QUICK LINKS Today's News News releases ISU homepage NEWS RELEASE 09-11-03 Contacts: Kathy Jones, Registrar, (515) 294-0754 Marc Harding, Admissions, (515) 294-0815 Annette Hacker, News Service, (515) 294-3720 John McCarroll, University Relations, (515) 294-6137 IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY FALL ENROLLMENT IS 27,380 AMES, Iowa -- Student enrollment at Iowa State University is 27,380, the third-highest total enrollment in the university's history. It represents a 1.9 percent decrease (518 students) compared to fall 2002. Iowa State gained 242 graduate students, bringing graduate student enrollment to 4,741, the third-highest graduate enrollment on record. The undergraduate enrollment is down by 769, and professional student (veterinary medicine) enrollment is up by 9. An increase in the number of graduates last year is one factor that contributed to the enrollment decline, said Kathy Jones, Iowa State University registrar. "The 2002-2003 academic year was a record in the number of ISU degrees awarded," Jones said. "Iowa State awarded 318 more undergraduate degrees than in the previous year. One of the major reasons for the increase in graduates is that more students are completing their degrees in four years." The number of students called to active military duty also affected fall enrollment. Of the 86 students called to active duty last year, only 12 have returned to campus for the fall semester. Additionally, some international students have faced challenges in entering the U.S. to begin or continue their studies at Iowa State. The number of new, international undergraduate students is down 33 percent from a year ago. The total number of international undergraduates at Iowa State is down 17 percent (182 students). Iowa State's total fall enrollment reflects the most ethnically diverse on record. Total minority student enrollment is 2,082 (7.6 percent of the student population), up from 2,039 (7.3 percent) in fall 2002. The goal, as set by the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, is to raise that percentage to at least 8.5 percent. Complete enrollment information is available at: http://www.public.iastate.edu/~registrar/stats/ -30- Ames, Iowa 50011, (515) 294-4111 Published by: University Relations, online@iastate.edu Copyright © 1995-2003, Iowa State University of Science and Technology. All rights reserved.