Fall enrollment of 2,479 students in Purdue’s College of Agriculture is the highest level since 2000 and an increase of 27 students from the previous year, according to figures from the Office of the Registrar.

Enrollment has increased slightly each of the past three years, which pleases Randy Woodson, Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture.

“It’s great to see the surge of interest in Purdue Agriculture, and I attribute a lot of the growth to new opportunities in the food and agriculture industry,” Woodson says.

“The booming popularity of biofuels, environmental concerns and the need to ensure the safety and quality of our food supply all contribute to a demand for students who have studied agriculture disciplines.”

Applications to the college were up significantly, according to Dale Whittaker, director of academic programs and associate dean of the College of Agriculture, but enrollment figures were capped to maintain desirable student/faculty ratios.

Woodson says Purdue Agriculture has grown and changed to accommodate new student interests while supporting traditional areas of study, too.

“While most of our incoming students continue to study in animal sciences, enrollment is growing in such areas as biochemistry and entomology,” he says. “This tells me that students are attracted to the wide variety of opportunities that an agriculture degree brings.

“Purdue Agriculture is farming and more. For instance, while the traditional entomologist may have studied insects to learn more about how to curb them from crops, today many students are attracted to the field so they can learn how to protect insect numbers, such as honeybees.

“I’m pleased at the trends that are making an agricultural degree a valuable commodity. And our growing student enrollment is also a good sign for the entire food and agriculture industry.”

Contact Whittaker at dwhittak@purdue.edu