Purdue’s decade of record enrollment ends, by design

Enrollment on the main campus is down less than 1% from fall 2024 record, as university reeled in freshman class. Plus, an honor for TSC Supt. Scott Hanback. And more.

• Support for this edition comes from the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette, presenting Art on the Wabash. The juried art fair will be 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, at Tapawingo Park in West Lafayette. Admission is free. For more, check out Art on the Wabash here.

---

PURDUE’S DECADE OF RECORD ENROLLMENT ENDS, BY DESIGN

As hinted over the summer, Purdue’s student enrollment on the West Lafayette campus was down for the first time since 2014, according to figures released by the university Tuesday.

The decrease was down less than 1% from a record set in fall 2024 on the West Lafayette campus. And the enrollment of 54,651 remained the second most in Purdue history, down from the 55,119 students who were on the main campus to start fall 2024.

But the totals followed a concerted effort by Purdue officials to contain the student body, even as the university notched another record year for applications, after a 5.6% increase in fall 2024 had the campus on its heels for space and some community members questioning whether the university had a handle on reasonable growth.

(Photo: Dave Bangert)