Summer enrollment holds steady

Summer session students Alexander Schmidig (left) and William Bussey worked together in an organic chemistry lab in Hach Hall last week. Photo by Christopher Gannon.

Following five summers of declining numbers, summer session enrollment is a strong 8,468 students this summer, up 65 from a year ago. According to data collected by the university registrar's office, it includes 5,718 undergraduates, 2,589 graduate students and the 161 members of the fourth-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine class in their 12-month finale.

Iowa State's summer enrollment peaked in 2017 at 12,060 students, two-thirds of whom studied on campus, and receded in subsequent summers as the university graduated record-setting numbers of students each spring and then transitioned to a largely online experience during and following the pandemic.

This summer's student body is earning credits in these learning environments:

• 47%: Online only. Undergraduates make up nearly 90% of this group.
• 13%: Face-to-face or hybrid (combination of face-to-face and online). Undergraduates make up nearly 70% of this group.
• 40%: Arranged experiences -- popular summer options include internships, cooperatives, student teaching, independent study, research, study at affiliated universities and others. Graduate students make up nearly 60% of this group.

The distribution of students among online, arranged and in-person modes mirrors last summer's percentages.

Iowa State collects the student census on the 10th day (June 23) of the second summer session. The count reflects all registration through that day, so it includes classes that concluded prior to it as well as any that haven't begun yet.

Student enrollment: summer session 2023