MTSU's fall 2011 enrollment is breaking records again with 26,442 students on campus for classes, football games, lectures and other events. (MTSU file photo by J. Intintoli)

MTSU experienced a slight gain — and another record — when campus officials announced an official enrollment of 26,442 students for fall 2011.

The total is 12 more students than the fall 2010 figure, when a final tally of 26,430 students was submitted to the Tennessee Board of Regents.

“We continue to be proud of the rich diversity represented in our student population,” said Dr. Deb Sells, vice president for the Division of Student Affairs and vice provost for enrollment services. “We are particularly pleased with our continuing increase in returning students who are being retained and moved toward a timely graduation.”

MTSU data shows a 3.69 percent overall increase in returning students: 18,600 students returned this fall compared with 17,938 in fall 2010. There are 6,653 returning seniors this fall, or 450 more than fall 2010’s 6,203 returning seniors.

MTSU officials also are seeing an increase in veterans registering for classes. As of Sept. 26, MTSU’s head count of veterans was 1,035 students, compared to 998 enrolled in fall 2010, said Cathy Kirchner, registrar in MTSU’s Office of Records and Scheduling.

Other statistical notes about the fall ’11 enrollment totals include:

• the undergraduate population of 23,415 students is 88.55 percent of MTSU’s total enrollment, while the graduate population (3,027) is 11.45 percent;

• an 865-student Hispanic enrollment represents 3.27 percent of MTSU’s total enrollment, and the 1,067 Asian students enrolled make up 4.04 percent; and

• MTSU’s 4,839-student African-American enrollment represents 18.30 percent of the University’s total enrollment. African-American students make up 24.13 of the total first-time freshman numbers this fall, while the 4,416 undergraduate African-American students represent 18.86 percent of MTSU’s total undergraduate enrollment. The University’s 423 African-American students enrolled in graduate studies make up 13.97 percent of the total graduate enrollment of 3,027.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)