diff --git a/dandiapi/api/tests/test_stats.py b/dandiapi/api/tests/test_stats.py
index 176307dbe..20e7f157c 100644
--- a/dandiapi/api/tests/test_stats.py
+++ b/dandiapi/api/tests/test_stats.py
@@ -36,29 +36,17 @@ def test_stats_published(api_client, published_version_factory):
 @pytest.mark.django_db
 def test_stats_user(api_client, user_factory):
 
+    
     # Create multiple users with different statuses
-    approved_user_count = 0
     users_per_status = 3
-    user_index = 0
-
+    
     for status in UserMetadata.Status.choices:
-        status_value = status[0]
-        for _ in range(users_per_status):
-            username = f'{status_value.lower()}_user_{user_index}'
-            user = user_factory(username=username)
-            user_metadata, created = UserMetadata.objects.get_or_create(
-                user=user,
-                defaults={
-                    'status': status_value,
-                    'questionnaire_form': None,
-                    'rejection_reason': ''
-                }
-            )
-            if not created:
-                pass
-            if status_value == UserMetadata.Status.APPROVED:
-                approved_user_count += 1
-            user_index += 1
+        users = [user_factory(username=username, metadata__status=status[0]) for _ in range(users_per_status)]
+    
+    stats = api_client.get('/api/stats/').data
+
+    # Assert that the user count only includes users with APPROVED status
+    assert stats['user_count'] == approved_user_count
 
     stats = api_client.get('/api/stats/').data