Kansas University set another enrollment record this spring, university officials announced Wednesday.

There are 27,890 students enrolled on KU’s campuses, up 0.4 percent from last year.

“Our objective isn’t to grow,” said David Shulenburger, provost and executive vice chancellor. “It’s to remain about the same as we have been.”

The enrollment totals include 23,829 students at the Lawrence campus, 1,550 students at the Edwards Campus in Overland Park and 2,511 students at the Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan.

KU saw increases in nearly every category of student it tracks for the spring semester on the campuses.

But the Edwards Campus saw continued decreases as the result of a new policy, enacted in the fall, for charging nonresident students increased tuition rates.

Students from outside Kansas previously were charged the same amount as Kansas residents. But Bob Clark, vice chancellor and dean for the Edwards Campus, said the campus started charging nonresident students higher rates — as is done at the Lawrence campus — because students from Lawrence were driving to Overland Park to avoid paying higher rates.

Students in a four-county metropolitan area in Missouri still are eligible for in-state tuition rates.

The Edwards Campus typically measures its enrollment by credit hour. Nonresident credit hours were down 10.55 percent while resident hours were up 9.09 percent. Body count decreased 16.5 percent, from 1,805 to 1,550.

Clark said an increase in nonresident enrollment on the Lawrence campus showed some students were staying in Lawrence to take classes. But some students commuting from Missouri and taking online courses have dropped classes because of the increased costs.

KU administrators happy with growth

“This is completely predictable,” Clark said. “it was the right thing to do for the university. Ultimately, it will lead to future growth at the Edwards Campus.”

Clark estimated it would take three years for nonresident enrollment rates to recover to their previous levels. Nonresident enrollment also dropped in the fall.

“We’ll get back on track once we get past this adjustment,” Shulenburger said.