Freshman class enrolls 7,564 students

Enrollment at IU has topped 40,000 for the first time, thanks to the largest ever freshman class.

The last few years, applications to IU have grown, IU spokesman Larry MacIntyre said, with larger numbers deciding to attend than expected.

This year, 7,564 freshmen enrolled, according to a press release.

But the high numbers strain space and other campus resources with a total of 40,354 students on campus.

“It does stretch us,” MacIntyre said. He added IU can’t do it next year, and admissions will be forced to increase minimum standards and turn more students away.

Even so, this year’s students have higher average SAT and ACT scores than ever before, and average class rankings keep rising, according to a press release. Also, there is record enrollment for several minority groups.

Out-of-state students continue to make up much of the University’s incoming class. MacIntyre said IU has always had a share of out-of-state students, and this year the percentage of out-of-state students have dropped. According to a press release, 4,679 students are out-of-state, fewer than in the previous 10 years.

Freshman Hena Ahmed said she didn’t mind the increase in students because she likes going to a big school.

But she was concerned with the increase in competition, saying everyone deserves to have an affordable college education.  

Freshman Samantha Champion, said she felt the same way about the size of the school, saying it’s good for making friends. While she isn’t concerned about the increase in application competition because she’s already enrolled at IU, Champion wasn’t sure if she’d be able to get in a few years from now.

“Maybe in three years I wouldn’t get accepted,” she said.