August 30, 2007

Purdue enrollment reflects planned stability

West Lafayette enrollment combined with Purdue's other locations brings systemwide enrollment to an estimated 70,075 compared to 69,594 a year ago.

"We are right on target," said Thomas B. Robinson, vice president for student services. "Our West Lafayette campus goal is to stabilize enrollment at this level.

Because the university enrolled a relatively larger class of freshman students last year, and that group is still taking classes, we held our number of first-time students to 6,888 this year compared to 7,518 last fall. Maintaining stability is necessary because the West Lafayette campus is at capacity."

A record 25,929 applied to be in the Purdue freshman class.

Interest in a Purdue education remains high," Robinson said. "The credentials of the incoming freshman class are among the best in Purdue's history, with an increase in test scores and high school GPAs compared to last year."

The freshman class this year includes 87 National Merit Scholars, which is among the most in the Big Ten.

The average high school grade-point average of the incoming freshmen remains strong at 3.5. This speaks well of our students' academic preparation during high school," said Pamela Horne, assistant vice president for enrollment management and dean of admissions. "Purdue's average critical reading + math SAT score for incoming students is 1,145, 128 points above the national average. The average SAT writing score is 539, compared to the national score of 494. This week, the College Board reported that both nationally and in Indiana, SAT scores decreased slightly among 2007 high school graduates. In contrast, Purdue's class shows a small increase in SAT scores over last fall. Our ACT average composite score remains steady at 25, compared to a 21.2 national average."

Purdue also has enrolled 1,091 Twenty-first Century Scholars. The program provides low-income students with tuition to attend a higher education institution in exchange for earning good grades and keeping a good citizenship pledge.

The number of enrolled students who identify themselves as African-American, Asian-American, Hispanic or Native American has increased by 98 over fall 2006. This represents 13.7 percent of the U.S students at Purdue, compared to 13.3 percent last year. 

The number of international students enrolled is 4,994 of which 434, a Purdue record, are first-year undergraduate students. There are 2,042 international undergraduates, as well as 2,952 graduate and professional students.

Keeping our enrollment consistent with our strategic planning reflects the efforts of many people across campus, not just the central Purdue enrollment management team. Everyone plays a major role, along with those involved in recruitment, teaching, advising, mentoring, financial aid, residence life, student activities, and orientation and success programs," Robinson said. "Together they have worked to recruit, enroll and retain students who have the potential to succeed both personally and academically at Purdue."

Purdue's Graduate School maintained a stable enrollment of 6,994. Professional programs in pharmacy and veterinary medicine, with 922 students, grew by seven.

Other statewide campus totals include:

* Purdue Calumet - estimated at 9,450, compared with last fall's 9,303.

* Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne - estimated at 11,943, compared to 11,672 a year ago.

* Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis - estimated at 4,277 enrolled in Purdue programs, compared with 4,277 last year.

* Purdue North Central - estimated at 3,950 students, compared with 3,724 a year ago.

* Statewide Technology - estimated at 772 equivalent full-time students, compared with 780 a year ago. College of Technology degrees are offered in Anderson/Muncie, Columbus/Greensburg, Indianapolis, Kokomo, Lafayette, New Albany, Richmond and South Bend.

The undergraduate enrollment breakdown at the West Lafayette campus by academic area is:

* Agriculture, 2,479.

* Consumer and Family Sciences, 1,879.

* Education, 919.

* Engineering, 6,215.

* Liberal Arts, 6,486.

* Management, 2,746.

* Pharmacy, Nursing and Health Sciences, 1,893.

* Science, 2,740.

* Technology, 3,883.

* Veterinary Medicine, 392.

* Undergraduate Studies (programs for students who have not decided on a major), 1,336.

* Non-degree students, 218.

The graduate-level enrollment breakdown at West Lafayette by academic area is:

* Agriculture, 491.

* Consumer and Family Sciences, 175.

* Education, 410

* Engineering, 2,277

* Liberal Arts, 1,155

* Management, 669

* Pharmacy, Nursing and Health Sciences, 210

* Science, 1,012

* Technology, 271

* Veterinary Medicine, 102

* Interdisciplinary, 222

The professional-level enrollment breakdown at West Lafayette by academic area is

* Pharmacy, 660.

* Veterinary Medicine, 262.

Writer: Christy Jones, (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu

Sources: Thomas B. Robinson, (765) 494-5776, trobinson@purdue.edu

Pamela Horne, (765) 494-9116, pamhorne@purdue.edu

Sarah Bauer, director of enrollment management, (765) 494-0886, sarah@purdue.edu

Thomas Atkinson, associate dean of the Graduate School, (765) 494-0245, tatkinson@purdue.edu

Michael Brzezinski, associate dean of international programs, (765) 494-7084, mbrzezinski@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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