FAIRBANKS — The poor economy, more rural students and fewer dropouts are being credited for an enrollment spike at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Student numbers have increased by 5.3 percent at UAF and its affiliate campuses compared to a year ago, with 9,619 students enrolled for the fall 2009 semester. The deadline for students to add and drop classes has passed in most cases, so the enrollment numbers are essentially final.

Enrollment at UAF itself is up by 4.5 percent to 5,337 students, while the Tanana Valley Campus has seen a 3.3 percent boost to 3,352 students. Much of the enrollment increase comes from UAF’s rural campuses — up 40 percent at the Interior Aleutians campus, 19 percent at the Bristol Bay campus and 11.8 percent at the Rural College.

Ian Olson, director of planning, analysis and institutional research at UAF, said there probably are several factors behind the increase in numbers at rural campuses. Recruitment of Alaska Native students has been emphasized in recent years, and some campuses offer occasional workplace-training certificates that result in big enrollment fluctuations.

More generally, Olson said UAF is following a rising enrollment trend seen at universities around the country. Much of the credit goes to the weak job market, which is spurring many people to pursue higher education or seek job training programs.

“I think it has ties to the economy,” Olson said. “A lot of our peer institutions are seeing the same thing.”

Olson said he believes the increase also has roots in tighter UAF admissions requirements, which have led to fewer dropouts. He said the entry standards became more stringent to UAF four-year programs in fall 2008 after a review determined that students with low college-admission test scores were unlikely to graduate.

The retention rate has jumped to 81.5 percent for first-time freshmen in the past year, an increase of 5 percent. A decade ago, UAF’s retention rate was mired in the mid-60s.

Olson said students with lower scores are still eligible for admission to UAF but are now steered by counselors toward certificates or two-year degrees that are more likely to be completed.

The enrollment bump was seen at public campuses throughout Alaska.

The biggest enrollment increase is in Juneau and its affiliate campuses. University of Alaska Southeast campuses have seen a

7.2 percent increase over last year, to 3,599. The University of Alaska Anchorage has an increase of

3.3 percent, rising to 19,532.

The UA system as a whole has seen a 4.1 percent increase to 31,910 students.

Contact staff writer Jeff Richardson at 459-7518.