Baker University has seen a steady increase in enrollment in the past several years.

“We’re counting on it continuing,” university President Pat Long said. “We do plan for growth in both our undergraduate and graduate programs.”

At the start of the 2006-07 academic year there were 3,932 students enrolled at Baker. That is up from 3,013 in 2002.

Most of the students this year and other years are enrolled in the School of Professional and Graduate Studies in Overland Park (2,865) and in the College of Arts and Sciences at the Baldwin City campus (923). There are an additional 144 students in the School of Nursing in Topeka.

University enrollment shows what appears to be a significant jump in students from 2005 (3,261) to 2006 (3,932). But Long noted the university started graduate studies a few days earlier than in the past. That meant those students were included in the count, whereas in past years they may not have been included.

A strategic plan projects a growth of 1,000 students over the next several years.

“I’m not sure whether that is the right number or not, but I don’t think it is over 1,000,” Long said. “We want to make sure we are not going over what our infrastructure will support.”

Baker is planning for two building projects in the next few years as enrollment continues to increase. One is a new residence hall. Plans also call for a remodeling of the science building, Mulvane Hall, as well as an addition to double its size.

Enrollment records show that most of the College of Arts and Sciences students are from Kansas (675) and Missouri (119). Other key states are Texas (24), Oklahoma (20) and Colorado (20).

“We still do most of our recruiting in the Midwest,” Long said.

Here are additional total enrollment figures for 2003-05:
2003: 3,061.
2004: 3,145.
2005: 3,261.