The fall enrollment report shows the average SAT score for the freshman class is 1034, an increase of 11 points over last year.

"Last year's freshman class was our best ever and our current class is even better," said Douglas McConkey, vice president for student affairs. "Over the last four years we've seen a steady rise in SAT scores for the freshman classes.

"We are impressed that over 90 percent of the incoming freshmen completed a strong college preparatory curriculum while in high school," he said. "Overall, this is a very talented group of students."

There are 3,487 freshmen on campus this fall, as compared to 3,407 last school year. Overall, on-campus enrollment has increased from 17,459 in 1999-2000 to 17,490 this year.

According to the report:

• About 28 percent of the freshman class was admitted with distinction or were enrolled in the Honors College, up from 25 percent last school year and 16 percent in 1998-99.
• Twenty National Merit Scholars enrolled this year, up from 15 from last year. National Hispanic Scholars enrolling for classes rose from one student to 10, and two National Achievement Scholars were admitted.
• Minority enrollment, which includes African-Americans, Asian, Hispanic and Native Americans, increased from 1,203 last year to 1,221 this year.
• The number of freshman applications rose 14 percent to 10,077 this year.
• Transfer applications rose 18 percent to 1,285 over last school year.
• The percentage of last year's freshman class returning to campus was 76 percent, an increase from 75 percent last year and 68 percent two years ago.

Retention of sophomores and juniors was also higher than expected, McConkey said.

"One of our goals this year was to stabilize enrollment and we've done that," he said. "We project a gradual increase over the next several years."

The university is in the third year of a nationwide integrated marketing campaign aimed at attracting academically talented high school students.

Based on this fall's enrollment, university officials are pleased with the overall marketing program, McConkey said.

By Marc Ransford, Communications Manager

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact McConkey by e-mail at dmckonkey@bsu.edu or by phone at (765) 285-1444.)