Enrollment at Indiana’s public higher education institutions for the fall 2024 school year saw the largest one-year increase since fall 2010, according to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.
Exceeding 2%, the increase from the fall 2023 school year saw more students enrolling in both undergraduate and graduate programs.
This is the second year in a row college enrollment in Indiana increased, reversing the previous 12-year decline, officials say.
The Indiana Commission for Higher Education today released data showing enrollment at statewide public institutions increased by more than 5,000 students from fall 2023, including increases in both resident and non-resident enrollment.
“After a second consecutive year of increased enrollment, we are hopeful this is an indication that the declining trends will continue to reverse,” said Chris Lowery, Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education.
Indiana State University showed a one-year headcount decline of 5.3%, with headcount at 7,721 for fall 2024, according to Commission numbers. Over five years, ISU headcount declined 32.7%.
The university has implemented several initiatives to reverse that trend, including:
_ No application fee: Domestic undergraduate students can now apply to Indiana State University at no cost.
_ Priority admission: High school students with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher will receive direct priority admission, expediting their acceptance into the university.
_ Tuition-free guarantee for Pell-eligible students: Indiana State offers four years of in-state tuition for qualified, Pell-eligible students in Indiana, Illinois and multiple other states. Students must have at least a 2.75 high school GPA to qualify.
Statewide, Lowery said the Commission has been “bullish” in efforts aimed at increasing enrollment with initiatives such as Indiana: pre-admissions; expanded financial aid support; and a focus on partnerships providing leading indicators that reflect potential contributions to that success.
At the undergraduate level, statewide enrollment improved by more than 2% from fall 2023, while graduate enrollment also increased by nearly 1%.
Both four-year and two-year institutions experienced an increase in enrollment of at least 2% compared to the prior year. Four-year institution enrollment rates surpassed 190,000 students for the first time since 2020.
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