Ball State’s incoming freshman class is shaping up to be larger than last years, following a trend of increasing enrollment over the past five years.
The university received more than 17,000 applications, said Tom Taylor, vice president for enrollment, marketing and communications.
Although orientation is only about halfway over, he expects there will be about 100 to 150 more students in the new class compared to last year. The 2012-13 academic year’s total enrollment was 21,053, with an undergraduate enrollment of 16,652.
“I think that shows how well people think of Ball State,” Taylor said.
More applicants can help keep tuition low since enrollment projections and revenues are taken into account when the university decides how much money is needed to operate, he said.
Randy Howard, vice president of business affairs and treasurer, said enrollment growth along with a boost in state funding allowed the university to increase tuition by 2 percent, its lowest rate since 1976.
A high number of interested students also helps Ball State to be more selective with their admissions standards.
“We are being very aggressive in the recruiting we are doing, including visiting high schools, in terms of getting materials out to perspective students,” Taylor said. “I think it’s also a reflection of the growing reputation of the institution.”
Taylor attributes some of the success in attracting more potential students to successful alumni, students and faculty spreading the word.
With the increase in overall students, Taylor said he anticipates slightly more out-of-state students coming to Ball State in the fall, which is a goal listed in the university’s strategic plan.
“We will always be a predominately Indiana institution, but we believe that, just as ethnic diversity is important, geographic diversity is important,” he said. “I think it helps students to meet and work with students from other backgrounds.”
