USI sees increase in overall enrollment, students entering graduate programs

This fall, the University of Southern Indiana saw both an increase in overall enrollment as well as a sizable increase in students entering graduate programs. Overall enrollment saw a slight increase, up 28 students from this time in fall 2015. However, graduate enrollment is at an all-time high at 1,068, up by more 180 students-a 20 percent increase-with a large portion of that increase attributed to the Romain College of Business' new online MBA program.

"We knew there was a strong need for an accessible online MBA program, but we didn't foresee how popular it would be," said USI President Linda L. M. Bennett. "With an enrollment of 88 students in its first cohort, the new online degree program has tripled our expectations. We've also seen a strong upward trend in enrollment, both new and returning students, across our 14 graduate programs."

The online MBA includes emphases in human resources, engineering management and data analytics, and features a rolling admission with students able to start the program on a seven-week semester cycle.

USI saw another strong freshman enrollment with 1,685 first time in college students, on par with the increases it saw in fall 2015. The incoming freshman class continues a trend of having the strongest credentials in the University's history, and represents some of the brightest students the state has to offer. Average high school GPAs for incoming freshmen are at an all-time high for the University at 3.37. And, for the third year, Tri-State area high school valedictorians made USI one of their top two college choices.

In USI's Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education, USI's engineering programs saw a more than 35 percent jump in new freshmen enrollment from 2015. Dr. Zane Mitchell, interim dean, attributes the increase to strong recruiting efforts. "I expect we'll continue to see this trend next year as more students find out about our two new discipline-specific degree programs in mechanical and manufacturing engineering," he said. "Currently we have the only manufacturing engineering program in the state."  He added that on average more than 90 percent of engineering graduates take jobs in the region.  

Additionally, the University enrolled 1,668 top high school students through its College Achievement Program (CAP) which successfully prepares students to graduate college in four years or less. In 2015-2016, CAP partnered with 26 high schools to offer 29 courses at a significantly reduced cost.

Total USI enrollment, including undergraduate, CAP and graduate students, is 10,693 for the 2016 fall semester.

Profile of USI's Student Population

The majority of students at the University of Southern Indiana come from the state of Indiana with 89 of 92 counties represented. Out of state enrollment, including international students, is 1,437 students. Students come from 36 other states and 74 countries. Minority and international students make up just over 13 percent of the student population. Full-time students continue to be the majority at 80 percent. A total of 2,565 students have opted to live on campus, and housing is near capacity at more than 98 percent.