Trine enrollment on the rise

Trine enrollment on the rise

ANGOLA, Ind. – In a time when many schools are experiencing enrollment slumps, Trine University, the fastest-growing private institution in Indiana is celebrating record enrollment.

Exceeding conservative administrative projections, Trine welcomed nearly 2,500 students this fall, between main campus and the School of Professional Studies, which caters to adult learners. Trine’s Middle College, which offers dual-credit opportunities for high school students, experienced 44 percent growth. Middle College students earn college credit while still in high school, allowing many of them to enroll in college at the sophomore level.

“We just completed an exceptional school year, and we’re excited to celebrate another record enrollment,” Trine president Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., told Trine employees at an all-employee convocation earlier this month. “We are implementing new recruitment strategies, retaining our best and brightest, increasing flexible education options for our students and working with graduates to secure meaningful employment.”

This year’s incoming freshman class enrollment represents a 10 percent increase over 2011 figures, and nearly 1,100 students are living in campus housing, up from only 450 several years ago.

“We’re out of space, and we don’t plan to expand our residential options,” Brooks said. “We will continue to focus our efforts on maintaining quality academic standards and improve our classrooms and laboratories.”

Going forward, Brooks hopes to see more flexible education options – both online and in the classroom

“The issue of affordability has been prominent in the national media. It’s not going to go away after this election, and we have to do all we can to help our students,” said Brooks, adding that the average financial aid award (from all sources) was nearly $23,000.

Competitive scholarships were made possible thanks to the continued support from alumni and friends. In addition, the university attracted more than 700 new donors in 2012. Employee giving increased to 95 percent, and all trustees give to the university.

“It’s not the size of the gift that counts,” Brooks said, “But the fact that someone gives. We greatly appreciate our donors and the many people that are willing to invest in excellence at Trine.”

Moving forward, the university is working to expand its education footprint in adult education and for the high school market. 

“We cannot continue to do things as we have always done them. Our audience and our market are calling for change,” Brooks said. “We have to embrace it and provide leadership to get us there.”

To share your news, contact Trine University communication specialist Lindsay Winslow Brown at winslowbrownl@trine.edu.