EMU Today

Fall 2021 enrollment key data points:

• 20% increase in first-year student enrollment over last year
• 3.43 average high school GPA of incoming students, highest ever
• 35% increase in students living in on-campus housing over last year
• 43.8% of incoming students represent ethnically diverse communities
• First-year international student enrollment increased 60%, from 117 last year to 187 this year

YPSILANTI — Eastern Michigan University is welcoming more than 2,250 new first-year students to campus this fall -- a 20% increase from fall 2020 when 1,867 new students enrolled. The incoming first-year class also represents an increase of 7% over the pre-pandemic incoming class of 2019. The overall high school grade point average of new students is 3.43, the highest-ever for an incoming class at the University.

The new class continues Eastern’s commitment to serving diverse communities -- with 43.8% of the new students representing ethnically diverse populations (African American, Hispanic, Asian, Native American).

The large incoming class also boosted the number of students living on campus. More than 2,750 students have made a deposit for housing this fall. Last fall, 2,031 students lived in student housing. This represents a year-to-year increase of approximately 35%. Eastern offered discounted single room availability to anyone who requested that option. Single rooms account for approximately 36% of the students in University housing.

“Our enrollment and housing numbers reflect the great attention paid by our faculty and staff to providing quality degree programs, experiential learning, and support services that lead our graduates to successful careers,” said Eastern Michigan University President James Smith. “Our continuing appeal and outreach to diverse audiences reflected in these data are particularly noteworthy.

Global classroom

Eastern Michigan University is one of the most diverse public universities in Michigan with the highest percentage of Black and Hispanic students. “A point of great distinction for us is that due to the diverse makeup of our student body, including international students, EMU provides a global classroom experience that very much mirrors and prepares students for the work world of today. Graduates work side-by-side with people of different backgrounds, ethnicities and identities,” said Smith.

“The increase in enrollment and in residential students is also a reflection of the significant investments we have made in our campus in recent years, including the new engineering and technology campus, the science complex, our recreation and intramural building, and an exciting array of student dining options.”

Campus move-in details

First-year students will move into on-campus housing on Thursday, August 26 and Friday, August 27 during a staggered move-in to allow for COVID-19 safety precautions, while upper class student residents will move in Friday, August 27 through Sunday, August 29 with the same staggered approach.

Students will enjoy a mix of virtual and in-person events during move-in weekend, including a first-year student mixer, orientation presentations, and an opportunity to learn about and join one of Eastern’s 200+ student organizations.

For more information about Eastern Michigan University, please visit the University’s homepage.

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 16,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and, its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.