2009 UNL enrollment highest in 14 years

Enrollment at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is at its highest in 14 years for the 2009 fall semester.

At 24,100 enrolled students, UNL registered a 2.2 percent growth from fall 2008 and saw its highest enrollment since 1995, according to the official 2009 UNL census reported to the Board of Regents last Friday.

"More and more Nebraskans — and students around the country, for that matter — are seeing what a great undergraduate program we have here at UNL," said Alan Cerveny, dean of admissions at UNL. "We continue to get some great press."

Undergraduates comprise 429 of the 527-student increase; 91 are graduate students, and 7 are in professional colleges.

The College of Arts and Sciences experienced the most growth at 13 percent, with the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources next at 7.1 percent growth, and the College of Education and Human Sciences in third with 6.3 percent growth.

Graduate enrollment is also up. A 2-percent increase brings graduate enrollment to 4,591, the highest in 10 years.

"It's cause for celebration," said Kelly Bartling, manager of news at University Communications. "It's great news any time we increase enrollment."

Bartling said retention rates were an important factor in the increase, highlighting the necessity of keeping students from year to year.

As to continuing the rise in numbers, Bartling said, "It will be interesting to watch. The demographics are such that the number of high school graduates coming out of Nebraska is going to decrease."

The total number of transfer students increased by 5.3 percent, while total first-time freshmen declined by 5.1 percent, the first decline in this category in five years.

According to Cerveny, UNL will continue trying to keep enrollment numbers rising, but "there are challenges." With Nebraska facing a decline in the number of high school graduates, future growth will become tougher, he said.

However, Cerveny said, "Given the economy, the fact that we continue to grow is great news."

Bartling also pointed to the economic situation as a draw for UNL.