For the second year in a row, Oklahoma's public colleges and universities are experiencing a major increase in the number of students enrolled for the fall semester.
Figures released by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education in the Fall 2010 Preliminary Enrollment Report for Oklahoma Higher Education show that total headcount is up 3.3 percent compared to the same time last year, and up 9 percent compared to 2008. A total of 193,462 students have enrolled in classes this fall.
The preliminary enrollment report reveals that the state's community colleges experienced the largest percentage increase among the three tiers at 4.9 percent, or 3,711 students.
Connors State College, Warner, saw the largest percentage increase, 15.6 percent, for fall 2010. The headcount at Redlands Community College, El Reno, had an increase of 10.8 percent, while Carl Albert State College, Poteau, and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, Miami, increased 7.6 percent. Western Oklahoma State College, Altus, experienced a 7.3 percent increase in total headcount.
Oklahoma's regional universities saw an overall increase of 3.7 percent in total headcount. Oklahoma Panhandle State University, Goodwell, leads the group with a 9.9 percent increase, followed by the University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, and East Central University, Ada, at 6.3 percent; and Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Weatherford, at 5.2 percent.
The state's research universities saw an overall increase of 0.5 percent in total headcount. The University of Oklahoma system had an enrollment of 30,222 students, with the Norman campus having the most students enrolled, 25,829. Oklahoma State University system's enrollment topped 34,823 students, with the Stillwater campus having the most students enrolled, 23,178.
Oklahoma's public colleges and universities have also seen the number of first-time freshmen increase significantly across the state system, by 8 percent. The largest percentage increase is at Connors with 40.2 percent. The state's regional universities and community colleges experienced average increases of 3 percent and 11.5 percent, respectively. The research universities saw a 5.4 percent increase in first-time freshman.
The report shows the top five institutions in total headcount this fall are OU, 25,829 students; OSU, 23,178 students; Tulsa Community College, 20,019 students; UCO, 17,101 students; and Oklahoma City Community College, 14,858 students.
The number of high school students concurrently enrolled in Oklahoma public colleges and universities increased from 5,678 in fall 2009 to 5,713 for fall 2010.