Indiana University of Pennsylvania continues to see a strong academic quality of its new students and an increase in the number of military and military-affiliated students for fall 2018.
The university has maintained its academic quality with new students admitted for fall 2018. The freshman class has an average high school grade-point average of 3.27; 23 members of the class are valedictorians or salutatorians (first or second in their high school graduating class); and a total of 102 students are in the top 10 percent of their high school graduating class. The average reported SAT score of new students is 1017.
“I am very impressed with our new students,” IUP President Michael Driscoll said. “Not only are they academically strong, they bring an incredible enthusiasm and energy to the university, experiences in many extracurricular activities, and have already become involved in events and organizations at IUP. We are pleased to help them to find their success through the challenges and opportunities IUP provides, both inside and outside of the classroom,” Driscoll said.
A total of 1,009 military and military-affiliated students are enrolled at the university for fall 2018 in undergraduate and graduate programs (981) and in the Criminal Justice Training Academy, the Academy of Culinary Arts or the paramedic training program. This compares to fall 2017 military and military-affiliated enrollment of 935 in 2017.
The number of veteran and military-affiliated students reflects an increase of 77 percent from fall 2015 enrollment totals, the year that IUP opened its Military Resource Center (now the Military and Veteran's Resource Center). The MVRC works collaboratively with IUP programs and services, serving as a one-stop information and referral site to help military-affiliated students transition to college life and achieve their academic goals. IUP is routinely recognized in national publications as a “Best for Vets” and included in listings of “Military Friendly Schools.”
“It is rewarding to see a continued increase in military and military-affiliated enrollment,” Driscoll said.
“IUP has been very deliberate in its intent to serve our military-affiliated students and families with innovative programs and services that they need and deserve. It is our honor to work with this important population to help them to meet their academic and life goals."
IUP's newest doctoral program, the part-time PhD in Business, exceeded its enrollment goal for its first cohort with 27 students beginning study this fall. Offered at IUP Pittsburgh East in Wilkins Township, this program is the only one of its kind in the state. It is designed for working professionals seeking to advance to senior leadership positions or to prepare for a business school professorship.
Overall, there are a total of 11,325 students enrolled at IUP this fall in for credit programs. An additional 256 students are enrolled in IUP's career preparation programs, bringing total fall enrollment in credit and career preparation programs to 11,581 students. Career preparation programs at IUP include the IUP Academy of Culinary Arts in Punxsutawney, the IUP Criminal Justice Training Center, the paramedic training program, and the Clinical Medical Technician program.
The fall enrollment includes 2,528 new freshmen and transfer students for a total of 9,215 undergraduates and 2,110 graduate students in credit programs.
“Without question, the shrinking number of high school graduates in Pennsylvania, especially in western Pennsylvania, is a challenge for colleges and universities in our region,” IUP Vice President for Enrollment Management Patricia McCarthy said. “We are continuing to develop new and innovative ways to reach prospective students and their families to find those students who are the right fit for IUP, which includes a commitment to strong academic standards for our new students in order for them to be successful."
Out of the total IUP enrollment for fall, 20 percent of IUP students are listed as minority and 711 students (six percent of the overall student population) are international, comparable with fall 2017 enrollment. Nearly 55 countries are represented in this international student population.
The College of Health and Human Services has the largest total undergraduate and graduate enrollment: 3,146 and 496, respectively; the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology has 1,643 undergraduates and 331 graduate students; the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics has 1,549 undergraduate and 127 graduate students; the College of Humanities and Social Sciences has 869 undergraduates and 426 graduate students; the College of Education and Communications has 1,103 undergraduates and 671 graduate students; the College of Fine Arts has 425 undergraduates and 49 graduate students; and the University College has 217 undergraduate students.