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EAST LANSING, Mich. - About 43,340 students are enrolled at Michigan State University for the 2000-01 academic year, well within the MSU target enrollment range, the university announced today.

MSU Provost Lou Anna K. Simon told the MSU Board of Trustees that the figures, which will be finalized early next week, reflect a slightly larger incoming freshman class than a year ago and relatively stable graduate school and transfer student enrollments. The university received more than 22,700 applications for enrollment this year, more than at any point in its history.

"As the interest in MSU grows over the years to unprecedented levels, the faculty and staff have developed plans to assure that students continue to receive a superb education," Simon said. "We appreciate the confidence that so many talented students have shown in MSU."

The university's plan: to stabilize enrollment between 43,000 and 44,000 students over the next few years, which would optimize use of the university's physical plant, faculty, classroom space and services. Enrollment last year was 43,038.

MSU's enrollment first surpassed 40,000 in 1966, when enrollment hit 41,474. It has dropped below 40,000 only once since then, with an enrollment of 39,743 in 1993.

The entering class is estimated at 6,870 students. While almost 300 larger than a year ago, the class is of high quality from top to bottom. For example, it is a class with an average GPA of 3.47, higher than last year's 3.44, and an average ACT score of 23.9, up from last year's 23.7.

"The entering class is both a high-achieving class and a diverse class," Simon said, noting that the class generally reflects the Michigan high school graduate population with respect to gender and to race and ethnicity. "For example, total Honors College enrollment will surpass 2,000, an increase of 200 students over last fall, and new Honors College enrollment increased from 5.8 to 6.2 percent of the entering class.

"More than ever, students are becoming aware of the scope and quality of the programs that we offer. That, coupled with our continued efforts to keep MSU affordable, are key factors in this very positive response by potential students."

A strong economy and a continued increase in the number of students graduating from high school are also factors, Simon said, as is the high visibility of the university following its NCAA men's basketball championship last spring.

Other key enrollment statistics include:

• Total undergraduate enrollment is estimated at 34,325, up 1 percent from last year.
• About 91 percent of the students are Michigan residents.
• Total minority enrollment is estimated at 6,756 students, or 15.6 percent of the student body. This is up from 6,570 students, or 15.3 percent, a year ago.
• Total Honors College enrollment is estimated at more than 2,000, about 200 students more than a year ago, including 420 first-time students, compared to 383 last year. Honors College offers individualized programs for academically talented students.
• About 1,525 new graduate students enrolled, consistent with previous years. This differentiates MSU from national trends that show a decline in new graduate student enrollment.
• The Eli Broad College of Business, at 5,975 students, is expected to have the largest enrollment, followed by the College of Natural Science, 5,525, and the College of Social Science, 4,625.