Arkansas State University sets all-time fall attendance record

Arkansas State University fall enrollment ballooned by 12% from last year to an all-time record of 16,687 students, Chancellor Todd Shields said. There was a 14.5% increase in first-year, on-campus students. Transfers of traditional undergraduate students to the Jonesboro campus were also substantially higher, growing 13.5% from fall 2023.

A-State’s graduate school, the largest in Arkansas, reported an 8.9% increase with an overall enrollment of 5,741.

“Our enrollment continues to grow as students and their parents realize that A-State offers the best of both worlds – the resources to host an on-campus medical school or open a College of Veterinary Medicine, combined with a close-knit community that ensures no one gets lost in the crowd,” Shields said.

The university experienced growth from every corner of the state, reporting a 9.3% gain in the number of new students from Arkansas. The class of 2028 brings the total percentage of on-campus Arkansans at A-State to 72%.

About one-fifth of the incoming class received the A-State Promise Plus Scholarship, the university’s last-dollar scholarship that covers the remaining tuition and fees once federal grants and the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship are applied to a qualified student’s account.

Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Calvin White Jr. said he expects continued success with the program after the university recently announced additional investment in merit- and need-based aid, which includes elevating the annual Promise Plus residence hall stipend to cover the total cost of housing for students enrolling for fall 2025.

“Arkansas families continue to respond extremely well to our new financial aid opportunities,” White said. “We have opened the door for every qualified Arkansan, regardless of economic status, to pursue their dreams by attending a growing, nationally recognized Carnegie-classified Research 2 university.”

Arkansas State also reported a significant growth in online education and recruiting abroad. A-State Online, the state’s leader in online education, added 1,094 students, up 17.2%.

The international student population on the Jonesboro campus grew to a record 1,143, a 36.4% increase, and A-State’s Campus Queretaro grew to 961, up 10% from last fall.

Shields credited the collaborative work of faculty and staff and their buy-in to the university’s emphasis on recruiting and retention.

“As we celebrate this enrollment milestone, it is important to recognize the faculty and staff who came together to grow the Red Wolves pack responsibly and provide a campus environment for them to be successful,” Shields said. “A-State is on the path of transformational growth as we continue to provide unmatched opportunities to our students. Our value proposition is as strong as ever, and our best days are ahead.”