Enrollment at ETSU has exceeded 14,000 for the first time in the institution’s history.Numbers released this week indicate that fall semester enrollment stands at 14,677, an increase of 765 students, or 5.5 percent, from the 2008 fall semester’s enrollment of 13,912 students.

The number of transfer students increased from 1,020 in fall 2008 to 1,146 this year. ETSU at Kingsport also reported a 13 percent enrollment jump.

“We’re thrilled,” Williams said. “The HOPE Scholarship continues to make college a much more affordable option for Tennessee residents, and the out-of-state tuition waiver for residents in the border counties of North Carolina and Virginia has also made a tremendous difference.”

First-time freshman enrollment this year, at 1,993 students, is the highest in nearly two decades, and more than 100 high school students are dual-enrolled and taking classes at ETSU. The number of on-campus residents also increased by more than 330.

“The surpassing of the 14,600 enrollment figure is a significant benchmark for this institution and one that I’m honored to witness during my presidency,” said ETSU President Stanton.

ETSU’s fall 2009 enrollment figure includes 817 students and resident physicians in the James H. Quillen College of Medicine and the Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy. Both the medical school and pharmacy school recently increased the number of available slots in their first-year classes.

McIntosh said enrollment in ETSU’s doctoral programs rose by 15 percent this fall, while overall graduate enrollment increased by three percent.

“From 2005-2008, we experienced a 75 percent increase in the number of applications submitted per year, and the reasons students are choosing to pursue graduate education are quite varied,” she said. “Many are seeking opportunities for career advancement and to remain competitive in the workforce, while, for others, it is simply personal satisfaction and achievement. In many of our health professions fields, such as audiology, physical therapy, and psychology, holding a doctoral degree has become a requirement in order to practice.”

At the master’s level, McIntosh said programs in biology, criminal justice and criminology, clinical nutrition, general psychology, nursing, and counseling have experienced significant growth this year, as have doctoral programs in clinical psychology, early childhood education, educational leadership, and public health.

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