Darryl G. Greer, Executive Director/CEO
Paul R. Shelly, Director of Communications and Marketing

Press Release

February 14, 2007

Demand for opportunity at New Jersey's state colleges and universities is at a record high while state support is at a record low.

The nine institutions - The College of New Jersey, Kean University, Montclair State University, New Jersey City University, Ramapo College of New Jersey, Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Rowan University, Thomas Edison State College and William Paterson University - collectively, are the state's leading source of baccalaureate degrees. They award 45% of the state's annual baccalaureate degree total, a share that has grown in recent years.

In preparing for the March release of its annual Accountability Sourcebook, the advocacy group for the nine state colleges released these highlights:

n	A total of 46,669 first-time, full-time freshman applications were received for Fall 2006 (a 24% increase since fall 2000).  The institutions, collectively, can manage about 10,000 full-time freshmen.
n	Total enrollment cracked the 90,000 mark:  90,645 undergraduate and graduate students combined; last year the total was 88,782.
n	The full-time undergraduate student total is also at a new record high of 52,519, slightly ahead of last year and 28% above the number a decade ago (Fall 1996).
n	Some institutions have experienced extraordinary gains, including Thomas Edison State College with enrollment up nearly 17% over last year.
n	The total number of students residing on campus is at a record level with a few new residence halls on line:  18,532 about 350 ahead of last year and about 5,000 ahead of Fall 1996.
n	The eight "traditional" institutions (i.e., not including Thomas Edison State College) now admit about 6,700 new transfer students annually, and about three out of five admitted are from New Jersey community colleges.

Increases in demand for Fall 2007 are expected, though it is still early in the applications cycle. Applications for Fall 2007 freshman classes are up as much as 16% ahead of last year at some state college campuses. ASCU executive director/CEO Darryl G. Greer says, "Given the statistics [cited earlier] we are not surprised at all that current demand is far outstripping our ability to serve many deserving students who apply."

The state college growth and demand stand in contrast with what NJASCU calls "indicators for citizen concern" in New Jersey which will also be cited in the upcoming Sourcebook, due out next month:

n	New Jersey's annual production of high school graduates will continue to reach new heights at least through 2008, possibly 2009, then plateau above 100,000 per year.
n	New Jersey now ranks 50th nationally in the number of four-year public college seats per 1,000 high school graduates, according to a recent Education Week report.
n	New Jersey trails the nation (50th) in changes in higher education appropriations for FY 2007 (compared to FY 2006) and was one of only two states that cut higher education funding in the current fiscal year.  The 50-state mean was an increase of 7%.

According to ASCU's executive director, the reason for high demand in 2006 goes beyond demographics: "Polls have shown these institutions are well-regarded by citizens, considered to be well-managed, and every year they have exciting new offerings and relevant public service initiatives."

Greer adds, "It is also true that more students of traditional college age, and their families, want a full-fledged, full-time, four-year college experience. Today there are far more opportunities at these places for students who want to live on campus. Finally, the institutions still offer great value, the advantage of being in this diverse state, and the resources available to disadvantaged students through generous state student aid programs."

The New Jersey state colleges and universities, with diverse missions and specialties, offer opportunities for all New Jersey's residents seeking higher education.