Student Enrollment Officially Tops 4,000 at Penn State Behrend
Erie County students represent 39 percent of enrollment
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, now enrolls more than 4,000 students, an increase of 300 compared to fall 2005, according to Penn State's official fall 2006 enrollment numbers released this week. Total enrollment is 4,046 students, including a record class of 1,000-plus first-year students.
Penn State Behrend is the second-largest Penn State campus with the second-largest increase in student enrollment—second only to the University Park campus in both categories.
"We have seen a steady increase in student enrollment over the years," said Jack Burke, chancellor. "In the past, 80 percent of Penn State Behrend students would leave to attend the University Park campus after two years. The remaining 20 percent would stay.
"Now it's the other way around," he continued. "The vast majority of our students begin their educations at Penn State Behrend and graduate from here."
Of the 4,046 total students, 3,480 are registered as full time, 359 as part time and 207 students are enrolled in Penn State Behrend's online Master of Project Management and Intercollege MBA programs. The college has 3,675 undergraduate students, 93 percent of whom are full time, and 371 graduate students.
The majority of Penn State Behrend students are from western Pennsylvania: 1,593 students from Erie County, 156 from Crawford County, 99 from Warren County, and 73 from Venango County, plus 960 from the Greater Pittsburgh area. Some 340 students are non-Pennsylvania residents.
Allix and Lincoln Munch, sisters who graduated from Warren Area High School in 2006, exemplify this trend. "We visited each of the schools in Erie and the surrounding area," Allix said. "We liked Penn State Behrend the best.
"Lincoln hopes to major in accounting and I’m still undecided," continued Allix, "but we plan to stay at Penn State Behrend for all four years and graduate from here."
Students of color account for nearly 7 percent of the student body and represent African-American, American Indian, Asian, Hispanic American, Puerto Rican and a number of international students.
The enrollment trend is continuing as well. "Applications from those selecting Penn State Behrend for fall 2007 are up 20 percent compared to this time last year," Mary-Ellen Madigan, director of admissions and financial aid, said. "We expect to see an additional increase next fall with the associate degree in nursing."
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, offers 31 baccalaureate, six associate, four pre-professional and two graduate degree programs with 21 minors to 4,000 students. Focused on providing a student-centered environment, Penn State Behrend is the link that connects its students to a major research and land-grant institution on a campus enriched by more than 110 clubs and organizations, 21 NCAA varsity teams, 19 intramural sports and modern facilities. For more information, visit www.pserie.psu.edu.