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Stephanie Wiechmann
The nearly 3300 students represent an 80 % drop from the previous freshman class. At the same time, Purdue University and Indiana University Bloomington had record freshman enrollment. Ball State President Geoffrey Mearns says the numbers show which students Ball State heavily recruits.

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Geoffrey Mearns
We as an institution have been historically very much focused on first time, full time freshmen as really the entry point into our undergraduate educational experience.

00;00;27;02 - 00;00;51;13
Stephanie Wiechmann
Mearns says Indiana has seen a decrease in Hoosier high school graduates in the last few years, and state data shows a fewer number of those are choosing to go to college. Also recently, Purdue and IU have begun to accept test optional applications, considering other student merits than scores for entrance exams like the SAT. It's a move Ball State made three years ago, and it's attracted more applicants to all schools of this year's Ball State freshman class.

00;00;51;14 - 00;01;06;28
Stephanie Wiechmann
65 % applied as test optional. Ball State officials say the school is preparing new recruitment strategies that include a focus on different types of potential students, including more transfer and international students. In Muncie, Stephanie Wiechmann, IPR news.