A-State spring enrollment soars to new record; 10% jump in students

By The Arkansas Delta Informer Staff

JONESBORO – February 5, 2025 – Arkansas State University reported the largest spring enrollment in the school’s history, as 16,073 students signed up to attend class in Jonesboro.

Chancellor Todd Shields confirmed that spring enrollment is up 10% from last year. This is the second consecutive spring semester with double-digit growth for the ASU system’s flagship university.

“This record-breaking spring enrollment reflects the positive momentum Arkansas State continues to build. Our commitment to providing accessible, high-quality education is stronger than ever, and we are proud to see more students choosing A-State to pursue their academic and career goals,” Shields said. “As we grow, we remain dedicated to meeting the needs of Arkansas and the broader region, ensuring our graduates are well-prepared to contribute to their communities and industries.”

Enrollment of students from Arkansas saw a boost of 8.1%, with 9,452 from in-state, compared with 8,745 last spring. The university also continues to expand its educational reach from coast to coast as online programs thrive as A-State Online grew 16.2% from spring 2024, the largest online enrollment in the state. 

The Red Wolves pack is also growing through its Campus Queretaro campus in Mexico, which added 121 students for a 16% increase and a total enrollment of 903. Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Calvin White Jr. thanked the faculty and staff for contributing to A-State’s continued enrollment growth. 

 By working together across campus, we’ve strengthened student engagement, streamlined processes, and enhanced the overall A-State experience,” said White. “This collective effort is making a tangible impact, and it’s exciting to see so many students choosing to be part of the Red Wolves family.”

In Jonesboro, the university experienced significant growth in academic areas that align with local and statewide workforce needs. 

The College of Nursing and Health Professions saw an overall enrollment increase of 27%, led by jumps in social work, nursing, and medical imaging and radiation science. The Neil Griffin College of Business — fueled by growth in accounting, information systems, business analytics, management, marketing and supply chain — reported a 12% rise. The College of Agriculture grew its student body by 17%, with a 20% increase in students studying animal science.

Many of those students may be preparing to enroll in A-State’s highly anticipated College of Veterinary Medicine. Pending successful accreditation, the college will welcome its first class to campus in fall 2026. The university will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the 56,000-square-foot facility later this spring.

A-State also continues to see an all-time high demand for on-campus housing. The number of campus residents rose 8% compared with spring 2024. A 93% retention rate from fall 2024 shows that living on campus, near classes and resources, leads to better student outcomes.

A-State continues to focus on additional ways to improve student retention and overall well-being. In fall 2024, it launched a new AI-powered SMS chatbot. Students can connect with the chatbot about academics, financial aid, and student services topics. Since then, 97% of the student body remains opted in, and the chatbot has exchanged more than 18,600 text messages with students.

The program has proved vital as 1,735 students have connected with on-campus tools, saving over 150 hours of staff resources. Meanwhile, 534 students were proactively identified for in-person follow-up visits from A-State’s academic and mental health support team.

“At A-State, we continuously seek innovative ways to support our students and help them thrive. Tools like our AI-powered chatbot allow us to meet students where they are, providing real-time assistance for academic and personal needs,” said Dr. Nikesha Nesbitt, dean of University College. “Every Red Wolf Counts, and by leveraging technology alongside our dedicated support teams, we ensure every student has the resources they need to succeed on their college journey.”

As A-State grows, more student-centered additions are under development. These initiatives include an overhauled university website, enhanced prospective student dashboards, and a new campus community web portal. Each project is designed to help students find essential campus tools and information and connect with others in the campus community.

Based in Little Rock, the Arkansas State University System serves almost 35,000 students annually on campuses in Arkansas and Queretaro, Mexico, and globally online.

The ASU System includes Arkansas State University, the four-year flagship research institution in Jonesboro , the second-largest university behind the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville. ASU also has degree centers at ASU-Beebe, ASU-Mountain Home, and ASU Mid-South in West Memphis. Arkansas State University Campus Queretaro opened in September 2017.

The system’s two-year college institutions include ASU-Beebe, with additional campuses in Heber Springs and Searcy and an instructional site at Little Rock Air Force Base; ASU-Newport, with additional campuses in Jonesboro and Marked Tree; ASU-Mountain Home; ASU Mid-South in West Memphis; and ASU Three Rivers (formerly College of the Ouachitas) in Malvern. Henderson State University in Arkadelphia became the system’s second four-year institution member on Feb. 1 under Act 18 of 2021.