Purdue University North Central set all-time enrollment and credit hour records this fall. The 2013 - 2014 academic year opened Monday, Aug. 26 with a record 6,102 students enrolled in a record 56,232 credit hours.
This represents a 1 percent increase in students over the fall semester of 2012.
Undergraduate degree-seeking students are taking an average of 12 credit hours each, with 75 percent of the 3,580 core undergraduate students enrolled full-time.
In addition, the average PNC undergraduate degree-seeking student is 25 years old. There are 2,456 males and 3,646 females enrolled. PNC has 1,816 students from LaPorte County and 2,228 students from Porter County.
This semester, there are 2,522 students taking 13,798 credit hours through the Dual Credit/Concurrent Enrollment program. This allows high school students to earn both high school and Purdue University credits while they take classes in their high school during the regular school day. Enrollment in this program saw a 2 percent increase in students over 2012. PNC works with 43 Northwest Indiana high schools to offer Dual Credit/Concurrent Enrollment classes.
PNC has offered the Dual Credit/Concurrent Enrollment program for some time. It also partners with six area high schools to offer a 1 + 3 Concurrent Enrollment Program. This program gives high school students an opportunity to complete one year of college coursework while in high school, allowing them to enter PNC with 30 credit hours of credit toward their degrees. Students who enroll as full-time PNC students will be on track to graduate in three years.
Of the 611 first-time, full-time degree seeking freshmen enrolled at PNC this fall, 182 students earned Dual Credit/Concurrent Enrollment credits in high school and entered PNC with an average of 11.2 credits hours.
"This fall's enrollment record is a clear indication that our students know the value of higher education and that earning a bachelor's degree is crucial to their future success. PNC now offers 24 bachelor's degrees, giving students a variety of learning options," said PNC Chancellor Dr. James B. Dworkin.
"The students in our Dual Credit/Concurrent Enrollment program have already shown their commitment to earning their college degrees. The students who earn their bachelor's degrees in three years have a competitive edge as they enter the job market earlier than they may have otherwise, while saving a considerable amount of money on tuition, books and expenses."
PNC has 47 students enrolled in its Saturday Master of Business Administration program, offered at PNC - Porter County in Valparaiso. PNC - Porter County also offers a full schedule of undergraduate courses. This semester, 532 students are enrolled in 2,653 credit hours of classes there.