Published: September 21, 2008 09:29 pm         

Frostburg State University enrollment climbing

FROSTBURG — Frostburg State University continues to build its enrollment with 5,215 students this semester, the highest count since 2004.

The number of students transferring to FSU continues to rise, and a significantly larger percentage of first-year students returned to FSU for their second year, all accompanied by a slight increase in both average SAT scores and high school grade-point averages among those first-year students.

“Frostburg State University is a great story waiting to be told,” said FSU President Jonathan Gibralter, reiterating his feelings when he joined the University System of Maryland more than two years ago.

“Parents and students are realizing what a unique and wonderful place this is. We are becoming a university of first choice and not of last resort. Our students are better-prepared, staying and completing their studies at FSU and graduating to enter either graduate programs or careers. The collective efforts of this entire university community have driven our enrollment growth and I am happy to say that this trend will continue.”

Compared to a 67 percent retention rate from 2007-08, 74 percent of first-year students returned this school year. The 1,043-student freshman class is among the largest in FSU’s history, and the 371 students who transferred to FSU represent a 4 percent increase from the previous year, which topped the year before by 32 percent.

“There is a great deal of positive energy at Frostburg right now,” said Wray Blair, associate vice president for enrollment management. “Students throughout Maryland and the mid-Atlantic region are seeking out FSU. Along with our dedicated enrollment staff, the entire campus community has joined the recruitment effort.”

It was just two years ago that FSU hit its lowest overall enrollment in 17 years. At that point, an Enrollment Management Task Force composed of members from all across the university community was formed. Its work continues, with a special emphasis on solidifying procedures that will help prevent future dips in student population.

For more information about FSU, contact the Office of Admissions at (301) 687-4201 or log on to www.frostburg.edu.