UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State's overall enrollment for fall 2022 remains relatively strong at a total of 88,116 students, with a slight decrease of less than 1%. For a fourth consecutive year, the University saw a rise in underrepresented student enrollment. Significant international student enrollment gains also were seen in a gradual increase from the 2020 COVID decline.
University-wide (excluding Pennsylvania College of Technology), fall 2022 total enrollment edged down from last year by 0.9%, or 798 students. At University Park, on-campus enrollment increased by 2.7% to 48,197 students — nearly 1,500 higher compared to pre-COVID fall 2019 semester enrollment.
Enrollment at Commonwealth Campuses declined by 2.6% and World Campus numbers were down by 8.9% as more students opted for resident instruction post-pandemic.
National enrollment trends
Penn State experienced a slight decrease in undergraduate enrollment at 0.4%, compared to the national trends of 1.1% as measured by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
"As national data indicates, higher education enrollments continue to be turbulent. While enrollments at Penn State are not immune from the effects of outside market forces, we are pleased to see this fall's overall enrollments remaining relatively steady," said Matt Melvin, Penn State vice president for enrollment management. "Considering national trends, enrollment stability witnessed at Penn State reflects the depth, breadth and flexibility in its academic program offerings and delivery channels, the strong return on investment of a Penn State degree, and the power of the Penn State alumni base. Efforts will continue to help secure Penn State's target enrollment goals, particularly as competition intensifies."
Commonwealth Campuses
Enrollment at the Commonwealth Campuses for in-person instruction saw a decrease of 2.6% or 648 students, from 24,757 to 24,109.
“The University continues to pursue recruitment, retention and enrollment management strategies to respond to these trends, including efforts to control tuition costs for Pennsylvania families,” said Kelly Austin, vice president for the Commonwealth Campuses. “This includes creating an enrollment management office and appointment of Matt Melvin, vice president for enrollment management. As part of Penn State's commitment to access and affordability, students with household incomes of $75,000 or less and who have filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) did not see a tuition increase due to the University's investment of additional funds for student aid.”
“Prospective students have options for completing a world-class Penn State degree near home at a more affordable tuition cost or following our two-plus-two model, which provides the opportunity to transition seamlessly from one campus to another to complete a chosen field of study, distinguishing Penn State among its peers and perhaps all institutions of higher education,” Austin added.
International student numbers up again, increase in diversity
The University's international student population of nearly 10,000 increased by 6.7% (620 students) from the start of classes in fall 2021, reflecting a bounce back after declines experienced during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Enrollment of new international students is significantly on the rise, coming in at a nearly 30% increase – up from 1,237 to 1,605 this year – firmly exceeding pre-pandemic numbers.
Graduate programs across all campuses have experienced an increase in international student enrollment for residential instruction, with a 10.6% (290 students) increase at University Park, and a 45.1% (69 students) increase at the Commonwealth Campuses.
"We are undoubtedly seeing a surge in international enrollment as a result of numerous governments around the world removing their quarantine and isolation restrictions, creating a return to pre-COVID travel mobility," said Roger Brindley, vice provost for Penn State Global. "The increase in our international student enrollment is incredibly promising, even as the global pandemic is clearly still affecting many international students' ability to travel."
Underrepresented student groups see rise
The number of incoming first-time and transfer undergraduate students from underrepresented groups (defined as those who self-identify as Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian/Native Alaskan, or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander) grew by 5.2% from 3,280 to 3,451, continuing a multi-year increase in this area. The overall underrepresented student body has seen a steady climb in numbers in the last four years.
“Interest in Penn State continues to grow, and our first-year application pool reflects that. This growth is from a combination of the strength of the University's programs and co-curricular offerings and the staff across the University who connect directly with prospective students and families to help them find their place at Penn State,” said Rob Springall, assistant vice president for Enrollment Management and executive director of Undergraduate Admissions.
Penn State's choices to join the Common Application group in 2018 and to offer test-optional admission in 2020 have also contributed to year-over-year growth in the first-year application for the university, according to Springall.
World Campus numbers drop as students return to in-person learning
World Campus enrollment experienced an overall decrease of 8.9% from 15,324 students in fall 2021 to 13,979 this fall. The drop represents the third consecutive year for fewer students and more than 700 fewer than before COVID in fall 2019. Undergraduate World Campus enrollment saw a decrease of 9.5% this year. By comparison, University-wide, in-person instruction increased by .8% (565 students), with University Park undergraduate in-person enrollment up to 41,745 students this fall from 40,600 last year.
The decrease in overall World Campus undergraduate enrollment is partially driven by large numbers of on-campus students who temporarily switched to the World Campus in fall 2021. Fall 2021 had 1,587 students complete a temporary change of campus to the World Campus compared to 561 students in fall 2022, returning to pre-pandemic numbers after a temporary bump from COVID.
Pennsylvania resident student numbers hold steady
The number of Pennsylvania resident students for fall 2022 (51,361) remains relatively stable year-over-year at Penn State. This fall, the total proportion of students enrolled who are Pennsylvania residents is 58%, similar to the percentage of in-state students educated at Penn State for decades. Out-of-state student enrollment numbers, which include international students, comprise 42%, reflecting a slight increase of 2.5% of non-PA resident students.
Fall 2022 figures will be available soon on the Penn State Data Digest website.