The University of Colorado has witnessed an unprecedented surge in applicants for the fall semester of 2024, hitting a record-breaking 68,000 applications. According to Olivia Doak of the Daily Camera, this surge may have been influenced, at least in part, by the presence of head football coach Deion Sanders.
Associate Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management Amy Hutton acknowledges the significant exposure CU Boulder has received since the hiring of Coach Prime.
She highlights the extensive coverage by national media outlets as a contributing factor to the influx of applicants from various parts of the globe. However, she cautiously notes the challenge of establishing a direct cause-and-effect relationship between Coach Prime’s arrival and the surge in applications.
The report further reveals a notable increase in interest among different demographic groups. There’s been a significant uptick in applications from Black and African-American applicants (up by 50.5 percent), Hispanic and Latino applicants (rising by 25.6 percent), and American Indian and Alaskan Native applicants (showing a 15 percent increase).
Coach Prime’s inaugural year at Colorado saw football games becoming highly sought-after events, drawing attention not only from sports enthusiasts but also from celebrities.
The sidelines of a September home game against USC witnessed appearances by NBA icon LeBron James, prominent hip-hop artists such as Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, and DJ Khaled, as well as actors Will Ferrell and Matthew McConaughey.
Despite the buzz surrounding the team, the on-field performance didn’t quite match the hype, with the Buffaloes finishing the season with a 4-8 record and a disappointing 1-8 in Pac-12 play. Nevertheless, the presence of Sanders undeniably generated excitement, likely contributing to the overall surge in admissions.
