Kansas University’s spring enrollment is the second-highest in university history.

There are 27,463 students at the university this semester, up almost 2 percent from this time last year.

Enrollment on the Lawrence and Edwards campuses surpassed 25,000 for the first time during a spring semester, coming in at a record 25,156.

“We always want to improve our record,” said Janet Murguia, executive vice chancellor for university relations. “We have a team of folks who work hard to get students to KU.”

The overall enrollment is second only to the 1993 spring enrollment of 27,569.

At the Lawrence campus and Edwards campus in Overland Park, enrollment increased 1.8 percent. At the KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan., enrollment increased 6.1 percent to 2,307.

As usual, KU’s student population decreased from the fall semester. More students typically graduate in December than start school in January.

But this year’s drop is less than in some recent years. The spring enrollment is 95.1 percent of the enrollment during the fall, the third-highest percentage in the last 20 years.

Murguia said the economy may have contributed to the smaller decline.

“The trends we’re seeing are when the economy gets tough, a lot of people stay in school or consider re-enrolling and getting an education,” she said.

Kathleen McCluskey-Fawcett, senior vice provost, said KU’s retention rate continued to calm fears that this year’s 25 percent tuition increase would harm enrollment. She said some student service programs funded by tuition may help with retaining students.

“It’s clear increased tuition hasn’t affected students’ decisions to come her and stay here,” she said.

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She also said increasing enrollment was important at a time when funding from the state has been cut.

“That certainly doesn’t hurt,” she said.

KU’s percentage growth since last year was more than some state universities and less than others. The largest percentage gain was at Fort Hays State University, 7 percent; the smallest was at Pittsburg State University, 0.3 percent.

Overall, there are 1,684 — or 2.1 percent — more students enrolled in state universities this spring than in spring 2002.