Date: Feb. 6, 2012
Contact: Carol Connelly, Director, Media & Communication Services, ext. 5267, cconnelly@pnc.edu

Purdue North Central Sets Spring Enrollment Record

WESTVILLE – Purdue University North Central has continued its six year trend of breaking its enrollment records this spring semester.

PNC enrolled a spring-semester record of 5,551 students, a 14.6 percent increase over last spring. The spring semester enrollment represents a 5 percent increase over the fall 2011 enrollment of 5,279 students.

Another spring semester record was surpassed as students are taking a total of 49,824 credit hours, an increase of .69 percent over spring semester of 2011. Since 2005, PNC spring semester enrollment headcount has increased 72.9 percent - a total of 2,240 students. In addition, 83.4 percent of the first-time, full-time degree-seeking students who attended PNC during the fall semester, have returned for spring semester classes.

This semester, PNC minority enrollment numbered 979 students, 17.6 percent of the overall student body.

The PNC Dual Credit Program, that allows high-achieving high school students the opportunity to earn PNC credits while in high school, continues to be an extremely popular option for students in 43 high schools in Porter, LaPorte, Lake, Starke and other Northwest Indiana counties. This spring, a record 2,248 students are enrolled in 12,444 credit hours. This represents a 112 percent increase from the 1,060 students enrolled in the spring of 2011 and a 104 percent increase in credit hours.

Students enrolled in the Dual Credit Program will enter college with the credit hours that they earned in high school and will already have a head start on their college education. Generally, these students will be able to graduate sooner and accumulate less debt.

“As Purdue North Central welcomes a record number of students who have enrolled in courses for the Spring semester, it is clear that students recognize the world-class Purdue education and have chosen Purdue North Central for their studies,” said PNC Chancellor James B. Dworkin. “Our students know that a Purdue education opens doors for them in an extremely competitive global job market.”

More information about becoming a student at PNC can be obtained by visiting the campus Web site at www.pnc.edu or by calling 785-5200, ext. 5505.