Huntington University enrollment up by 8 percent

“We attribute the growth to solid recruiting in addition to faculty and staff working together focused on student success,” said Nate Perry, director of undergraduate admissions.

The graduate programs experienced the most significant increase to 134 students from 69 last fall, a 94 percent surge. Contributing to the boost is the fully-enrolled doctorate in occupational therapy program, new this fall, with 32 students.

“Our graduate programs grew across the board,” said Sara Diehl, assistant director for graduate and professional program enrollment. “Aside from the occupational therapy program, the largest growth was seen in the graduate counseling program with an increase of more than 60 percent with new students. Other new graduate programs in ministry and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) education added to the upward trend as well.”

The number of traditional undergraduate students improved to 977, a 3 percent bump from fall 2013. The 87 percent retention rate of freshmen to sophomores, freshmen in fall 2013 who persisted as sophomores in fall 2014, bolstered the strength of the class.

“This rate represents an 8 percent increase over last fall and is the highest retention rate in the university’s history,” said Scott Raymond, executive director of student success.

Students enrolled at Huntington University this fall hail from 35 different states, including far-flung states such as Maine, South Carolina, New Mexico, Texas, Washington and Hawaii. Nine percent of the student body are ethnic minorities. Forty-one international students represent 20 countries, including Argentina, Honduras, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.