South Dakota's public universities this fall recorded an 11th consecutive year of increased enrollments. However, enrollments at the two state universities in the Black Hills area largely remained the same from last year.

Enrollment at Black Hills State University in Spearfish rose by seven students to 4,011 compared to last year. In a news release from the university, BHSU President Kay Schallenkamp said the school has seen steadily increasing enrollment over the past decade.

BHSU has recorded an enrollment increase of 10.25 percent in the past decade.

Schallenkamp said the enrollment increase is significant especially in light of declining high school enrollments and economic conditions nationwide.

"Students are drawn to Black Hills State University from the state, region, nation and world because they appreciate the exceptional educational experience the university offers," Schallenkamp said. Evidence of this, she noted, is the 23 percent increase in the number of transfer students enrolled at BHSU this fall.

Meanwhile, the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology in Rapid City posted a nine-student decrease, dropping to 2,061 compared to last fall. It was the only state-funded school to lose enrollment in the past year.

Statewide, the biggest percentage gain was at Northern State University, which enrolled 250 more students, to push enrollment this year to 2,805. NSU had a 9.78 percent increase. Dakota State University in Madison saw the second biggest percentage increase, rising 8.17 percent with a 210 student increase compared to last year, increasing overall enrollment to 2,780.

The largest total increase in students was at South Dakota State University in Brookings, which saw an increase of 289 students, to raise total enrollment to 11,995.

"Since 1998, headcount at South Dakota's public universities has grown each and every year," South Dakota Board of Regents executive director Tad Perry said in a news release.

"This is significant, given that there are actually fewer K-12 students to draw from in the Midwest. We have focused in a major way on better recruitment and retention of the traditional college-age student, as well as drawing more adult learners back into higher education. The enrollment numbers today demonstrate real progress toward those goals," he said.

Institution	2007	2008	Plus/Minus	% gain/loss
BHSU	4,004	4,011	7	0.17%
DSU	2,570	2,780	210	8.17%
NSU	2,555	2,805	250	9.78%
SDSMT	2,070	2,061	-9	-0.43%
SDSU	11,706	11,995	289	2.47%
USD	9,243	9,291	48	0.52%