Arkansas State University set a new enrollment record, reporting 14,903 students after the 11th day of class.

In an A-State press release, A-State reported an increase of over 1,000 students in the fall 2023 semester. A-State enrollment grew 6% compared to the 14,107 students enrolled in fall 2022.

“We are the outstanding value for cost of attendance and the cost of living, but that’s not why more and more students are selecting A-State,” chancellor Todd Shields said in a press release. “I’ve been here just over a year, and I can tell you there isn’t any place like A-State.”

Shields said enrollment is up at A-State for many reasons, including A-State’s medical school, upcoming veterinary school, international campus, Biosciences Institute and small class sizes. 

He said A-State offers these resources simultaneously, making it the only college in Arkansas to do so.

A-State saw enrollment growth in first-time first-year international and domestic students. This semester, 163 new international students and 1,445 domestic students enrolled at A-State, totaling 1,608. Compared to fall 2022, first-time student enrollment grew 20%.

“I know that A-State has a long tradition of international students and what impacted enrollment the most was COVID.” Shields said. “It closed embassies and consulates around the world and now students from other countries are able to get the appropriate documents.”

Shields said further data on international student demographics will be released in the following weeks.

According to an A-State press release, A-State reached 2,933 students living on campus, the highest occupancy since the COVID-19 pandemic. Shields said despite the recent uptick in COVID cases, he expects campus enrollment to continue to rise.

Students enrolled in concurrent high school courses with A-State across northeast Arkansas totaled 700, rising 5% compared to fall 2022. Shields said while students can transfer their A-State concurrent credits to other universities, he sees it as a positive way to connect high school students to A-State faculty early.

While enrollment increased in almost every category, Shields said enrollment dropped slightly at the Queretaro campus by about 40 students. Shields said returning student enrollment also decreased.

Lloyd Thomas, an A-State computer science graduate, said he observed a change in student enrollment this semester. He said while he doesn’t actively follow enrollment, he did take note of enrollment patterns on campus.

Thomas said classes in the computer science department looked packed and, compared to previous semesters, he noticed more student activity on campus.

“At least in our department, it felt like we were in quite a bit of a downturn, at least definitely from when I was an undergrad,” Thomas said. “Although, now it seems like we’re in an upturn again.”

Thomas said he noticed the upturn in student enrollment within the past year at A-State.

To continue the positive trend in enrollment, Shields said new enrollment consultant Joel Wincowski recommended a change in recruiting techniques. Shields said he is excited to see an increase in students already since A-State is just starting to develop strategic recruitment plans.

Shields said he finds the increase in activity on campus and in classes energizing. He said with more students and liveliness, A-State and the community will see more positive changes. 

Shields said in following semesters, he wants every family in Arkansas to know A-State is a university large enough to be a Research 2 institution but small enough that professors will know students by name and take a personal interest in their success. He said instead of focusing on increasing enrollment in a specific demographic, A-State seeks to educate everyone. 

“We have a saying here that ‘every Red Wolf counts’ and we live by that pact with our students,” Shields said. “We certainly want to maintain the momentum we have now.”

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