Trine University enrollment sets record for 3rd straight year

Graduate, international and business students are expected to fuel a rise in Trine University’s fall enrollment once the semester begins Aug. 22, helping the university break enrollment records for the third straight year.

Trine University is expecting 834 international students this fall, more than double last year’s total of 365.

The university’s graduate school enrollment has nearly doubled from last year, with a large number of students returning to Trine this fall to work on their graduate degree. Trine is expecting 592 graduate students to be enrolled this fall, compared to 338 in the fall of 2015.

Trine’s Ketner School of Business, a partner in the College of Engineering and Business, will welcome the largest class of new students in its history. A total of 105 new Ketner School of Business students are expected to be enrolled this fall, up from 74 last year.

“Both the graduate program and the Ketner School of Business are key components of Trine University’s academic offerings, and the growth in their enrollment is a reflection of the value they provide to their students,” said Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., Trine president. “More adult students are realizing that Trine offers a flexible, affordable way for them to earn their advanced degree, and the Ketner School, located in the recently renovated Ford Hall, provides many opportunities for practical, real-world experience in doing an excellent job of training the business leaders and entrepreneurs of tomorrow.”

Including an estimated 1,800 students taking part in Trine’s dual-enrollment (non-degree) program, the expected total of about 4,800 students enrolled at Trine University’s main campus, eight education centers and Peoria, Arizona, campus represents about a 7 percent rise from last year’s total of 4,487. More than three-quarters of Trine students — about 3,650 — will be enrolled at the main campus.

 “It’s exciting to see the continued growth at Trine University, and we expect our enrollment numbers will continue to increase in future years as our academic, student services and athletic programs and facilities expand,” said Scott Goplin, vice president for enrollment management. “It’s also gratifying to see the growing number of international students who will contribute to the diversity of our campus life.”

Students returning to Trine’s main campus will be greeted by two building projects in progress. Work on a 26,000-square-foot addition to Best Hall of Science is in progress, which will add seven laboratories, 12 offices and group study spaces. The $6.6 million expansion is expected to be complete by January.

Two former fraternity houses and the building that formerly housed the TGear sports apparel store have been razed in preparation for the Thunder Ice Arena. The facility will open in fall 2017 and will serve as the home for Trine’s men’s and women’s hockey teams. It also will host club and youth hockey programs for the Steuben County YMCA and local school corporations, and will be open to the public for skating at designated times.

Plan development and bidding are underway for the MTI Center, with work on that project expected to begin this school year. The MTI Center will host Trine’s men’s and women’s basketball teams, include a six-lane bowling alley and e-sports center and serve as a venue for entertainers. It is scheduled for completion in 2018.

“These new facilities will better serve the needs of our current students and bring more potential students and their families to campus as Trine expands its academic, athletic and community offerings,” Brooks said.  “At Trine we are committed to Learning Without Limits, and there are no limits to where we can go from here.”