By the numbers: EMU sees 24 percent increase in registered freshmen
Incoming freshman Breanna Reed-Jackson unloads a moving truck at Eastern Michigan University on Saturday.
Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com
Eastern Michigan University is on track to have a record-setting enrollment year as students continue to register for fall classes.
With 2,572 registered freshmen, the university has seen a 24 percent increase, or a net gain of 454 students, in comparison with last year.
The university set a record in 2001 with 4,571 transfer students and freshman registered. The fall 2012 semester has broken that record with 4,892 registered.
Eastern Michigan University by the numbers:
- More than 23,000 students altogether
- 18,447 undergraduate students as of Aug. 30
- 4,400 graduate students as of Sept. 4
- 2,100 transfer students
- 245,000 credit hours
- 44 percent increase in minority students
- 245,000 credit hours
- 2,100 transfer students
- Nearly 1,000 international students
- 48 percent increase in students from Ohio
- 36 percent increase in students from other states
- 3,315 students living in residence halls
- 72 percent of freshmen live in residence halls
- 800 acres of main campus
- 18 miles of walkways and jogging trails
- 122 buildings on main campus
- 7 satellite locations throughout Michigan
- More than 100,000 alumni
- 75 percent of alumni live and work in Michigan
- EMU returns $42 to Michigan's economy for each $1 invested
“We’re really excited,” said Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management Kevin Kucera. “Every day it improves as more people return.”
Kucera said most of the transfer students originate from Washtenaw Community College, Schoolcraft College and Henry Ford Community College.
The semester officially begins Wednesday, and students continue to sign up for classes. The university expects the numbers will continue to increase.
Kucera said while the quantity of students is increasing, the quality is as well.
“We’re all excited about the gain in numbers but this class is also better prepared,” Kucera said. “There’s a 42 percent increase of freshmen coming to us with a 3.5 or higher. That’s 728 this year compared to 512 last year.”
Kucera said a number of factors can be contributed to the increase in students—specifically the TRUEMU marketing campaign.
“We did a really nice job of reaching out for that campaign,” he said. “We worked hard on that message of affordability to our families that we’ve been able to instill. We really think our families are sensing the quality.”
Katrease Stafford covers Ypsilanti for AnnArbor.com.Reach her at katreasestafford@annarbor.com or 734-623-2548 and follow her on twitter.
Comments
greg, too
Wed, Sep 5, 2012 : 4:31 a.m.
"EMU returns $42 to Michigan's economy for each $1 invested" Seems like some real fuzzy math to me.
Angry Moderate
Wed, Sep 5, 2012 : 4:27 p.m.
Yes, would love to see the data behind that.
Engineer
Wed, Sep 5, 2012 : 1:55 a.m.
728 out of 2572 is all that is above 3.5? That is nothing to brag about and put in the news. Check the numbers at Big Blue. Would be curious to see similar numbers from Central and Western. These are MSU like. I expected more out of eastern. After all can't get into college go to MSU!
Estate
Wed, Sep 5, 2012 : 4:10 p.m.
I attended and graduated from Big Blue and EMU. Can't tell the difference between the two institutions; only one costs more than another. If you're the kind that puts two first class stamps on a letter thinking it will get there faster then by all means go to the Big Blue.
greg, too
Wed, Sep 5, 2012 : 4:26 a.m.
You're really trying to compare two world class universities to two small directional schools? Kinda kills your argument right there.
Jay Thomas
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 9:27 p.m.
Good luck competing for a job with the now more numerous graduates from outside MI and the country. It's not like the demand for graduates has risen as much as the supply. But if it is good for the University to increase admissions then it must be good for the rest of us also.
LXIX
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 9:26 p.m.
That is encouraging news for a change. The EMU students must be the ones moving into the new A2 highrises as there were a lot of "For Rent" signs posted all over downtown Ypsi on Sunday.
Paul
Sun, Sep 9, 2012 : 2 p.m.
Thats beside the point. The fact still remains that people shy away from living in Ypsi...I own a business and a rental property in ypsilanti, by campus. With enrollement less a few years ago, I used to notice many more off campus properties filled with students...Not any more! Bums everywhere, scaring students away all the time. I wintnessed a house with two female students living in it all last year...they couldnt wait to move out once the lease ended NOT due to AA based landlord neglect, but to continuous harrasment from bums in the streets everytime they sit on the porch, along with two break ins! That is the reason sir
whatsupwithMI
Thu, Sep 6, 2012 : 1:54 a.m.
Until AA landlords clean up their Ypsi rentals, and AA "businessmen" quit buying Ypsi business properties and mothballing them out of fear of competition with the AA-equivalent, you mean?
Paul
Wed, Sep 5, 2012 : 1:26 a.m.
Problem remains for local businesses and land lords, EMU is a commuter school with a very small percentage living off campus nearby in ypsilanti. Until Ypsi cleans up unfortunately this will be the case !
Angry Moderate
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 9:16 p.m.
Great. The question is, what percent of them will actually graduate? --EMU alum.
whatsupwithMI
Thu, Sep 6, 2012 : 1:57 a.m.
As a self-reported Engineer- you may need some help with personnel details: The majority of the administrators responsible for letting any breathing criminal be admitted for the time that it took them to flunk out are not in employment at EMU any longer. Good riddance to them. And godspeed to the remainder.
Engineer
Wed, Sep 5, 2012 : 2 a.m.
Wow 12.4 % graduation rate in 4 years. That is beyond bad. Perhaps you were on track resisiting giving your profs raises if that is all the better they can do. Of coure accepting over 70% of your freashman with below a 3.5 does not help. Sound like a money grab more than a real school.
Katrease Stafford
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 9:30 p.m.
Hi Angry Moderate, I have a few numbers you might find useful. The four-year graduation rate for the Fall 2007 class was 12.4 percent. The six-year graduation rate for the most recent class, 2005, is 39.6 percent. However, the retention rates have grown over the years. The Fall 2009 class retention rate was 76.5 percent and Enrollment Manager VP Kevin Kucera told me today that the university expects that number to hold steady or slightly increase. I hope this helps and thanks for reading!
Jay Thomas
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 9:23 p.m.
Most will not. EMU like WSU is a failing school. Sorry if that hurts anyone's feelings. When a majority of students don't graduate, it is hard to call yourself a success story.
Ralph
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 8:09 p.m.
Great job - especially Kathy Orchelin and the Admissions staff.
Tom Todd
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 7:59 p.m.
Congratulations. don't become a teacher unless you want compensation comparable to wal-mart.
Ralph
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 8:08 p.m.
Eastern is not really a teachers college anymore. EMU, CMU, WMU, NMU were all normal schools at one time.
simone66
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 7:53 p.m.
I'm a graduate student at EMU, and it's great to be a student during such a good time for the college in experiencing an increase in the student body!