peers.

Admissions data collected by the Association of American Universities from fall 2025 to 2026, found a 15% drop in PhD students admitted. Meanwhile in Tucson, there was a 1% increase.

Kirsten Limesand, the Dean of The Graduate College, said this is happening for several reasons. She attributed some of this success to the many offices and entities on campus, which can step in to help fund graduate students. She called this “bridge funding”

“I think it’s right now we feel comfortable supporting this first year cohort of students and we know there are several institutional mechanisms that are going to bridge these students if these mechanisms become less so in three to four years.”

Specific enrollment numbers for this fall won’t be available until the university releases its student census in a few weeks.