RUSSELLVILLE — Arkansas Tech University has become the third-largest institution of higher learning in the state.
Arkansas Tech reported a preliminary enrollment of 12,003 students Friday for the fall 2014 semester. That surpasses the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the University of Central Arkansas. Only the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and Arkansas State University have larger enrollments among Arkansas colleges and universities.
Enrollment at Arkansas Tech has increased 5.6 percent over fall 2013.
Enrollment this fall has been bolstered by the largest freshman class in Arkansas Tech history. There are 1,684 incoming freshmen on the main campus of Arkansas Tech in Russellville this fall. The previous record was 1,572 students, which was established in fall 2011.
Much of the growth in freshman enrollment came from Pulaski and Benton counties.