HONOLULU (AP) - More local high school graduates are enrolling at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, reversing a downward trend in recent years.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported (https://bit.ly/2flCugH ) Friday enrollment of local students jumped 12 percent this fall compared to last year.
The incoming group of students is also more diverse. The number of enrolling Native Hawaiian students increased by 29 percent while the number students with Filipino ancestry increased 8 percent.
Freshman Sydney Millerd, who graduated from Waipahu High School in May, had long thought she would head to the mainland for college. She received various scholarships but chose UH Manoa largely for financial reasons.
“This semester I had enough to cover my full tuition and room and board through multiple scholarships,” said the 17-year-old, who is aiming to be the first in her family to earn a bachelor’s degree.
She’s happy with her decision, and has switched majors like many freshmen.
“The good thing about being at UH Manoa is there are all these different possibilities,” said Millerd, who represented Hawaii at the 2016 National Youth Science Camp, held during the summer in West Virginia.
The Admissions Office increased the number of application days it held at local high schools to help students consider college.
But while more local students are enrolling, total enrollment at UH Manoa is falling.
University spokesman Dan Meisenzahl says students are graduating more quickly, rather than lingering and inflating the enrollment count.
Also, college enrollment rose during recession when jobs were scarce. As the economy recovered, more people joined the workforce instead of pursuing degrees.
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