Applications To Penn State Increase 10 Percent

January 17, 2003
University Park, Pa -- Applications to Penn State -- already one of the most popular universities in the nation -- have surged another 10 percent for next year's class.

            Total applications for all campuses were ahead by 10 percent in early January over the same time frame last year, reports President Graham Spanier.       

            Total applications to Penn State had reached 56,765 by January 6, 2003, compared with 51,587 by the same date in 2002.

            By the end of the application period for 2002, Penn State had received 79,734 applications, one of the largest application pools in the country.

            On-line applications  (www.psu.edu/admissions/) have increased significantly this year as well, with almost 26,000 web-based undergraduate applications received thus far for next year's entering class.

            "The sharp increase in graduate applications -- especially law school applications -- is likely in part a reflection of the national economy," Spanier told the Board of Trustees during their meeting today (January 17) at the University Park campus.  "The increase in undergraduate applications parallels a nationwide trend, and is in part a reflection of applicants applying to an increased number of schools."

            Specifics of the application increases include:

            -- Undergraduate applications are up 9 percent to 37,405;

            -- Graduate applications are up by 14 percent over 2002 figures, to 9,296;

            -- Applications to Penn College located in Williamsport are up by 7 percent, to 3,558;

            -- Applications to Penn State's Dickinson Law School in Carlisle have increased 51 percent, to 997;

-- And applications to the University's medical school in Hershey have risen by 9 percent, to 5,239;

            -- Minority applications overall and African American in particular are also showing strong increases over the same time last year.

           

            "These gains are very good news and demonstrate the continuing popularity of a Penn State degree," Spanier said.

            Enrollment at Penn State's 24 campuses this year totals 83,038.

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Contact:  Bill Mahon 865-7517 or email at bmahon@psu.edu