West Virginia University is improving the quality and diversity of its students, according to fall 2013 enrollment data.
This year’s first-time freshmen have higher academic test scores and GPAs than in previous years with an average ACT of 23.6, SAT (critical reading and math) of 1,052 and GPA of 3.39.
“I am very pleased with this year’s enrollment picture,” said WVU President Jim Clements. “It reflects important progress on our strategic plan goals of academic excellence, diversity and inclusion and globalization. Enrollment is just one part of our focus. Retention and graduation of students are priorities, and we have really worked to put new structures and systems in place to help students achieve their dreams of a college degree.”
International enrollment, now at 1,802 students, hit a new high for the main campus; that is a 10.5 percent increase from last year. A 26 percent increase in undergraduate international enrollment contributed to this increase.
Diversity in domestic students grew to 12.8 percent overall – 14.3 percent of freshmen and 18.4 percent of transfers. Overall diversity increased by 158 students (4.7 percent).
WVU Provost Michele Wheatly also liked what she saw.
“WVU offers an exceptional academic experience to all students, from learning from internationally-renowned faculty to studying in state-of-the-art facilities,” Wheatly said. “We are excited to see new students coming in who have the strong academic foundation and the drive to excel. As we shape our university into a top-ranked research institution, we can highlight our increasingly talented student body as a significant asset.”
Enrollment at WVU’s three campuses is 32,348, just 1 percent less than last year.
WVU’s main campus enrollment is 29,466 – also less than a 1 percent decrease from a year ago, mostly in graduate and professional students.
“Across the state and the country, this has been a challenging year and the first of many to come as the number of high school graduates decline,” said Brenda Thompson, associate vice president for Enrollment Management and Services. “We are very pleased with how our fall enrollment shaped up at WVU and with the campus-wide effort involved in getting us there.”
Freshman enrollment on WVU’s main campus is 4,913. WVU admitted 1,101 transfer students this year, which means there is a total of 6,014 new students on WVU campuses this fall.
WVU Institute of Technology had an increase in students. It has 1,222 students, which is a 10.4 percent increase from a year ago. Potomac State College of WVU has a total enrollment of 1,660.
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