Arkansas State University-Mountain Home (ASUMH) reported a 4% increase in its preliminary fall enrollment, reaching 1,363 students compared to last year’s 1,310. The announcement, part of a broader update from the Arkansas State University System, comes as all campuses in the system recorded gains for the semester.
The preliminary figure for ASUMH was shared Monday but remains subject to revision. Campus officials noted that classes at ASUMH started later than at other institutions in the system, and updates are expected Tuesday before reporting official numbers to the Arkansas Division of Higher Education. If finalized, the 1,363 students would place ASUMH near its traditional pre-pandemic enrollment of approximately 1,500, which first exceeded that threshold in 2009.
Overall enrollment across the system, which includes seven institutions, rose to 32,366 students on the 11th day of classes, an increase of 6.8% from the previous year’s 30,297. Arkansas State University System President Todd Shields attributed the growth to efforts in adapting to student needs and to partnerships with high schools through the Arkansas ACCESS Act, a higher education initiative backed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
"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.
Arkansas State University in Jonesboro reached a record 18,775 students, a 4.7% increase over last year’s enrollment. The count includes 1,062 students at its Campus Queretaro in Mexico. First-year students totaled 2,247, with more than 82% residing in Arkansas.
Henderson State University in Arkadelphia posted a 9.7% increase in total enrollment, climbing to 2,465 students. Its first-time freshmen numbers jumped 33% to 740, and on-campus residential enrollment rose 21% to 1,324.
Among the system’s two-year campuses, ASU Three Rivers in Malvern saw the largest percentage gain with a 24.9% increase, bringing its enrollment to 2,433. ASU-Beebe reported 3,890 students, an 8.4% increase, while ASU-Newport grew 6% to 2,235. ASU Mid-South in West Memphis experienced a modest 3% gain, reaching 1,205 students.
High school enrollment across the system expanded significantly, growing 16.5% to 6,579 students, up from 5,648 last year. Shields emphasized the system’s commitment to providing diverse educational opportunities, from traditional residential campuses to workforce training and online offerings.
Official figures for ASUMH and other campuses will be shared following validation by the state’s Division of Higher Education.