Enrollment numbers show 2,172 individuals studying at Arkansas Tech University-Ozark campus, which has seen its enrollment increase by 622% since joining Arkansas Tech in 2003;
Arkansas Tech University reported a preliminary 11th day enrollment of 12,003 students for the fall 2014 semester on Friday. Enrollment at ATU has increased 5.6% over fall 2013.
With the increase, Arkansas Tech has surpassed the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the University of Central Arkansas to become the third-largest institution of higher learning in the Natural State. Only the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and Arkansas State University have larger enrollments among Arkansas colleges and universities.
“Today marks a significant milestone in the history of Arkansas Tech University,” Dr. Robin Bowen, who took office as the 12th president of Arkansas Tech on July 1, said in a statement. “The fact that in one decade we have grown from the sixth-largest university in our state to become one of the three largest is a testament to the quality of our academic programs and our institutional commitment to serve a diverse community of learners. This achievement is a point of pride for each member of the Arkansas Tech family.”
Enrollment at ATU has increased by 183% since 1997. This fall marks the 16th consecutive year that Arkansas Tech has established a new institutional record for largest enrollment.
Growth at Arkansas Tech has included many enrollment milestones along the way. Arkansas Tech exceeded 5,000 students for the first time in 2000; 6,000 students in 2003; 7,000 students in 2006; 8,000 students in 2009; 9,000 students in 2010; 10,000 students in 2011; 11,000 students in 2013; and now 12,000 students in 2014.
Other numbers of note from the fall 2014 enrollment at Arkansas Tech:
• There are 904 graduate students at Arkansas Tech in fall 2014, the highest such count in institution history;
• 53.9% of Arkansas Tech freshmen this fall self-reported as first-generation college students;
• Students from minority groups represent 22.4% of the Arkansas Tech student body, compared to 10% of the student body in 2004;
• ATU enrolled 450 international students representing 33 foreign countries for the fall 2014 semester; and
• Among the 1,951 freshmen at Arkansas Tech, 1,831 (93.8%) are from Arkansas.