Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne saw a decrease in its fall enrollment, while the number of students at the University of Saint Francis set a new record.
On Wednesday, IPFW reported fall enrollment of 13,771 students, down 3.9 percent from 14,326 in fall 2011. The number of credit hours taken by students also fell to 139,647 from 148,737 last year, a 6.1-percent decrease.
In a statement, IPFW said the decline could be attributed to a few factors: the region's high rate of job growth; stricter IPFW admission standards; and changes to financial-aid regulations.
Several departments and areas, however, saw enrollment increase by more than 5 percent, including: English and linguistics; physics; women's studies; engineering; allied health; and fine arts.
Enrollment at USF in Fort Wayne increased from 2,350 students in fall 2011 to 2,366 this fall, which is the largest in the school's history. In a statement, the university said the higher enrollment is the result of offering more generous financial-aid awards to students who just completed high school.
This year, USF expects to award about $13.5 million in financial aid.