2018 NSU Fact Book

84 Figure 1 Unduplicated Headcount Enrollment Fall Term 1967 to Fall Term 2017 Historical Highlights of Enrollment S tudent enrollment has grown rapidly since the first class enrolled in 1967. The university grew from a small graduate institution serving 17 Ph.D. students studying oceanography, physical science, and science education to a major university with approximately 21,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees in a wide variety of fields in fall 2017. Historically, the fastest rate of growth was during the university’s first decade of existence, when student enrollments reached more than 8,000. Between 1972 and 1973, enrollments almost tripled, increasing from 571 to 1,483 after the addition of distance education programs in educational leadership and higher education, as well as an M.B.A. program and a Ph.D. program in clinical psychology. During the next decade, enrollments leveled off, and then once again began to rise. Over the last 5 years, enrollment has fluctuated between 20,000 and 26,000 (Figure 1 and Table 1). Table 1 Change in Fall Enrollment Student Enrollment Enrollment by Degree Level Total Annual Year Undergraduate Graduate First-Professional Enrollment Change 2017 4,497 12,577 3,719 20,793 -4% 2016 4,295 13,615 3,715 21,625 -7% 2015 4,641 14,871 3,724 23,236 -4% 2014 4,699 15,667 3,782 24,148 -6% 2013 5,156 16,635 3,879 25,670 -4% 2012 5,739 17,120 3,949 26,808 -6% 2011 6,397 18,135 3,925 28,457 -1% 2010 6,174 18,619 3,948 28,741 -1% 2009 5,868 19,322 3,964 29,154 3% 2008 5,757 19,000 3,621 28,378 3% Source: IPEDS Enrollment Survey 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010