FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 22, 2016, 4:00 p.m. CDT
Contact Jason Hogue, Peru State College Marketing and Communications, 402.872.2429
Peru, Nebraska- Peru State College released its final spring 2016 head count this afternoon and the
results are a historic high enrollment for the college. A total count of all graduate
and undergraduate students brings enrollment up 4.15% from last year to 2,682. The
previous high was 2,545 in the spring of 2015.
Dr. Michaela Willis, vice president for enrollment and student affairs, said, “The
College has enjoyed steady growth during the last few years. We have had particularly
strong growth in our graduate programs.”
Dr. Dan Hanson said, “I want to thank everyone involved in recruiting, enrolling and
serving our students. The success of the College depends on the work of faculty, staff
and students.”
Peru State’s growth comes as other colleges and universities are struggling to maintain
enrollment.
The Hechinger Report wrote in December of 2015, “Enrollments at colleges and universities
dropped for the eighth semester in a row this fall, down nearly 2 percent below what
they were last fall, new figures show.”
In January of this year, The Atlantic confirmed a similar number, “The number of students
enrolling in colleges and universities this year is 1.7 percent lower than it was
last year.”
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For more information, visit www.peru.edu or call 1-800-742-4412.
About Peru State College: Nestled in the historic hills of the Missouri River, the
“Campus of a Thousand Oaks" is Nebraska’s oldest college and will celebrate its sesquicentennial
anniversary in 2017. Peru State College’s constant commitment to academic excellence
has resulted in a unique and innovative mix of online, traditional, undergraduate
and graduate programs. Similarly, the college's ongoing student engagement promotes
inquiry, discovery and innovation on-campus and across the region. Peru State College
is committed to being a good steward of education, students, the region and Nebraska
for another 150 years.