Student enrollment at Indiana University East for the 2015 spring semester exceeded the 4,000 level for the first time ever.

As of the last day of registration on January 18, there were 4,016 students enrolled for the spring, exceeding last spring’s enrollment by 160 students. The increase represents a growth of 4.1 percent. Credit hours also reached a record level at 36,668, up 2.5 percent from last spring.

Growth in online enrollment continues to be a major driver for the campus, with almost 50 percent of all credit hours coming from online courses, up 4 percent from last spring. Sixty-five percent of all IU East students are taking at least one online course, and 41 percent are taking all online courses, up 3 percent and 5 percent respectively from last spring.

Executive Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Larry Richards said, “While our student body continues to consist primarily of Indiana and Ohio residents (78 percent of the students enrolled), our online programs continue to attract students from out of state and out of the country. This spring, we have students from 41 states plus the District of Columbia, and from 21 countries. There are also seven military students overseas enrolled in online courses.”

IU East’s primary mission is to provide bachelor’s and graduate education to students in eastern Indiana and western Ohio. Many of those students take online courses, in addition to on campus courses. The campus offers 11 bachelor’s degree online completion program options, as well as Graduate Certificates in Composition Studies and Mathematics.

“Online delivery of degree programs makes it possible for students who cannot regularly travel the long-distances to the campus from where they might live, or who are working or otherwise committed throughout the week at times when on-campus courses are being offered, to be able to continue their education and achieve the dream of an advanced degree or certificate. By meeting the need of these students in our region with these online courses, we can also accommodate students outside our region who find our programs attractive. This has been a win-win for all,” Richards said.