Its official: West VirginiaUniversitys fall enrollment ranks highest in the history of the institution. Fall enrollment on the main campus in Morgantown is up over 700 students, or 3.2 percent. A total of 23,492 students are attending the University compared to 22,774 last fall. The previous high was in 1993 when 23,080 students attended WVU .
This years enrollment record is due in part to an 8.7 percent increase in first-time freshmen, the largest class in WVU s history. The number of first-time freshmen rose by 317 students, for a total of 3,978.
The average ACT composite test score of WVU s Fall 2002 first-time freshmen also increasedfrom 22.4 in Fall 2001 to 22.7, or 1.9 points above the national average ACT composite of 20.8. Likewise, the average combined SAT score of first-time freshmen increased from 1033 in Fall 2001 to 1042. This average combined SAT score is 22 points above the national average of 1020.
“What is important about the upward trend of the incoming studentsscores and GPA is that we have matriculated the largest freshman class without compromising, and indeed we are strengthening the academic quality of our university,”said WVU President David C. Hardesty Jr.”We offer a student experience that rivals small private institutions, and at the same time offers the academic opportunities and quality that can only come from a major comprehensive research university.”
Enrollment increased at all three student levels this fall: Undergraduate enrollment rose by 571 students (3.5 percent) to 16,692, while graduate enrollment increased by 97 students (1.8 percent) to 5,509 and first professional enrollment increased by 50 students (4.0 percent) to 1,291.
WVU s regional campuses in Parkersburg, Keyser and Montgomery also experienced headcount enrollment increases30 more students at WVU -Parkersburg for a total of 3,370; 54 more students at Potomac State College of WVU for a total of 1,308; and 94 more students at WVU Institute of Technology for a total of 2,468.
WVU s combined headcount enrollment at the four campuses is 30,638an increase of 896 students over last falls 29,742 count, or 3.01 percent.
Other WVU enrollment highlights:
Full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment of 21,588 represents an increase of 805 students, or 3.9 percent
In-state residents make up 14,539 of the student total, or 62 percent. Out-of-state students number 8,953, or 38 percent. Resident enrollment increased almost 2 percent while non-resident enrollment increased 5.4 percent.
Graduate enrollment increased by about 2 percent, while first professional enrollment increased 4 percent. The number of out-of-state first professional students increased 34 percent to 165 students.
Students enrolled totally in off-campus courses increased by 102 students (5.3 percent) to 2,019, despite the fact that this years enrollment numbers were required to be reported one month earlier than previous years. Off-campus students registering after Sept. 22 are not included in this figure.
Female and male students are about equally represented.
The overall percentage of minority students enrolled remained the same as the previous fall at 7.1 percent of the total enrollment.
Enrollment of international students (non-resident aliens) rose by 117 students (9.7 percent) to 1,324.
Included in the number of first-time freshman are 1,277 PROMISE Scholars.
Increases in total enrollment were evident in 10 of WVU s 13 colleges and schools. Enrollment in the School of Dentistry remained the same as Fall 2001. The Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences and the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences experienced a decrease in enrollment, but that decrease was less than half a percent.
The largest increases at the undergraduate level were in the College of Arts and Sciences, up 62 students or 2.8 percent; College of Business and Economics, up 37 students or 5.1 percent; School of Nursing, up 33 students or 11.3 percent; College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, up 26 students or 1.6 percent; and School of Journalism, up 26 students or 4.3 percent.
The colleges with the largest increases in graduate enrollment were the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources (up 116 students; 16.6 percent); College of Business and Economics (up 27 students; 8.7 percent); and the School of Nursing (up 22 students; 30.1 percent).