News

CHENEY, Wash. - Eastern Washington University's fall enrollment has surpassed the 12,000 student mark for the first time in school history, marking the third consecutive year of record enrollment at EWU.

The overall headcount, which includes all students who take classes at every level at Eastern, is 12,130. This is a headcount increase of more than 5 percent, or nearly 600 students, over the fall 2010 quarter (when EWU welcomed 11,534 students).

The record student body comes as the state is poised to once again cut funding to higher education, which will present more challenges for the university and its students.

"We are thrilled so many students are choosing EWU and its quality programs," said President Rodolfo Arévalo. "Eastern continues to become a destination campus for many students in Eastern Washington and for those interested in science, engineering and health science disciplines. While the university will continue to work within its resources to make sure each student succeeds, it will also ask state lawmakers to recognize our unique student population when it addresses the budget in the upcoming special session."

Traditionally, half of Eastern's students are the first in their families to earn a college degree, and nearly 24 percent are from underrepresented populations. Once again, approximately 90 percent of the student population consists of residents from the state of Washington.

Transfer students represent the biggest gain for the fall 2011 academic quarter, which began Sept. 21. The number of transfers increased by 171 students, bringing the total to 1,281.

EWU's freshman class held steady from the previous year, with 1,514 enrolling at the university. Academically, the average freshman GPA and combined SAT scores have also increased from previous years.

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