"We are about 200 deposits over the same time last year with more coming in every day," said Doug McConkey, vice president for student affairs and enrollment management. "The freshman class will be about 200 students larger than the current one. We should have a clearer picture in mid-May when most students make their decision on which college to attend.

"That leaves us with a good problem because residence halls will be at full capacity," he said. "However, it will be a manageable issue."

The last two freshman classes have grown with 3,487 students in 2000 and 3,407 in 1999.

On-campus enrollment could be 2 to 3 percent over capacity next fall even with the re-opening of Studebaker East Residence Hall, McConkey said.

Compared to last year, there was an increase of 872 current residence hall students who requested on-campus housing for next year. Some residence hall study lounges will be modified into rooms for 60 to 170 freshmen.

In addition to a larger freshman class, increasing enrollment may be attributed to improving retention rates and the Housing and Dining Premium Plan, which allows students to maintain housing costs at the same level over two years and provides additional dining allowances and other perks.

McConkey said the academic quality of the incoming freshman class is equal to or slightly better than the 2000-2001 group. Ball State has accepted 52 National Merit Scholars for fall as compared to 37 this year.

Since the university imposed stricter admission standards in 1998, SAT scores as well as the number of National Merit Scholars attending Ball State have steadily increased.

"We are attracting students who did well at the high school level and faired well on their SAT tests," McConkey said. "That is a good indicator of success at the college level."

(NOTE TO EDITORS: Contact McConkey at dmcconke@bsu.edu or by phone at (765) 285-1444.)

By Marc Ransford, Communication Manager