Diverse freshman class boosts NAU enrollment

The fall 2007 freshman class at Northern Arizona University reflects a trend toward the type of diversity the university has been recruiting.

The number of new freshmen reached 3,171 in fall 2007 compared to last year's 2,846, a difference of 11.4 percent.

The freshman class, the largest in university history, helped establish a record overall enrollment with a total student population of 21,352, an increase of 3.84 percent, over last year.

"The university's undergraduate focus, talented faculty teaching undergraduates and small classes, all in a residential setting, are the driving force in our enrollment growth," said David Bousquet, vice president for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs. "The numbers reflect an ongoing commitment to recruit a diverse and talented freshman class."

Enrollment in the freshman class is up among all ethnicities, with African-American freshmen up to 121 over last year's 77, a jump of 57.1 percent. Latino freshmen are up 9.3 percent, Native American freshmen up 21.4 percent, Asian-American freshmen up 18.3 percent and white freshmen up 12.3 percent.

The cohort of international students increased by a third, from 30 to 40.

Enrollment figures can be found at the Planning and Institutional Effectiveness web site.