Bowling Green State University’s total enrollment is 1.5 percent below a year ago,
university officials reported Tuesday afternoon.
The official fall semester 15-day head count on the main campus is 17,298, down from
17,582 or 1.5 percent. There are 284 fewer undergraduate students and 47 fewer
graduate students.
At the Firelands campus in Huron, enrollment is 2,399 students this fall, down 13
students from 2,412 in 2011. Combined enrollment is 19,697, compared to 19,994 a
year ago.
Director of Enrollment Management Dr. Albert Colom said the economy continues to play
a factor in the figures. Colom said part of the university’s recruitment effort
is making students aware of the costs and what it takes financially to stay in
school. “Ability to pay is a concern. We don’t want to see students getting
caught short when it comes to the second semester. We would rather they not have
that issue,” Colom said.
Along the same line Colom said the full-time equivalent enrollment is down less than
one percent. “Students are taking more credit hours to get through with their
degree in a timely manner.”
Dr. Joseph Frizado, vice provost for academic operations and assessment, said the
retention of freshmen class from a year ago is 70 percent, down from 72 percent
in 2011. “It is still an area of concern. We’re working hard on improving. We
would like to see that figure in the high 70s. Again, economics does play a
role,” he said. "There are other factors as well."
The highest retention figure in recent years was 76 percent in 2006, Gary Swegan,
assistant vice president and director of admissions, said.
The decline in graduate students was expected but at 47 shows a significant
improvement from the drop of 380 students a year ago. “Enrollment has stabilized
and we’re working to get back on track,” said Dr. Michael Ogawa, vice president
for research and economic development and dean of the graduate college.