Bethel Seminary reports a total fall 2008 enrollment of 1,151 students across St. Paul, San Diego, and Seminary of the East--up seven percent from 1,076 last fall. The number is a historic record, and represents larger numbers over last year at all three locations, as follows:

The fall numbers represent the highest enrollment in the history of San Diego, in operation since 1977. Enrollment is the second highest ever at Seminary of the East, which Bethel acquired in 2000; and St. Paul has its highest enrollment since a peak of 824 in the fall of 2005.

The seminary enrollment increase is due in part to a record-size entering class. Nick Matchefts, associate registrar in the Office of the University Registrar, reported this week that 384 new students enrolled for fall quarter classes beginning September 22. That total includes 275 new students in St. Paul; 82 at Bethel Seminary San Diego; and 27 at Bethel Seminary of the East.

"This is the highest number of entering students in the history of Bethel Seminary," says Joseph Dworak, trans-regional director of admissions and recruitment for the seminary. "I am so thankful to the trans-regional team I get to work with who make these great numbers possible."

Inclusion of the newly-available seminary data brings to 5,488 the number of fall 2008 students across schools of Bethel University--the College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Adult & Professional Studies, the Graduate School, and Bethel Seminary. The total is up 4.6 percent over last fall's count of 5,245, which reflects an increase in all schools over last fall.

*Teaching locations near Boston, Philadelphia, New York City, and Washington, D.C.