WEST MEMPHIS — The Arkansas State University System’s preliminary fall enrollment is up nearly 9% compared with last fall’s official figures.

Only one ASU system campus — Henderson State University — did not report increased enrollment. But HSU did arrest a recent downward trend and substantially increase its enrollment of first-time freshmen. Arkansas State University in Jonesboro — the system’s largest school and flagship — increased its enrollment 12%, while Arkansas State University-Beebe and Arkansas State University-Newport each grew more than 9%.

Interim President Robin Myers shared the figures during Friday’s ASU System board of trustees meeting at Arkansas State University Mid-South in West Memphis. Enrollment figures are based on the 11th day of classes, and those numbers do change — although typically not dramatically — before colleges and universities make their official reports in October.

These enrollment figures are “wonderful news,” Myers said. While many schools nationally feared enrollment decreases this year on account of the delayed and problematic rollout of the revamped Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the ASU System beat last fall’s enrollment increase of 3.9%. He said that “All of our people came together and made the difference you see this fall.”

The system had 28,387 students on the 11th day of classes this fall, up 8.7% from last fall’s official fall figure of 26,114. A-State reported enrollment of 16,687 students, up 12% from last fall’s official figure of 14,903 — which surpassed the previous high of 14,144 in the fall of 2017 — and fall enrollment in 2023 was up 6% from the prior fall.

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, according to the university. The number of Arkansans also increased 9.3%, and 72% of A-State’s on-campus students are Arkansans.

A-State’s recent rise in enrollment is the result of myriad factors, including “breaking down lots of silos” among campus departments to create more collaboration, increasing training and accountability, more investments in advertising to appeal to both parents and potential students, and a focus on affordability, said Chancellor Todd Shields. The university is also emphasizing research, because when “you include students in research, they learn at a different level,” as well as upgrading facilities.

Henderson State

The system’s other four-year university, Henderson State, lost students again compared to last year but slowed the trend considerably. Henderson State’s enrollment fell 15.1%, from 2,519 to 2,139, from fall 2022 to fall 2023 — although that outperformed a budgeted loss of 20% — while this fall’s enrollment of 2,061 students is only 3.5% lower than a year ago.

Henderson State again beat enrollment expectations, as the university was projected to be down 10%, Myers said. “They’re going to be growing” in future years.

In May 2022, the ASU System board of trustees unanimously approved cuts to Henderson State that eliminated 88 faculty positions and 25 degree programs, including programs in English, mathematics, biology and chemistry, to address financial calamity at the university. HSU has since regained financial footing and actually added several degrees. This fall, HSU reported a 23% rise in first-time freshmen (391 compared to 319 in fall 2023); a 19% increase in transfers (149 versus 125 last fall); and now has 6.5% more students living on campus (933 compared with 876 last fall).

“Our growth in first-time freshmen and transfer students is a testament to the hard work of our faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends,” Chancellor Trey Berry said in a news release from the university. “The Reddie community is committed to the health and vitality of our university, (and) it is inspiring to see the Reddie community at work to ensure that our campus remains the ‘School with a Heart.’”

“This growth is also a testament to the positive momentum that Henderson State is currently experiencing,” he added. “There are such bright days ahead for HSU!”

Among the attractions at HSU is a unique new pathway into medical school, which begins this fall.

The pre-med pathway between Henderson State and the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at A-State will permit HSU students majoring in natural sciences (pre-med track) to gain acceptance to medical school without taking the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), provided they meet specific academic and program requirements, according to HSU. Henderson State also offers the only bachelor’s degree in aviation in Arkansas, as well as a Master of Business Administration in aviation management and a commercial multi-engine add-on licensure program.

Berry, who took over as chancellor Jan. 1, has brought his “personal” recruiting style to HSU as well, he said. That includes Berry sending several thousand handwritten notes to prospective students, alumni and donors.

He’s also branched out recruiting efforts geographically, devoting a pair of recruiters to Texas, a state with significant population growth as well as myriad HSU alumni, he said. “Arkansas will always be our bread and butter, but we’re also expanding our reach.”

