October 08, 1998
ENROLLMENT AT PASSHE UNIVERSITIES INCREASES FOR SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR
Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu
More than 95,000 students are taking classes at State System of Higher Education universities this fall, marking the second year in a row enrollment is up at the 14 state-owned universities.
Ten of the 14 universities showed an increase this fall over a year ago, while four reported slight declines. Overall, there are 815 more students enrolled in the State System than in 1997. The increase represents a rise of almost 1 percent.
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania experienced the largest rise, in both numbers and percentage. A total of 313 more students are enrolled at Cheyney this fall than were a year ago, bringing the number of students taking classes there to 1,743.
Other universities with large increases include Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania, with 180 more students enrolled, and Bloomsburg and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania, each of which has added 148 students from a year ago.
The number of African-American and Latino students enrolled Systemwide increased by 6 percent this fall, also continuing an upward trend.
The higher overall numbers push the System’s enrollment above 95,000 for the first time since 1993. Prior to last year, enrollment had declined for five years in a row.
“We are pleased to see another year of increased enrollment in the State System,” said Chancellor James H. McCormick. “The higher number for two consecutive years is evidence of the confidence students and their families have in the high-quality programs our universities offer, and in their ability to prepare them for their future careers.”
There are several factors that may be contributing to the rising enrollments, including a larger number of high school graduates, new programs being offered by the universities, improved retention rates, expansion of off-campus sites and an increase in the number of non-traditional students taking classes. The System’s new out-of-state tuition policy, which enabled several of the universities to reduce their nonresident tuition to help them fill vacant classroom seats, also helped boost this year’s enrollment totals.
The State System also did not raise tuition this year, and has increased tuition by only $100 over the last two years, which could be another contributing factor to the increased enrollments.
The State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth. Nearly 350,000 State System alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.
In addition to the 14 universities, the System also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Kittanning, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers.