Hesston College’s official fall 2016 enrollment numbers following the 20th day of classes give a total student headcount enrollment of 401.

Included in total enrollment is a larger group of new students who started at Hesston in 2016 as compared to fall 2015. The number of domestic students increased to 198 from 185 in 2015, an increase of seven percent. With 17 new international students, the total number of new students in 2016 is 215, an increase from 206 in 2015.

“We are seeing the fruits of several growth initiatives launched last year including our bachelor’s in nursing program, athletic roster expansion, a new men’s golf program and an increase in staff for regional recruitment,” said Rachel Swartzendruber Miller, vice president of admissions and financial aid.

Retention of new students in 2015 to fall 2016 also experienced growth to 78 percent. In fall 2014, 65 percent of students returned, and 76 percent in 2015.

The total enrollment is comprised of students from 29 states and 16 countries. Total student FTE (full time equivalent) is 391.3, or 97 percent of total enrollment, which exceeded the college’s FTE budget for the first time in at least five years and is an increase of 4.6 from fall 2015. Students from Kansas make up about 45 percent of the total student population while another 45 percent come from other U.S. states and about 10 percent are international.

Following a recent trend, the new class of Hesston students also brought higher academic marks with an average new student GPA of 3.34, up from 3.30 in 2015 and 3.19 in 2014.