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November 8, 2002
Contact: Jeanie-Marie Price, 503-725-3773
Bob Kieran, 541-346-5758
Universities Continue to Set Enrollment Records
Eugene, Ore. - For the third-consecutive year, Oregon's public universities have set a new record for fall campus
enrollment.
Officials of the Oregon University System (OUS) said Thursday that total headcount enrollment for 2002 fall term
classes at the state's seven public universities is 78,071. That represents an increase of 4,188 from a year ago
when the previous fall enrollment record of 73,883 was set.
"We continue to grow," said Bob Kieran, director of Institutional Research Services for OUS. "The
fourth-week numbers are very close to our projections, about 5.7% above last year."
This marks the fourth year of strong growth, exceeding 20 percent for that period. That's roughly equivalent to
adding a major university to the system over two biennia. This comes despite the recent cuts in higher education
due to the poor economy.
"High unemployment encourages students to advance their education," says Kieran. "In the past, many
students could find high-paying jobs with certificates and two-year degrees. Now those students are continuing
on to obtain a bachelor's degree. And for the first time in Oregon's history, many of those unemployed already
possess a bachelor's degree. Many are returning to graduate school while they ride out the economic downturn."
Other factors contributing to the increased OUS enrollment include an increase in the number of high-school graduates
and a higher percentage choosing to go to college, better recruitment of the best and brightest of those students,
more students transferring from community colleges and an increase in graduate students.
Over 10,300 first-time freshmen are included in the totals, the largest entering freshman class ever.
The number also reflects several all-time campus enrollment levels. Portland State University continues to be the
state's largest campus with 21,841 attending classes this fall, an 8.2% increase over 2001,. Eastern Oregon University,
Oregon Institute of Technology, Oregon State University the University of Oregon, and Western Oregon University
also set new campus-level headcount marks.
Counted within the new statewide record are 313 students at the Oregon State University Cascades Campus in Bend,
Oregon's first branch campus. Term enrollments reflect partnerships with Eastern Oregon University and the University
of Oregon, but do not count nearly an equal number of students who take classes through partnerships with Oregon
Health & Sciences University, Linfield College and various distance-education providers.
Following is a statistical summary of the official fourth-week enrollment total for all OUS campuses:
Oregon University System Headcount Enrollment
Fall 2002, Fourth Week Totals
| |
2002 |
2001 |
Increase |
% |
| Eastern Oregon University |
3,452 |
2,978 |
474 |
15.9% |
| Oregon Institute of Technology |
3,139 |
3,088 |
51 |
1.7% |
| Oregon State University - Corvallis |
18,774 |
18,032 |
742 |
4.1% |
| Oregon State University - Cascades |
313 |
245 |
68 |
27.8% |
| Portland State University |
21,841 |
20,185 |
1,656 |
8.2% |
| Southern Oregon University |
5,478 |
5,469 |
9 |
0.2% |
| University of Oregon |
20,044 |
19,008 |
1,036 |
5.5% |
| Western Oregon University |
5,030 |
4,878 |
152 |
3.1% |
| Total |
78,071 |
73,883 |
4,188 |
5.7% |
-OUS-
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