Nearly 3,600 students started classes at IU Kokomo Monday, the highest student enrollment in the university’s 67-year history.
That broke the previous record set in 1992, according to university officials.
The preliminary student count on Monday was 3,578, which is a 14.1 percent increase over last fall. This marks the third year the campus has experienced significant growth, officials said.
IU Kokomo Chancellor Michael Harris is not surprised.
“IU Kokomo is a destination of choice because students will earn a world-class IU degree that is affordable, receive instruction from the finest faculty and engage in an exciting and vibrant campus life,” he said.
Harris said the university has been very strategic in the degrees it offers and has been working to ensure students graduate in four years.
Officials recently added 15 new degree programs and started offering more online and Friday classes. There’s been additional funding for scholarships and financial aid, too.
Those efforts are reflected in enrollment numbers across the board. The university saw record-breaking numbers in at least six different areas.
The freshman class this year grew by 14.2 percent, officials said. There was a 5 percent rise in full-time students, and minority student enrollment is up 11.5 percent.
The number of academic honors students is up 15.6 percent, and the number of credit hours taken is up more than 8 percent from last year, officials said.
Certain majors have seen significant growth, too, according to the university.
The Division of Allied Health Sciences saw the greatest increase on campus. Registration was up 31.6 percent. Students enrolled in allied health programs pursue degrees that include medical imaging technology, radiography and cytotechnology.
There was also a 33.3 percent increase in the number of students pursuing a master of business administration at IU Kokomo, officials said.