September 12, 2008
Bowling
Green, Ky. - Enrollment at Western Kentucky University has increased for the 11th consecutive year to 19,785 students, including an increase of 19.6 percent in the number of African-American first-time freshmen.
WKU has 500 African-American first-time freshmen, an increase of 82 over last fall, according to preliminary figures that will be submitted to the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education.
WKU’s total fall enrollment is up 520 students (2.7 percent) from fall 2007 with the number of first-time freshmen up 209 students (6.7 percent) to 3,323. The number of international first-time freshmen is up 51 students (42 percent) to 171.
“This growth is a huge boost for WKU and for Kentucky,” President Gary Ransdell said. “Most of it is in full-time students. I want to thank each new student for joining this University family, and all of the staff and faculty who worked hard to get them here. Now we turn our attention to retaining and graduating these students.”
WKU’s undergraduate enrollment is 16,987, an increase of 479 students (2.9 percent) over fall 2007, while graduate enrollment is 2,798, an increase of 41 students (1.5 percent).
“The continued enrollment growth is verification of the high quality programs we offer at WKU and the high demand students have for our programs,” said Dr. Dean Kahler, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management. “People around the nation and around the world are recognizing the great things that are happening at WKU and want to study here. We are pleased with the enrollment trends at WKU over the last several years and are very excited to have this kind of momentum help carry WKU toward the 2020 enrollment goals.”
WKU fall enrollment
2008 19,785 (preliminary)
2007 19,265
2006 18,664
2005 18,645
2004 18,513
2003 18,391
2002 17,818
2001 16,579
2000 15,516
1999 15,123
1998 14,882
1997 14,543
More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu and at http://wkunews.wordpress.com/. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.
For information, contact Dean Kahler at (270) 745-6169.
-WKU-
"A leading American university with international reach"
Office of Media Relations
Western Kentucky University
1906 College Heights Blvd., Bowling Green, Ky. 42101-3576
Phone: (270)745-4295 - Fax: (270)7455387 - E-Mail: western@wku.edu