October 20, 2011

For Immediate Release

Hastings College enrollment and retention records set

Note to media: For more information or to schedule an interview, contact Alicia O’Donnell at (402) 461-7757 or aodonnell@hastings.edu.

(Hastings, Neb.) – With on-campus housing at 100% capacity, it’s not surprising that Hastings College reports record enrollment as of October 1.  The college has reached a milestone in its 129 year history, with an official head count of 1,240 students at the liberal arts college.

Driving the number, which includes full-time and part-time undergraduate and graduate students, is a 96% total student retention rate, up from 93% in 2008.  This rate, too, is a record for Hastings College.

“The remarkable efforts of many who preceded me at Hastings College are reflected in these numbers.  I want to thank the Admissions, Financial Aid, Student Affairs and Academic Affairs Offices for having set and met strong enrollment goals in challenging economic times,” President Dennis Trotter, who became the college’s 15th President on June 1, 2011, said.

“In all, the previous administration has left Hastings College well-positioned for continued growth. We are blessed with a solid financial foundation when other institutions continue to struggle with the effects of the economic recession and an overreliance on debt to support campus building projects.  Now the challenge for the HC community is how we can continue to build upon this legacy,” Trotter said.

Other notable statistics about the official enrollment:

• The average ACT for the first-year class was 24.1, the highest in the College’s history.

• HC has a record number 1,181 – Full-time enrollment, highest in college history

• 794 – Total returning student, highest in college history

• 261 – Colorado enrollment, highest in college history

• 75% -- Colorado male retention, 50% in 2008

• 372 – Total new undergraduate student enrollment

• The total minority population of 11.8% is the highest in the college’s history.