Slippery Rock University: A Student-Centric Campus Community

Slippery Rock University, located in Pennsylvania, has seen its student population fluctuate in recent years. As of Fall 2024, the university's enrollment stood at 8,394 students, including 6,853 undergraduates and 1,541 graduate students. This figure represents a slight increase from the previous year and continues a three-year trend of rising enrollment. However, in Spring 2022, the university experienced a 3.8% decline in enrollment, mirroring national trends due to the COVID-19 pandemic and economic challenges. Slippery Rock University offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs and is known for its well-funded arts programs and NCAA Division II athletic teams. The university's acceptance rate and demographics can also provide insights into its student population.

Slippery Rock University's total student population

Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania has a total student population of 8,394 as of Fall 2024, including 6,853 undergraduates and 1,541 graduate students. This is a slight increase from the previous year's total enrollment of 8,221 students. The university's undergraduate population has been reported to be 6,345 and 6,815 (as of Fall 2023) in some sources.

Slippery Rock University's student population has been on an upward trajectory, with the Fall 2024 census data showing a third consecutive year of enrolment growth. The first-year class has also increased by 12 students compared to the previous year, and the total enrolment has gone up by 32 students (0.38%). The university's retention rate has also hit a record high, with 84% of first-year students from the Fall 2023 semester returning for Fall 2024, surpassing the national average of 74% for four-year public institutions.

Slippery Rock University's campus spans 660 acres, and the university offers more than 150 undergraduate majors and 40 graduate degrees and certificates. The university's student demographics include an 11% non-majority ethnicity population, with an 84% majority being of traditional college age (under 25). The university's student-to-faculty ratio is 21:1, and it boasts over 200 recognised student organisations, involving more than 5,000 students.

Undergraduate vs graduate student numbers

Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania has a total student population of 8,394, as of Fall 2024. This includes 6,853 undergraduates and 1,541 graduate students. The undergraduate population has been steadily growing, with 6,815 students enrolled in Fall 2023, and 6,345 undergraduates enrolled in 2022.

The university has seen a slight decline in student numbers from Fall 2021 to Spring 2022, which was attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and challenging economic conditions. Despite this, the number of graduate students enrolled remains high, with only a small decrease from 1,503 in Fall 2021 to 1,430 in Spring 2022.

The undergraduate population at Slippery Rock University is predominantly white (84.5%) and female (48.2% female undergraduates vs 36.9% male). The graduate population is also predominantly white (84.5%) but has a higher proportion of females (60.8% female graduate students vs 23% male).

The university offers over 150 undergraduate majors and 40 graduate degrees and certificates. The most popular undergraduate majors include Occupational Safety and Health Technology, General Health and Wellness, and Special Education and Teaching.

First-year student enrolment

Slippery Rock University, located in rural Pennsylvania, has seen a steady increase in its student enrolment numbers over the years. As of Fall 2024, the university's total enrolment was 8,394 students, including 6,853 undergraduates and 1,541 graduate students. This is a slight increase from the previous year's total enrolment of 8,362, which comprised 6,815 undergraduates and 1,547 graduate students.

The university's commitment to student success is evident in its thorough research into the academic backgrounds of prospective students. Slippery Rock University establishes admission guidelines for first-year students based on this research. The university requires applicants to submit credentials such as the first-year admission application, official high school transcripts, and a $30 application fee or fee waiver documentation. Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher are automatically admitted, and the university offers a test-optional pathway for admissions through 2024.

Slippery Rock University's first-year student enrolment benefits from a dedicated admissions team, over 150 majors and minors, and out-of-state tuition discounts. The university's retention rate has also reached a record high, with 84% of first-year students from the Fall 2023 semester returning for the Fall 2024 semester. This retention rate surpasses the national average for four-year public institutions, demonstrating the university's ability to foster a supportive and academically engaging environment for its first-year students.

Student demographics

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is a public institution in rural Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, founded in 1889. The university has a total enrollment of 8,394 students, including 6,853 undergraduates and 1,541 graduate students. The first-year enrollment for the Fall 2024 semester was 1,547 students, an increase of 12 students from the previous year. The university's retention rate is high, with 84% of first-year students from the Fall 2023 semester returning for the Fall 2024 semester, surpassing the national average of 74% for four-year public institutions.

The student body is predominantly traditional college age (under 25), with 84% falling into this category. The university also has a significant number of students living on campus, with 91% of first-year students and 41% of undergraduates choosing to reside on campus. In terms of residency, 88% of the students have in-state status, 14% are residents of Butler County, and 58% reside in west-central Pennsylvania.

The ethnic makeup of the student body is diverse, with 11% belonging to non-majority ethnicities. The most common race/ethnicity group is White, comprising 84.5% of the student population. Black or African American students make up 4.16%, followed by students with Two or More Races at 3.44%, Hispanic or Latino at 2.82%, Asian at 0.997%, American Indian or Alaska Native at 0.207%, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders at 0.0487%. The gender distribution shows that 63.9% of the students are female, while 36.1% are male.

The university has a good reputation academically, with 78% of entering first-year students graduating in the top half of their high school class and 42% in the top quarter. The freshman-to-sophomore retention rate is impressive at 84%, and the graduation rates are 57% for four-year and 66% for six-year. The student-to-faculty ratio is 21:1, with a total of 946 employees, including 386 full-time faculty members.

Tuition fees

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is a public institution that was founded in 1889. The university has a total undergraduate enrollment of 6,815 (as of Fall 2023), and its campus size is 660 acres. The tuition fees at Slippery Rock University are set by the Board of Governors of the State System of Higher Education.

For the 2024-25 academic year, the tuition and fees for in-state students were $10,090, while for out-of-state students, they were $13,948. These figures include both tuition and fees, also known as the sticker price. It is important to note that fees may differ by institution and can cover expenses such as library services, student gym facilities, student centres, technology resources, and campus health centres.

Compared to the national average, Slippery Rock University is a more affordable option. The national average cost of in-state tuition is $12,201, while the out-of-state tuition national average is $29,084.

Slippery Rock University offers a tuition reduction program for eligible out-of-state undergraduate students, who pay only 150% of in-state tuition costs. To be eligible for this reduction, first-year and transfer students must have a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA, with transfer students requiring 12 or more credit hours earned on all post-secondary coursework. Continuing SRU students must maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA to continue receiving this reduction.

The total cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, food, housing, books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses, is $23,395 for in-state students and $27,253 for out-of-state students. The average net price, after aid and scholarship funds, is $16,059 for in-state students and $22,655 for out-of-state students receiving need-based aid.

Financial aid is also available for students who qualify. The average need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students was $8,445, with 65% of first-year students receiving this type of financial aid in Fall 2022. Additionally, there is the option of need-based self-help aid, which includes federal loans and work-study programs. The average need-based self-help aid awarded to first-year students was $3,299. Merit-based aid, awarded for specific talents or academic achievements, is another option, with the average grant or scholarship being $3,563 for first-year students.

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