Purdue News
Purdue News
The final enrollment count at the West Lafayette campus is 35,715 students this fall, up 559, an increase for the fourth consecutive year. The Office of the Registrar estimated systemwide enrollment at 64,700, an increase of more than 920.
"We're pleased that we have been able to increase enrollment at the West Lafayette campus while improving the average quality of entering students," said L. Tony Hawkins, interim vice president for student services. "The average SAT score of our incoming first-semester students has increased since last year and is 89 points higher than the national average of 1016.
"We're also pleased that more and more high-achieving students are choosing Purdue. This fall, the average student was in the top 25 percent of the high-school graduating class."
The incoming freshman class at the West Lafayette campus this fall is 6,895, up from 6,811 a year ago, and represents the second largest class in Purdue history, said Douglas Christiansen, director of admissions. The largest group was the 7,326 students who enrolled in the fall of 1988.
"We're excited that we were able to maintain last year's growth and improve on the number of students enrolling this fall," Christiansen said. "We're even more pleased with the quality of academic preparation of this group of students. We really focused on making sure we accepted students who have the academic preparation and skill sets to succeed at Purdue and meet the ultimate goal, earning a degree."
The undergraduate enrollment at West Lafayette is 29,122, compared to 28,567 a year ago, according to reports from the Office of the Registrar. Three out of four undergraduates are Indiana residents.
Enrollment in graduate and professional programs is 6,593 students. There are a total of 20,473 men and 15,242 women at West Lafayette.
Ethnic enrollment in undergraduate, graduate and professional programs increased. There are 1,348 African-American students this fall compared with 1,229 a year ago. The Asian-American student population decreased by 26 to 1,319. The number of Hispanic students is 743, up from 737 students. American Indian enrollment increased by 35 students to 192.
Enrollments at other Purdue campuses are expected to remain fairly steady:
Enrollment in the School of Technology Statewide locations is estimated at 1,757 students. School of Technology classes are taught in Anderson, Columbus, Elkhart, Indianapolis, Kokomo, Lafayette, Muncie, New Albany, Richmond, South Bend and Versailles.
The undergraduate schools at West Lafayette and their enrollments are:
There are 301 students enrolled in Undergraduate Studies, a program in its second year at Purdue's West Lafayette campus. There are 464 students enrolled in University Division. Both programs are for students who have not decided on a major.
Several schools posted undergraduate enrollment increases in fields where job markets are becoming stronger.
"Students are seeing exciting career opportunities in this age of increasing technology," said Harry Morrison, dean of the School of Science. "Students are looking at molecular biology, materials development, environmental science and computer science as viable, long-term careers. We have not seen growth like this in computer science since the early 1980s. Plus, students are much better informed about these fields and truly want to be part of the revolution."
Career-minded students also appear to be driving enrollment increases in the School of Consumer and Family Sciences. "The job market for our graduates is outstanding," said Dean Dennis Savaiano. "Our school has grown with the increasing support for healthy families. There is great interest in the study of child development, consumer sciences, nutrition and the hospitality industry. Purdue excels in providing students a liberal arts education while allowing students to have a career focus."
Marilyn Haring, dean of the School of Education, said the enrollment increase is a result of improving the school curriculum and publicizing those changes to potential students and employers. "We think Purdue's School of Education has been a well-kept secret that is finally making its way out," Haring said. "The faculty has worked hard to improve programs and infuse technology. And we have gotten the word out to superintendents who hire our graduates who in turn help build our reputation. Those superintendents tell us and their communities that their best new teachers are coming from Purdue, so we're reaping the benefits of our work."
Sources: Hawkins, (765) 494-5776
Christiansen, (765) 494-1776; e-mail, dlchris@adms.purdue.edu
Marlesa Roney, registrar, (765) 494-6133; e-mail, maroney@reg.purdue.edu
Haring, (765) 494-2336; e-mail, haring@purdue.edu
Morrison, (765) 494-1730; e-mail, morrison@science.purdue.edu
Savaiano, (765) 494-8210; e-mail, savaiano@cfs.purdue.edu
Writer: J. Michael Willis, (765) 494-0371; e-mail, mike_willis@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu
