Kent State University reports that its spring 2011 enrollment is up 4.56 percent with the release of the university's official 15th-day census data for the eight-campus system. The spring enrollment figure sets a new record high for spring recorded enrollment for the university.

Kent State reports 39,936 students for the Spring 2011 Semester, compared to 38,196 for Spring Semester 2010, which was the previous record. Unduplicated headcount at the Kent Campus is 24,909, and the unduplicated headcount for the Regional Campuses is 15,027. Students are counted only once at the campus at which they hold the majority of their course load.

"This academic year has been marked with many special achievements and recognitions, all of which help affirm that Kent State is globally recognized, nationally ranked and locally vital," says Kent State University President Lester A. Lefton. "Among those include being ranked as one of the top 200 universities in the world by Times Higher Education of London and being named one of the best national universities by U.S. News and World Report. These are great points of pride for our current students, faculty and staff. Kent State's reputation is reaching those beyond our campuses and Northeast Ohio, drawing students near and far who recognize the value of a Kent State education."

Highlights from the spring 2011 enrollment numbers also include:

• Enrollment at the Regional Campuses is up by 4.63 percent.
• Of the Regional Campuses, Kent State University at Geauga had the largest percent increase in the number of students with 11.12 percent to 1,419 students in spring 2011 compared to 1,277 in spring 2010.
• Enrollment at the Kent Campus has increased by 4.51 percent.
• The persistence or retention rate of 2010 first-time freshmen who are enrolled for spring 2011 at the Kent Campus is 91.7 percent.
• The enrollment of international students increased 26.86 percent to 1,430 students compared to 1,127 in spring 2010.
• Graduate enrollment has increased by 2.63 percent.

"When looking ahead to next fall, we are running above last year's numbers in undergraduate admission applications," says T. David Garcia, Kent State's associate vice president, Enrollment Management and Student Affairs. "The trend we're seeing of increased applications and enrollment is tremendous, and I'd like to thank Dr. Lefton, the university faculty and staff, as well as our Admissions Office. Their efforts result in students choosing Kent State."

Kent State University's eight campuses are located in Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Kent, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas.

For the full spring enrollment report, go to www.kent.edu/rpie/enrollment.