Fall 2002

Rose-Hulman Ranked #1 For Fourth Consecutive Year By U.S. News


Five Engineering Departments Repeat As #1

The best student retention in school history and the second-largest freshman class to enter Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology have resulted in record enrollment for the fall quarter.

Official enrollment is 1,812 students, which surpasses the previous fall quarter enrollment record of 1,751 last year, according to the registrar’s office. The enrollment total includes 165 graduate students.

Retention rates for sophomores and juniors are at an all-time high, according to Pete Gustafson, vice president for student affairs and dean of students. Gustafson reports that 87 percent of sophomores returned to begin their junior year, while 83 percent of last year’s junior class are now enrolled. Freshman retention was 94 percent, second-best in school history.

Overall, only 70 students did not return this fall which is a record low number. Last year the number was 94 and two years ago 101 students did not return.

"I’m just as excited and proud of these increasing retention figures as I am about our No. 1 ranking in U.S. News & World Report," Rose-Hulman President Samuel Hulbert stated.

"Our outstanding student retention is a key reason why Rose-Hulman has earned a national reputation for quality education," he said.

Gustafson said an initiative that began two years ago to improve retention by offering expanded tutoring services for sophomores living in the college’s newest residence hall is one reason for the increased student retention.

"The hall was designed with a classroom and library where additional tutoring services provided by the Learning Center are offered five nights a week," he said. Data from the Learning Center shows that 62 percent of the students who used the new hall tutoring service live in the residence hall.

The 451 students in the freshman class is the second-largest number since 1995 when 466 freshmen enrolled. They represent 42 states and five foreign countries.

Ninety-two percent of the freshmen ranked in the top 20 percent of their high-school graduating class. The group includes 60 high-school valedictorians, the second-highest number achieving that honor to enroll as part of a freshman class at the college.

Rose-Hulman Dean of Admissions Chuck Howard cited several reasons for the college’s successful student recruitment. "Our increasing national reputation, new facilities, the benefits of the Lilly Community Foundation Scholarship program, and the success of our graduates in the job market are among the key factors," he explained.

A slight majority of the freshman class, 51 percent, live outside of Indiana, while only 25 percent are first-generation college students.