Penn State reports healthy main campus enrollment while branch campuses see declines

Penn State’s main campus has one of its largest first-year enrollments to date this fall, while the commonwealth campuses continue to see drops in their student populations.

The University Park campus currently enrolls more than 9,100 first-year students — the second-highest incoming class in school history.

Overall University Park enrollment stands at over 49,200, a stable figure compared to last year’s enrollment, Penn State officials reported this week. International student enrollment fell 3% at the main campus, a phenomenon seen at other universities this semester.

The 19 commonwealth campuses, meanwhile, saw a nearly 6% dip in students, from more than 23,200 total branch campus students last fall to just under 22,000 this year. Every campus in Western Pennsylvania reported decline