University of Evansville UE freshman class largest in 13 years

By John Martin, Evansville Courier & Press

EVANSVILLE - Fall semester classes started Wednesday at the University of Evansville, which is reporting its largest freshman class in 13 years.

The class of 701 helped boost overall full-time enrollment by about 6 percent to 2,699. UE has not established an enrollment figure for part-time students.

UE reports having students from 44 states and 48 countries, with 10 percent of the incoming class consisting of American minority students. That meets a strategic goal of the university, officials said.

UE also is noting increases in the number of adult students and transfers, and officials say some veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are taking advantage of a free tuition opportunity through the Yellow Ribbon Program.

"Seeing this kind of increase, especially in these difficult economic times, is an endorsement to the quality of education UE provides," said Thomas Bear, vice president for enrollment services.