University enrollment in Italy is continuing its upward trend for the tenth consecutive year, with a nationwide increase of 5.3% over 2024. But the growth hasn’t been evenly distributed: Central Italy saw the strongest jump at +14%, followed by the South at +6.1%. The Northeast posted a modest +2%, while the Northwest actually dipped slightly by 0.9%.

In terms of majors, students are flocking to law, economics, and social sciences, which together account for 35.4% of all new enrollments. STEM disciplines come in next at 28.6%, followed by the health and agricultural-veterinary fields at 18.4%—with two-thirds of students focused on medicine, pharmacy, and health sciences. The humanities, arts, and education round out the list, drawing 17.6% of new students.