Clarksville, Ark. --- University of the Ozarks has a 2001 fall enrollment of 654 students, a 5.1 percent increase over fall 2000 and the college's largest enrollment in more than 10 years. This year's enrollment is the highest since the college had 675 students in the fall of 1990. It includes 404 returning students and 250 new students, 194 of whom are entering freshmen. There are 624 full-time students and 30 part-time students.
The enrollment increase continues a recent upward trend at the private, four-year college. Ozarks’ student population has jumped more than 23 percent since 1998 when the college had a fall enrollment of 530. "Each year we continue to get better at the University of the Ozarks and that is a credit to the entire campus community," said U of O President Dr. Rick Niece. "A 23 percent increase in our enrollment since 1998 is a perfect example of our improving status. I do not know of another four-year campus in Arkansas or the region that can boast of more significant increases." Dr. Niece also said that for the first time in the college’s history, more than 400 students are living in campus housing. "The three new residence halls and three remodeled residence halls we have provide excellent living accommodations for our students," he said. The fall 2001 enrollment includes students from 21 states, 13 countries and 51 Arkansas counties. Arkansas leads the way in state representation with 378 students, followed by Texas (85), Oklahoma (30) and Louisiana (18). "The exciting thing is that the quality of our students, as determined by grade point average and ACT/SAT scores, continues to improve as well," said Jim Abbuhl, vice president for enrollment management. We’re very excited about the direction our enrollment is moving."
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