MUNCIE, Ind. - The goal to make Ball State a selective university took another major step forward with the current freshman class, the official fall semester enrollment report shows.

The enrollment analysis released Friday confirms average SAT scores for entering freshmen increased 10 points from last year to 1,023; 15 freshman National Merit Scholars are enrolled, up from 2 just two years ago; 200 more students were admitted with distinction than last year; and freshman enrollment in the Honors College jumped 23 percent.

While total enrollment dipped slightly again this year from 17,930 last fall to 17,459 this year, off-campus and graduate enrollment is up over a year ago and more students are completing their degrees.

Admissions officials report 3,407 freshmen are enrolled this fall, down just 22 students from last year.

"Our vision is for Ball State to continue to become a more selective university over the next decade," said university President John E. Worthen. "In the fall of 2000 we expect to enroll at least 3,600 freshmen who are as strong academically as this year’s freshman class."

Another positive indicator is the improvement in the freshman to sophomore retention rate this fall.

Retention is 75 percent, up from 68 percent just two years ago. Officials who had made improvement in retention a major goal were particularly pleased. Two years ago Ball State received a $3 million grant from the Lilly Foundation to increase retention rates to 75 percent. One result was the Freshman Connections program.

"Freshman Connections is working and it’s clearly part of the reason we’ve been able to reach the goal we set," said Associate Provost Beverley Pitts. "We will continue to work in all our programs to raise the retention rate even further."

Production is also underway on the second year of a statewide integrated marketing campaign aimed at attracting the state’s top high school graduates. The theme of the campaign is Ball State’s powerful resources and personal learning provide "Everything You Need."

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information about this story contact Dean of Admissions Larry Waters at (765)285-8287 or by e-mail at lwaters@bsu.edu.)