Fall enrollment up at WVU's Morgantown and regional campuses

November 2nd, 2001

Fall enrollment on the main campus of West Virginia University is up nearly 800 students, or 3.6 percent, President David C. Hardesty told WVU Board of Governors members meeting on campus today (Nov. 2). A total of 22,774 students are attending the University compared to 21,987 in fall 2000.

WVU s regional campuses in Parkersburg, Keyser and Montgomery also experienced enrollment increases3,377, or 99 more students at WVU -Parkerburg; 1,254, or 146 more students at Potomac State College of WVU ; and 2,374, or 48 more students at WVU Institute of Technology.

WVU s combined headcount enrollment at the four campuses is 29,779an increase of 1,080 students over last falls 28,699 count, or 3.7 percent.

“This falls enrollment news reflects well on West Virginia Universitys and our regional campusesoverall mix of academic offerings, outstanding student programming and campus life opportunities, reasonable tuition and fees, quality faculty and staffand in Morgantown, particularlyoutstanding building program, which includes a new student recreation center, library and life sciences building,”Hardesty said.

At WVU , admissions officials say this falls enrollment is the second highest in the history of WVU the largest was in 1993 with a total of 23,080 students. WVU ’s enrollment over the last decade has remained stable ranging from approximately 21,500 to just over the 23,000 mark, he added.

This year’s numbers are largely reflective of an increase in WVU ’s undergraduate population, up 658 students, or 4.3 percent, Hardesty noted.

Other WVU main campus enrollment highlights:

  • Full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment of 20,783 represents an increase of 590 students, or 2.9 percent
  • First-time freshman enrollment increased by 121 students to 3,661, a 3.4 percent increase.
  • In-state residents make up 14,278 of the student total, or 63 percent, compared to 64 percent last year. Out-of-state students number 8,496, or 37 percent.
  • Female and male students are about equally represented.
  • Approximately 7 percent of enrolled students are minority studentsthe same as last year.
  • Graduate and first professional enrollment were both up about 2 percent.
  • Transfer students increased by 77 students, to 850.
  • WVU students have slightly higher standardized test scores than the national average. WVU first-time freshmen carry an average composite ACT score of 22.4; the national average is 21.0. Average SAT scores of entering WVU freshmen are 1033; the national average is 1020.
  • Increases in total enrollment were evident in 11 of WVU s 13 colleges and schools.
  • The largest increases at the undergraduate level were in the School of Nursing, up 71 students, or 32 percent; the School of Journalism, up 88 students, or 17.3 percent; the School of Physical Education, up 92 students or 16.2 percent; and the College of Business and Economics, up 52 students, or 7.7 percent.
  • The colleges with the largest increases in graduate enrollment were the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, P.I. Reed School of Journalism, Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences and the School of Physical Education.