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News Release

Last modified: Monday, August 29, 2011

Indiana University students set marks for numbers, academic quality

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 29, 2011

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University Bloomington has enrolled the second-largest freshman class in its history, with 7,410 first-year students. The first-year class includes increased numbers of in-state and minority students and is one of the most academically accomplished in recent history.

The average SAT score for first-year students at IU Bloomington rose to 1201, and the group set marks for the median high school grade-point average, the percentage of students near the top of their high school class and the number who received national academic merit awards.

"I am delighted to welcome another outstanding group of students to campus," said Provost and Executive Vice President Karen Hanson. "Members of the Class of 2015 come from many different backgrounds and bring with them a remarkable range of talents, experiences and interests. At Indiana University Bloomington they will find a wealth of opportunities for learning, exploring and developing their capacity for leadership and service."

Across the state, Indiana University reported a record 108,041 students enrolled on eight campuses on the first day of classes. IU Bloomington, IU East in Richmond and IU Southeast in New Albany set campus first-day enrollment marks. Students were enrolled in a record number of credit hours at IUPUI and IU Kokomo, as well as at IU Bloomington, IU East and IU Southeast.

Fall semester classes began Aug. 22 at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, IU Kokomo and Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. Classes began today at IU Bloomington, IU East, IU Northwest in Gary, IU South Bend and IU Southeast.

Official census figures, recorded a week after classes begin and typically higher than first-day counts, will be available for all campuses in early September. Official university-wide enrollment is expected to surpass last year's census record of 109,445.

At IU Bloomington, the average SAT score for first-year students rose to 1201 from last year's 1199 and the median high school GPA rose to 3.70 from 3.69. A record 74.1 percent of students were in the top quarter of their high school class, and 84 students received national merit awards, an all-time high that was up 42.4 percent from last year.

The number of in-state students in the freshman class increased by 4.5 percent. Indiana residents make up 62 percent of first-year students. Academic marks set by Indiana resident first-year students include:

• An average SAT score of 1185, up 4 points from last year
• Median high-school GPA of 3.73, up from 3.71 last year.
• 79.5 percent in the top quarter of their high-school class
• 86.7 percent earned the Indiana academic honors diploma
• Record numbers of merit-based awards, including 51 Cox Scholarships (up from 19 last year); 645 IU Excellence awards (up from 576 and the second-highest on record), 128 Valedictorian awards (up from 119) and 56 Herbert Presidential Scholars (up from 48).

U.S. minority enrollment among first-year IU Bloomington students grew to 1,185 from last year's 1,140. National Achievement and National Hispanic awards for minority students increased, and students enrolled in IU's Hudson and Holland Scholars program rose to 224 from 139 last year.

To address concerns about affordability for the growing numbers of new in-state students with financial need, IU Bloomington has awarded $3.4 million, an increase of 42 percent from last year, for its Pell Promise and 21st Century Covenant programs, which supplement federal and state need-based grants.

International students are enrolling at IU Bloomington in record numbers -- 9.7 percent of campus enrollment, compared to 9.1 percent last year -- and continue to arrive on campus. Students are arriving in large numbers from China, South Korea, India and Taiwan.

While first-day figures were largely stable across the university, IU East in Richmond grew by 13.5 percent. First-day figures include:

• IU Bloomington, 42,081 students, up 0.7 percent from last year; enrolled in 565,010.5 credit hours, up 0.5 percent
• IUPUI, 30,300 students, down 0.2 percent; 345,503.5 credit hours, up 0.3 percent
• IU East, 3,494 students, up 13.5 percent; 35,559.5 credit hours, up 10.5 percent
• IPFW (IU students only), 7,809 students, down 2 students; 78,999 credit hours, down 2.4 percent
• IU Kokomo, 3,135 students, up 2.5 percent; 31,821 credit hours, up 4.6 percent
• IU Northwest, 5,695 students, down 1.0 percent; 59,734 credit hours, down 1.6 percent
• IU South Bend, 8,331 students, down 1.8 percent; credit hours, 80,554 credit hours, down 2.5 percent
• IU Southeast, 7,196 students, up 3.4 percent; 73,772.5 credit hours, up 1.8 percent

At IUPUI, the entering class of 4,500 students was characterized by increased diversity, with just over one-fourth of first-year students Hispanic or non-white. Forty-four percent are the first in their families to attend college, and 16 percent are Indiana 21st Century Scholars.

IU Kokomo experienced a significant increase in the size of its freshman class. Campus officials pointed to an upturn in the number of recent high school graduates choosing IU Kokomo and credited the launch of new degree programs and expanded online classes.

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