Pitt-Bradford Enrollment Holding Steady

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford has recorded its second highest enrollment ever this year. After four years of unprecedented growth, enrollment for Fall 2010 was down only slightly from the previous year by 1.2 percent.

As of Sept. 30, the campus had 1,515 full-time equivalent students compared to 1,533 last year. Full-time equivalent is a measurement used by colleges and universities that takes into account both full- and part-time students. The measurement allows administrators to better plan and budget for the demands placed on the faculty and student services. The total number of full- and part-time students is 1,629.

Despite the small drop, enrollment is at the second highest level in the school’s history, having grown rapidly from an enrollment of 1,124 FTE in the fall of 2005.

“Although the decline is small, we’re carefully assessing the enrollment patterns in an effort to determine the particular reasons for the decline,” said Dr. Livingston Alexander, president. “We suspect that the continued population decline in the region and in virtually all counties in Pennsylvania accounts for the minor enrollment decline.”

This year’s student body also includes the largest number of international students ever enrolled at 19. Four of the students are visiting as part of an exchange program with Heilbronn University in Heilbronn, Germany, and others came from China, Hong Kong, Italy, Lebanon, Mexico, South Korea and Venezuela.

Three quarters of the 360-student freshman class came from Pennsylvania, with another 12 percent coming from New York. Other states represented (in order of prevalence) are New Jersey, Maryland, Ohio, Texas, Virginia, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Kansas and Minnesota as well as Washington, D.C.

Top declared majors for the Class of 2014 are nursing, criminal justice, elementary education, biology and athletic training.

Pictured, students from Heilbronn University working at the Students in Free Enterprise table at the Alumni and Family Weekend block party earlier this month. Pitt-Bradford has the most international students ever enrolled this year, including four students from Heilbronn.
Photo by Alan Hancock