(STUDENT) BODY BEAUTIFUL
University welcomes record-breaking freshman class

ASU's freshman class broke records again, with 9,274 students joining the Sun Devil fold for the first time. This number of first-time freshmen is the largest in history, almost twice as large as the entering class 10 years ago.

Enrollment overall at ASU hit 64,394, more than 1,000 students higher than last fall's tally of 63,279. All four ASU locations experienced increases, with the greatest gaines at Polytechnic and Downtown Phoenix campuses.

The number of national scholars in this fall's class (National Merit, National Hispanic and National Achievement) totals 265, making ASU one of the top schools in the country for national scholars. The number of National Hispanic Scholars at ASU increased by 180 percent during the past five years to its current total of 111.

Thirty-three percent of the 2007 resident freshman class are students of color, a proportion that has doubled in the past 10 years. ASU students come from all 50 states and more than 150 foreign countries.

The number of top scholars from Arizona enrolling at ASU also continues to increase a a record pace. More than 1,800 ASU President and Provost Scholars, students who perform at the very top of their high school graduating class, are part of this year's class. The number represents 30 percent of ASU freshmen from Arizona.

"Our growth in scholars outpaces the overall growth rate, demonstrating that quality and size go together," said Jim Rund, vice president for university student initiatives.