Indiana State University Newsroom

Enrollment at Indiana State University has reached its highest level in more than 40 years, university officials announced Wednesday.

Growth in the number of returning students and record graduate enrollment, together with another large class of new freshmen, helped boost the fall student head count to 12,448, an increase of 334 from last fall. It is the highest enrollment since 1972 when slightly more than 13,000 students attended.

"Today's enrollment numbers reflect the fact that Indiana State University is a strong contender among our peers for attracting and retaining well qualified students," said John Beacon, vice president for enrollment management, marketing and communications. "Our commitment to making college affordable, while providing an education that is second to none, has made us a popular choice among students from throughout the state and Midwest."

The incoming class of 2,661 new freshmen includes the university's largest honors class with 306 students and total enrollment in the University Honors Program of 964 students, which is also a record. More than half of all incoming freshmen (1,452 students) received the university's Laptop Award, which requires a minimum 3.0 grade point average, Beacon said. He noted that the number of Laptop Award recipients has more than doubled since the program began in 2006, when the university distributed 677 laptops.

The number of in-state residents choosing Indiana State increased from last year, Beacon said, and the university continues to attract high numbers of transfer students - more than 700 for the fourth straight year following a decade of decline.

Graduate student enrollment shot up 7 percent this fall to a record 2,180 students, in part due to the launch of new master's and doctoral programs in health care and a growing professional MBA program.

Beacon noted that campus housing at Indiana State is full and construction is underway to open additional student housing in 2014.

"Students at all levels are finding their niche at Indiana State and gaining the experience needed to become future leaders in our state and nation," said university President Dan Bradley. "It is especially exciting to celebrate continued enrollment growth on the heels of being named the top campus in the nation for community service by Washington Monthly magazine."

Photo: http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/Campus-Scenes/Seasons/Summer/i-DPmTSV5/0/L/August%2021%2C%202013-Campus%20Scenes0520-L.jpg - Indiana State University students walk across campus near the Dede Plaza Fountain on Aug. 21, 2013, the second day of fall semester classes.

Contact: John Beacon, vice president for enrollment management, marketing, and communications, Indiana State University, 812-237-3560 or john.beacon@indstate.edu

Writer: Dave Taylor, media relations director, Office of Communications and Marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-3743 or dave.taylor@indstate.edu