ASU-Beebe and ASU-Newport

ASU-Beebe reported enrollment growth for the third-straight year, up 8.7% from last fall.

Total enrollment of 3,271 students is up 261 students from 3,010 in fall 2023. ASU-Beebe was up 3.1% from fall 2022 to last fall, and up 4.5% from fall 2021 to fall 2022.

This fall, first-time transfer student enrollment is up by nearly a third, while concurrent high school student enrollment rose 15.8%, and total semester credit hours increased 5.9%, according to the college. Since 2022, ASU-Beebe has seen a 24% increase in on-campus housing occupancy.

“This growth demonstrates the strong sense of community and environment we provide, making on-campus living an attractive choice for students,” Chancellor Jennifer Methvin noted in a news release from the college. “We are excited to see more students choosing to live on campus, where they can take full advantage of the academic support and social opportunities available at ASU-Beebe.”

“Our faculty and staff have shown exceptional dedication in recruiting, advising, teaching and supporting our students, and their hard work is truly paying off,” she added. “It’s inspiring to see so many students taking larger class loads, fully committing to their educations, and striving to meet their academic goals. The energy on our campuses is vibrant, and it’s an exciting time to be part of the ASU-Beebe community.”

ASU-Newport’s 11th-day enrollment of 1,903 is up 9.9% from last fall’s official enrollment of 1,732. ASU-Newport also had strong enrollment growth last fall, up 8% from fall 2022.

Enrollment growth is attributable to several factors, from “implementing a true one-stop-shop model on all three campuses — students can take care of everything they need at one spot — to flexible scheduling, to the quality work of our faculty to engage students,” Chancellor Johnny Moore said Friday. The enrollment growth is “great, but I’ve challenged our staff to continue the momentum.”

Other campuses

Arkansas State University Three Rivers in Malvern increased enrollment by 4%, to 2,110, from last fall’s official enrollment of 2,028, while Arkansas State University-Mountain Home is up 2.3%, to 1,313, from last fall’s official figure of 1,284. ASU Mid-South was essentially flat, with 1,024 students, up three students from last fall’s official enrollment of 1,021.

Despite its location in an “area of declining population,” ASU Mid-South has increased enrollment five consecutive semesters, said Chancellor Deb West. “We have officially turned the corner (and are) positioned for long-term, sustainable growth.”

Under West, the college has emphasized relevant programming and student success, she said. The school’s three-year graduation rate for the 2015 cohort of students was 13%, well below the average for two-year schools in Arkansas and nationally. However, ASU Mid-South has improved that to 50% for the 2020 cohort, better than the average nationally or in Arkansas (both below 40%).

The turnaround has been “remarkable,” West said. “We’re really, really proud.”

The college has phased out non-viable programs in favor of in-demand offerings, she said. For example, a paramedic science program launched this fall is full and has a waitlist.

Joey Cabay “fell in love with welding and the trades” at ASU Mid-South, and the college built the “skills, self-esteem, and purpose I needed,” said ASU Mid-South’s Alumnus of the Year. He was also able to teach others a skill, which he “needed,” and the skills he now possess “started here.”

Likewise, Remonie Whitelow — ASU Mid-South’s first Welch scholar — is “glad ASU Mid-South was my first choice,” she said. It’s “opened multiple doors for me.”

The Charles L. Welch Presidential Scholars program was created earlier this year to honor Chuck Welch, president emeritus of the ASU System, for his nearly 13 years of service, according to the ASU System. A student from each of the system’s two-year schools who transfers to A-State or Henderson State receives a $1,000 stipend, and Whitelow received an Associate of Science in Elementary Education — she’s completing her bachelor’s degree in elementary education through A-State.

ASU Mid-South “has been my home away from home since I was a sophomore in high school” when she began taking concurrent credits, and she’s developed a support system through the college, she said. Her supporters have been paramount to her balancing school with motherhood, and she’s so dedicated to her education she was back in class the following Monday morning after giving birth on a Thursday.

Sports have also contributed to increased enrollment and campus culture, West said. In addition to successful men’s and women’s basketball teams, ASU Mid-South added baseball last fall and “should have softball this time next year.”