LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas State University System institutions reported strong 11th-day preliminary fall total enrollment growth of 6.8% with multiple record-setting performances, System President Todd Shields announced today.
“All seven of our institutions had an overall enrollment increase, including record enrollment for Arkansas State and an historic freshmen head count at Henderson State,” Shields said. “I’m very proud of our teams throughout the state. Our institutions continue to work to meet students where they need us, from traditional residential campus experiences to workforce training to robust online options.”
Total ASU System preliminary 11th-day enrollment was 32,366, up 2,069 students or 6.8% compared with official final enrollment of 30,297 in fall 2025.
ASU System institutions reported robust growth of 16.5% in total high school enrollment with 6,579 students, up from 5,648 last fall, as the ASU System expands its partnerships with the state’s high schools to fulfill goals outlined in the Arkansas ACCESS Act.
“We’re connecting with high school students more than ever, which is consistent with the goals of Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and the General Assembly through ACCESS,” Shields added.
Arkansas State reported a record 18,775 students – a 4.7% increase of 849 over last fall’s record of 17,926. First-year students totaled 2,247, a 5.9% rise over last year, and include 1,851 Arkansans – who make up more than 82% of the freshman class. A record 1,576 freshmen are living on campus in Jonesboro. The A-State total also includes 1,062 students at Campus Queretaro in Mexico.
“Arkansas State is increasingly becoming a university of choice for students from across our state, region and beyond,” A-State Interim Chancellor Calvin White Jr. said. “This growth underscores the opportunities we are creating, the investments we are making in our students and programs, and the work of our faculty and staff to make this campus a place where students want to learn, live and build their futures.”
Significant enrollment gains continue at Henderson, where total preliminary enrollment climbed 9.7% to 2,465, up 217 students from the fall 2025 total of 2,248. The number of first-time freshmen jumped 33% to 740. Overall on-campus residential enrollment is up 21% to 1,324.
“The trajectory of Henderson State University is extremely exciting, and these numbers reinforce that our campus community is thriving and connecting with students in a personal way,” Henderson Chancellor Trey Berry said. “This has been a team effort, and I am inspired by the people of this university every day. They genuinely care for our students and their colleagues.”
The system’s five two-year institutions across the state reported robust increases for the fall, including:
• ASU-Beebe with 3,890 students, an 8.4% increase over 3,587 last fall;
• ASU-Newport with 2,235 students, a 6% increase over 2,108;
• ASU-Mountain Home with 1,363 students, a 4% increase over 1,310;
• ASU Mid-South in West Memphis with 1,205 students, a 3% increase over 1,170; and
• ASU Three Rivers in Malvern with 2,433 students, a 24.9% increase from 1,948.
(Note: ASU-Mountain Home began fall semester classes later than the other institutions, so totals are expected to be revised on Sept. 8 prior to official reporting to the Arkansas Division of Higher Education.)
SHARE THIS STORY WITH OTHERS:
Discover more from NEA Report
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Be the first to comment