RIT Enrollment Hits All-time High in Several Categories

RIT’s enrollment is projected to hit an all-time high in several categories this fall.

The estimates are based on preliminary figures and will be finalized later this month, said James Miller, senior vice president, Enrollment Management and Career Services.

Fall enrollment in terms of “headcount” will reach an all-time record of 16,450, up 3 percent from last year. Full time equivalent enrollment is expected to increase approximately 2.6 percent to 13,450.

“Overall, 2007-2008 has been a very good recruitment year for RIT, ” said Miller. “With records established for undergraduate and graduate applications for admission, RIT was able to become more selective, to increase ethnic diversity in the entering class, increase the number and percentage of women particularly in engineering, science and technology clusters, and meet goals of increasing visibility and enrollment of students from outside the mid-Atlantic and New England regions. These results are consistent with RIT’s strategic enrollment goals and a positive reflection of campus-wide efforts.” Here is a breakdown of other figures, starting with undergraduate enrollment estimates:

• Total undergraduates will exceed 13,750 as a result of increases in both full-and part-time students.
• Freshmen enrollment at the Henrietta campus in RIT’s eight colleges is estimated to increase from 2,514 in 2007 to 2,640 this fall, a 5 percent increase making it the largest class in RIT history.
• A new record was established for freshman applications received (+16 percent).
• Geographic origin of the class continues to widen with 53.5 percent of freshmen coming from outside New York State, up from 51 percent a year ago.
• 22.5 percent of the class hails from outside the Middle Atlantic and New England regions, demonstrating RIT’s growing national appeal.
• In addition, 275 freshmen will commence their studies at foreign campuses in Kosovo and Croatia.
• Transfer students total 750, up slightly from 743 last fall. Transfer applications increased by seven percent.

“RIT’s graduate enrollment continues to increase with graduate headcount expected to exceed 2,600. Growth is fueled by an increase of over 7 percent in full-time graduate students to over 1,250. Both are graduate enrollment records,” according to Miller. Other highlights from graduate enrollment include:

• Graduate applications for fall entry increased to a new high, up 8 percent.
• Entering graduate students are expected to number about 1,075, with over 40 percent coming from outside the United States reflecting the rising visibility and reputation of RIT abroad and the increasing demand for programs RIT offers.