IUP has released enrollment figures for the Spring 2021 semester, and they exceeded projections.
A total of 9,162 students are taking classes at IUP this semester, which is 45 students more than they predicted. A total of 7,019 students were classified as undergraduates, while the school had 1,879 graduate students and 264 clock-hour students. IUP’s fall-to-spring retention rate for full-time, first-time degree-taking freshman students is at 87.85 percent for this year, which is the highest rate since fall of 2015. The 2021 rate is 3.36 percentage points higher than last year’s rate.
In a news release, IUP says that the Covid-19 pandemic did present challenges for undergraduate recruitment, as campus visits went from in-person to virtual visits. Since then, smaller on-campus tours have been offered since September of last year, and the Experience IUP day-long event went virtual with sessions for students, a virtual welcome from IUP President Dr. Michael Driscoll, and interactions with faculty members.
Some of the new initiatives IUP are looking at to increase its enrollment yield include a diversity series; online programs on financial aid, housing, and orientation; YouVisit, which is a real-time tour program; and use of ThankView videos to students in partnership with the Division of University Advancement.
