Embry-Riddle Soars to New Heights with Record Student Enrollment

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University welcomed a record-breaking 10,121 new students across its three campuses for the 2025-26 academic year. This milestone enrollment during the university’s centennial year highlights a growing interest in aviation and aerospace careers, signaling a promising future for the industry.

At the university’s residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Florida, and Prescott, Arizona, 3,323 new undergraduate and graduate students began their Embry-Riddle academic careers on August 25, a 3.6% increase over the Fall 2024 incoming class.  

The Daytona Beach Campus welcomed 2,410 new undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and 69 countries, marking a 1.9% increase over the Fall 2024 incoming class and continuing its upward trajectory in total campus enrollment toward the 9,000-student mark. The total enrollment at the Daytona Beach Campus now stands at 8,748, representing a 24% increase over the past five years.

At the Prescott Campus, Embry-Riddle welcomed 913 new undergraduate and graduate students from 48 states and 21 countries, an 8.6% increase over the Fall 2024 incoming class. Total enrollment reached its second-highest number since the Arizona campus opened in 1978.

At Embry-Riddle's Worldwide Campus, enrollment for the most recent full academic year rose to 6,650 new students — a 4.3% increase over 2023-24 and the highest since the 2020-21 academic year.

The institution now serves more than 31,000 students globally across all three of its campuses.

“As Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University celebrates its centennial year — 100 years of excellence in aviation and aerospace education — our students embody the ambition, intellect and dedication that have shaped our institution’s distinguished legacy,” said Embry-Riddle President P. Barry Butler, Ph.D.

“This incoming class joins us during a landmark moment, poised to lead the next era of innovation in global aviation and aerospace,” he added. “Standing on the foundation built by generations before them, these remarkable students inspire tremendous optimism for the future and affirm our belief that their talents and vision will propel the industry forward for our second century and beyond.”

High-Value Degrees

"Our reputation as the leading global aviation and aerospace university has fueled extraordinary interest in earning an Embry-Riddle degree," said Dr. Jason M. Ruckert, senior vice president for Enrollment Management, Marketing and Student Affairs. "With 95% of graduates either employed or continuing their education within a year after graduation, the value of an Embry-Riddle degree is evident."

That return on investment is reflected by Embry-Riddle alumni who are leaders across industry, academia and the military.

Academic Excellence

Rankings by U.S. News & World Report also reflect the high value of an Embry-Riddle degree. In the 2026 edition of the rankings, the university earned ten top-10 honors, including for engineering, innovation and overall quality.

Embry-Riddle’s Prescott and Daytona Beach undergraduate Aerospace Engineering programs ranked No. 1 and No. 4 in their respective categories. Daytona Beach ranked within the nation’s top five among institutions with Ph.D. programs, and Prescott was the highest ranked of those institutions without doctoral programs.

This consistent recognition, for the third straight year, places Embry-Riddle’s programs among the very best in the country within their respective categories.

Senior Vice President and Provost Dr. Kelly Austin said the distinctions not only celebrate achievements but serve as a catalyst to continue advancing the frontiers of aviation and aerospace.

“Our rankings are a testament to the dedication of our faculty, staff and students. I am incredibly proud to see Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University once again recognized as a leading institution by U.S. News & World Report,” he said.

Exemplary Students

The Embry-Riddle Honors Class of 2029 gathers on the Daytona Beach Campus. (Photo: Embry-Riddle/David Massey)

This fall's incoming classes were filled with high achievers such as Enoch Tonkin, a native of South Africa who moved to the United States in 2015. A member of the Honors Program at Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach Campus, Tonkin is majoring in Aerospace Physiology, with plans to pursue an accelerated master’s in Human Factors. He hopes to one day become an astronaut and join Embry-Riddle’s 10 Eagles who have previously explored outer space.

While Tonkin is passionate about research and the effects of space on the human body, he stresses that numbers on a page and words on a diploma are not the only things that make great scholars and great people. “It’s the stories people tell about you and it’s your legacy that carry who you are,” said Tonkin.

Ellie Vineyard, a standout first-year student from Moscow, Idaho, was drawn to Embry-Riddle’s Prescott Campus to pursue a major in Global Security and Intelligence Studies on the Intelligence track as she prepares for a career as a Drug Enforcement Administration intelligence research specialist or a border patrol agent.

“I was drawn to Embry-Riddle by the impressive post-graduation opportunities and the faculty’s deep industry connections, recognizing that graduates from the university consistently excel in their chosen fields,” Vineyard said.

A scholar who appreciates the importance of both academic and personal growth, she said her proudest accomplishment to date is her transformation from an introverted high school student to an engaged and social leader, actively participating in her sorority Alpha Sigma Tau, the Board of Campus Activities, SOAR and various other clubs.

“This involvement has helped me find a true sense of belonging within the Embry-Riddle community, and I’m excited to make the most of all that my university offers,” she said.

Ruckert said that “It is imperative that we equip students with the personal skills and knowledge necessary for successful careers and leadership roles in aviation, aerospace, business, government and military sectors.”

 "Since our founding in 1926, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to this purpose,” he added.  “The achievements of our students continually bring distinction to the university and motivate us to pursue excellence in all facets of our work."