Iowa State University students on the way to class. (ISU photo)

The University of Iowa and Iowa State University, for the first time ever, both have over 31,000 students on campus.

 It’s the sixth consecutive year of growth at I.S.U. where fall enrollment has hit a record 31,040.

I.S.U. Interim Director of Admissions Darin Wohlgemuth says there a record 5,366 freshman and 3,251 (61%) are Iowans.

“We also have an increase in the number of transfer students and the number of transfer students coming from Iowa community colleges,” Wohlgemuth says.

The total Iowa resident enrollment at I.S.U. is 18,922. Overall enrollment at I.S.U. has grown by more than 21% since 2006.

Wohlgemuth says there’s plenty room for everyone in both the dorms and classrooms. “We started preparing for the increased number of students and classes last spring by working with the colleges and trying to get more classes available. I know the department of residence has also been preparing for this,” Wohlgemuth said.

At the University of Iowa, fall enrollment has hit a record high of 31,498 students. Michael Barron, executive director of admissions, says the U-of-I has worked hard to increase diversity on the Iowa City campus. “The incoming class, the first year students direct from high school, is the most diverse ever as 16.2% — 725 students — are self identified as minorities,” Barron said.

A new dormitory is under construction on the U-of-I campus, but Barron notes they’re able accommodate all of the current students.

“The university has acquired several off campus facilities – one is primarily for transfer students and another is for upper division students that are associated with the honors living-learning community, which opens up space on campus for new first year students and new transfers as well as continuing students,” Barron said.

At the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, fall enrollment declined to 12,273. Terry Hogan is U.N.I.’s vice president for student affairs.

He said the downturn was expected given the large number of students who graduated last spring and a second consecutive year of decline in the number of Iowa high school graduates. Around 92% of the students who attend U.N.I. come from the state of Iowa. That compares to 47% at the University of Iowa and nearly 61% at Iowa State.