A record-high 91,580 students are enrolled in the Oregon University System, OUS Chancellor George Pernsteiner announced Nov. 10. Those numbers reflect a 5.8 percent increase in students since last year.
“These significant enrollment increases show the great demand in Oregon for higher education, as students of all ages seek the skills and experiences they need to be successful in the workplace and in life,” Pernsteiner said.
Across the system, total fall 2009 enrollment has reached 75,443 undergraduates and 16,137 graduate students, according to figures collected at the fourth week of the fall term and released by the OUS Office of the Chancellor.
“I am pleased to welcome our largest class of college students in Oregon history,” said Gov. Ted Kulongoski. “Their participation in our universities will build a stronger Oregon in the years ahead.”
The 10-year growth for OUS has continued to outpace other averages with a 36 percent increase since 1999, compared to 22.8 percent nationally. Portland State leads that increase with a growth of 52.7 percent since 1999.
“We have almost added the equivalent of another Portland State University—the state’s largest university—in those 10 years, increasing by 24,000 students,” said Bob Kieran, OUS assistant vice chancellor for institutional research and planning.
Portland State has seen the second highest increase of all OUS universities, with 1,385 more students enrolled for fall term 2009 than fall 2008.
However, first-time freshman enrollment at Portland State slightly decreased over that time period, from 1,768 in 2008 to 1,676 at the fourth week of this term.
Freshman retention did increase, to an all-time high of 81.7 percent.
System-wide, non-resident transfer admission has increased, which OUS officials have attributed to other states’ rising tuition costs.
According to a Nov. 10 news release compiled by the OUS Chancellor’s Office, some states have capped public university enrollment as their contributions to postsecondary education decline due to the current economic climate. Oregon, meanwhile, has had relatively stable tuition increases.
This growth in transfer enrollment can also be credited to improved transition assistance programs, OUS officials said.
“We’re very pleased to see the strong increases in transfer students entering our universities, a result of concerted campus efforts to make transitioning from a two- to a four-year institution seamless for students,” Pernsteiner said.
Student diversity has also grown across OUS. Up from 17.5 percent in fall 2008, rates of students self-identifying as other than white and non-Hispanic are now at 17.8 percent.
“Enrollment increases exceeded all expectations this year,” Kieran said. “This verifies the success of campus efforts to provide access to a larger, more diverse number of Oregonians, and acknowledges the public’s recognition that higher education is the key to career flexibility and economic gains.”