The percentage of freshmen returning to Ball State is the highest it has been for at least 17 years, the university has reported.
Doug McConkey, vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, said the university has monitored its retention rate for at least 17 years. Ball State's retention is near the top when compared to other Mid-American Conference schools, he said.
Currently, 80 percent of freshmen returned for their sophomore years, an 11.5 percentage-point increase during the past six years.
In 1998, 68.5 percent of first-year students returned.
Randy Hyman, dean of students and associate vice president for Student Services, said Ball State has worked to improve the student-retention rate for several years.
The university, he said, has reached a "significant milestone."
"As a university, we've achieved a goal that's very important to us," Hyman said. "Having an 80 percent retention rate puts us in very good company with public universities across the country."
The university raised its admission standards for incoming freshmen in 1998. McConkey said the tougher requirements initially caused enrollment numbers to drop, but the requirements also led to an immediate increase in the retention rate.
B. Thomas Lowe, associate provost and dean of University College, said he credits a portion of the increased rate to more-qualified students.
Lowe also said he credits the Freshman Connections program. The program links residence-housing arrangements with undergraduate courses that students are taking. Students then live near people they attend classes with.
Laura L. Helms, assistant to the dean and director of academic programs, said the university's increased retention is a result of the plethora of first-year programs available to students.
"When you have a number of programs, it builds an atmosphere of higher achievement on campus," Helms said.
Helms said the university's Early Start programs, Excellence in Leadership programs and Freshman Connections all played a part.
Alan L. Hargrave, director of Housing and Residence Life, said the increased retention rate is a testament to the hard work that goes on behind the scenes.
"I think it goes to show that the enrollment-management plan has been effective," Hargrave said.
McConkey said the increased retention rate proves that students are working harder than ever.
"They are also getting more involved on campus in a variety of activities and taking advantage of the services that the university offers," McConkey said.
Sophomore Jenn Schneider said the main reason she came back to Ball State is because all of her friends go to the university. She is also involved in several campus organizations, which gave her the motivation to return this fall.
Corinne Thompson, a junior art-education major, said she returned to Ball State because it is the best school in the state for her career.
Ball State's overall student enrollment has also increased steadily for five-consecutive years. More than 18,00 on-campus students are registered for fall classes, making this year's enrollment the largest since 1997.
McConkey projects on-campus enrollment to gradually grow to 19,500 students, and he expects that number to eventually stabilize.
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