October 09, 2003

State System universities report record enrollment for Fall 2003

Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu

More than 104,000 students are taking classes this fall at the 14 Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education universities, the largest enrollment in the State System’s history.

Enrollment is up for the seventh consecutive year across the System. With 104,216 students enrolled – 90 percent of them Pennsylvania residents – the State System continues to be the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth.

“The growth in enrollment at our universities is strong evidence of the demand from Pennsylvania students and their families for access to high quality higher education at an affordable price,” said Chancellor Judy G. Hample. “This sustained growth presents opportunities and challenges for the State System as we continue preparing Pennsylvania students to be Pennsylvania leaders.

“Based on alumni surveys, as many as eight in 10 of our graduates remain in Pennsylvania to live and work. State System universities are preparing students to compete in the global marketplace but who choose to reside in Pennsylvania.”

An additional 2,670 students are attending the state-owned universities this semester over Fall 2002.  The enrollment total breaks the previous record of 101,546 students who took classes at State System universities last year.

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania experienced the largest increase, adding 484 students, or nearly 5.7 percent, while Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania had the largest percentage increase, adding 334 students, or 7.3 percent.

Seven of the universities saw increases of more than 200 students. The largest increases are as follows: Kutztown, 484; California 356; Lock Haven, 334; Edinboro, 267; Slippery Rock, 259; Bloomsburg, 243; and Millersville, 211.

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education universities combine to offer more than 250 degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study.  More than 375,000 System alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.

The state-owned universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania.  The System also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Kittanning, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg.  The regional centers are part of the Educational Resources Group, which is responsible for coordinating statewide programming.

Fall 2003 Enrollment by University

 

University              Enrollment

Bloomsburg                 8,282

California                    6,438

Cheyney                     1,536

Clarion                       6,497

East Stroudsburg         6,162

Edinboro                     8,045

Indiana                     13,868

Kutztown                     9,008

Lock Haven                 4,908

Mansfield                    3,520

Millersville                   7,861

Shippensburg              7,607

Slippery Rock              7,789

West Chester             12,695

System Total            104,216