Two area colleges saw enrollment increases this fall.
Grace College and Seminary had a record-breaking enrollment of 1,821 students.
The enrollment, propelled by 407 new students, is the result of an innovative three-year accelerated-degree program for all 60 majors, allowing students to graduate sooner, save a year’s tuition and enter the workforce a year earlier, college officials said.
The program also allows students to benefit from free online summer courses.
Grace College is the first and only private college in Indiana – and one of the few public or private universities nationally – to offer a three-year degree program across its curriculum, college officials said.
Another contributing factor was the launch of additional educational sites in Fort Wayne and Indianapolis.
Huntington University grew to 956 full-time undergraduate students this year – a slim rise over last year’s 954 enrollment. The new student class this year also showed a small increase with 292 students compared with 291 last year.
Increased financial aid funding may have contributed to that increase, officials said. The Loan Repayment Program provides Huntington students with assistance in paying their loans after graduation.
If a graduate’s annual salary is below $20,000, the program will reimburse the graduate for the entire amount of the graduate’s loan payments. As the graduate’s income grows to $36,000, the benefit is reduced proportionally. Huntington piloted the program four years ago, and this year, it is serving nearly 40 percent of the undergraduate student body.
