Up and down: Some area colleges see enrollment increase

Local colleges are seeing some encouraging enrollment numbers for the 2024 fall semester.

Washington & Jefferson College welcomed its largest freshman class since its founding in 1781, with a record 471 new students. That reflects a 30% increase from the 361 welcomed in 2023.

The total enrollment is 1,306, which reflects a 12.4% increase from 1,162 in 2023.

"It's awesome," said new President Dr. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls at the outset of the semester. "We can feel the energy and momentum on campus. Our hope is to stay in the 400s every year; that's a big goal for us."

The new president credited a number of W&J initiatives for the jump, such as a nearly 50% tuition reduction, a $50 million gift from the estate of Anica Rawnsley and an earlier approach to financial aid than most colleges.

It marked the second consecutive year of enrollment growth and included a record number of transfer students. Ten percent of the incoming students transferred to W&J from another institution, and 20% are first-generation students.

The class included 36 students that joined the school's inaugural nursing program, which is offered in partnership with UPMC Washington School of Nursing.

"We are thrilled to see such dramatic growth at a time when higher education is struggling to attract students," MacLeod Walls said. "Our momentum and energy for the future is palpable."

Many colleges across the state had increases for the fall semester or at least remained steady.

According to data from the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), it has been a "positive" year of enrollment at the system's 10 universities.

Total enrollment remained steady in the fall semester with 82,509 students, nearly the same as one year ago, when total enrollment was 82,688. It marks the first time enrollment has been stable at PASSHE schools since fall 2010.

Pennsylvania Western University reported a significant growth in graduate and online enrollments. New PennWest graduate enrollment increased by 9.4%, the fourth highest of all PASSHE institutions, with Kutztown leading with a jump of 16.6%.

PennWest's online enrollment saw a 9.5% rise.

The university reported 1,529 first-year students this fall at the California, Clarion and Edinboro campuses that make up PennWest.

For the 2024-25 academic year, the university invested $19 million in grants and scholarships for students. In total, 86.5% of undergraduate students receive financial aid or scholarships.

The enrollment increases come just a year after a 2023 fall semester in which total enrollment at the three campuses dropped by 11.5% and first-year students declined by 20.5%

PennWest fall enrollment stands at 10,834 students – 7,586 undergraduates and 3,258 graduate students.

PennWest California saw a slight dip from 2023 to 2024, with 2,981 students enrolled last year compared to 2,717 this fall. However, Wendy Mackall, PennWest executive director of communications, said the drop was not a surprise.

"It was predicted in our models, and we had a major nationwide student aid delay to contend with," she said. "That said, we're encouraged by these retention and graduate numbers."

Retention rates have increased at PennWest for the second straight year. This semester, that rate stands at 71.69%.

"Our fall 2024 enrollment numbers demonstrate what we call the power of PennWest," said Dr. Jon Anderson, president of PennWest University. "More students are choosing to pursue advanced degrees at PennWest, and the overall experience at our campuses is attracting students who are staying enrolled – a testament to the power of PennWest. With our campuses undergoing updates, students thriving, and first-class programs drawing attention, we are confident the best is yet to come."

A new rollout of the Free Application for Federal Aid was plagued by delays and students couldn't access the forms until the end of December.

Waynesburg University was another local college impacted by the FAFSA issue. Campus visits were up, but the delays resulted in the reduction of financial aid packages by almost 40%, with most students requiring aid packages.

Waynesburg University welcomed 298 students this fall, which is a drop from the 381 new students in 2023. However, that was an increase of 49 students from 2022, when the campus welcomed 332 new students.

The total enrollment of full- and part-time students has dropped slightly each of the last two years. It's currently at 987 after being 1,065 in 2023 and 1,087 in 2022.

This year's freshmen class matriculated from 19 states, as well as Puerto Rico, Canada, Mongolia, and New Zealand.

The school also reported a record number of enrollees in the business administration and the Stover Center constitutional law program.

Waynesburg University officials cited generous donor support enhancing many facilities on campus as a means of helping to attract students.

"These improvements are extremely helpful to the university and its students, and we know they will assist in the recruiting process as we move forward," said Stacey Brodak, Waynesburg's vice president for institutional advancement and university relations.