The University of Vermont received a record 23,936 applications from students seeking acceptance for the fall 2014 semester, officials announced Wednesday.
According to a release from the university, that’s a 9 percent increase in applications over last year, including a 3 percent increase in in-state applications.
Applications from Vermonters went from 2101 last year to 2161 this year.
Beth Wiser, UVM’s director of admissions, said that increase is especially significant.
“Vermont high school graduate numbers have been decreasing every year,” Wiser said, because of the demographic echoes of the post-WWII “baby boom.”
With a 1,886 increase over last year's record applicant pool, most of UVM's increase came from out of state.
But with a 1,886 increase over last year’s record applicant pool, most of UVM’s increase came from out of state.
“For us, I think the story about UVM continues to get out,” she said. “We have students who are coming here who are satisfied with their experience. They’re talking about that.”
Despite the growing number of applicants, UVM’s undergraduate population isn’t growing, Wiser said. A plan set out by UVM President Thomas Sullivan calls for an undergraduate student body of 9,800, slightly smaller than the 9,970 students currently enrolled.
That means that with a growing applicant pool and slightly smaller class sizes, the state’s largest university is growing more selective.
“President Sullivan has certainly talked about that in his plan,” Wiser said. “And that plan refers to out of state students.”
Wiser said the increasingly selective rates of acceptance don't apply to Vermont applicants, who she said will be accepted at roughly the same rate.