September 24, 2014 – Cheryl Lutgen
A jump in student retention and more first time, full time freshmen are driving an enrollment increase at Purdue University Calumet this fall.
Overall enrollment of 9,501 represents a 1 percent jump from last fall’s 9,422 total. Likewise, the 97,625 hours in which students are enrolled represent a 2.3 percent gain from a year ago.
Retention leap
Freshman to sophomore year retention has climbed to 73.5 percent from 68.8 percent last year. Retention is considered an important factor in graduation persistence.
Additionally, current fall enrollment includes 906 first time, full time freshmen, up 14.3 percent from last year. What’s more, 66 percent of the current new freshmen are enrolled in 15 or more credit hours, compared to 40 percent a year ago.
“It is exciting that we continue to attract more full time students using more selective standards,” Purdue Calumet Chancellor Thomas L. Keon said. “Our increased retention rate is an indication that students are enrolling at Purdue Calumet prepared to succeed and persist in earning a Purdue degree on our campus.”
More full time, degree-persistent students
Attracting more full time students intent on earning a Purdue baccalaureate degree in four years is a strategic priority of Purdue Calumet. Over the past academic year, the university has reorganized its enrollment management staff and implemented new strategic enrollment service initiatives aimed at attracting more degree-persistent students.
“As a high priority, we have taken a student-centered approach in our efforts to recruit and retain qualified students,” Purdue Calumet Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs Carmen Panlilio said. “Though this fall’s numbers indicate we have turned the corner, there is much more we must do to make Purdue Calumet a first choice for qualified students.”
Other noteworthy data
Other fall 2014 enrollment data of note compared to fall 2013 includes:
-A 12 percent increase among undergraduate enrollees (8,491) and a 2.2 percent decrease among graduate students (1,010);
-A 7.5 percent jump in out-of-state students (2,595) and a 1.5 percent decline among in-state enrollees (6,906);
-Enrollment hour increases among students within the Colleges of Nursing (4,234 total / up 18.1 percent); Technology (8,542 / 7.0 percent); Business (12,896 / 3.3 percent); and Engineering, Mathematics and Science (20,115 / 3.0 percent);
-The continued trend of a higher percentage of entering freshmen with high school grade point averages of at least 3.0, 3.25 and 3.5;
-A 25.7 percent jump in the number of international students (860), representing 9 percent of the total student body. Hispanic students (1,475) increased 6.2 percent. Caucasian (4,843) and African-American (1,079) students decreased 3.4 percent and 7.8 percent, respectively.