YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Universities across the country are seeing declining enrollment, but Youngstown State University’s grew slightly this fall, and the trustees’ chairman attributes that to many on campus working together.
“YSU just didn’t hold the line – we grew even by a small percent,” Chuck George said Thursday morning at the trustees’ regular quarterly meeting. “It’s still growth. That kind of result doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because of our administration, financial aid, marketing and communications, university relations, academic teams all working together. They adjusted where needed to be. They stayed focused on the students in front of them.”
Fall headcount enrollment hit 12,423, up from 12,420 in fall 2025. It marked the third year of headcount enrollment increases. Fall 2024’s enrollment was 12,164.
George also pointed to the accomplishment of opening YSU Steubenville this fall. The new campus offers 12 programs with 95 students enrolled. And recruiting started late because of the time involved to secure approval for the programs.
“This is a genuine accomplishment that took long hours, expert planning, superior execution and a lot of problem-solving for the people across the entire university,” he said.
At a trustees Academic Excellence and Student Success Committee on Wednesday, YSU President Bill Johnson said YSU started the Steubenville operation midway through this year’s recruiting cycle because of the time it took to get programs approved by the state.
Recruitment efforts for the new campus extend throughout eastern Ohio, northern West Virginia and western Pennsylvania, according to paperwork included with the Wednesday meeting agenda. High school visits, college fairs, Penguin Enrollment Express events, College Planning Night, a school counselor program and an Experience Y event for accepted students and their families are part of those efforts.
YSU is also waiving the application fee through Dec. 15 for students applying for 2027 terms.
Tysa Egleton, associate vice president for strategic enrollment, said at Wednesday’s committee meeting that YSU also learned the extent of interest in health professions in the Steubenville region. Nursing and radiologic technologist make up a significant portion of that campus’s enrollment.
“But now we know what we need to sort of target and focus in our marketing,” Egleton said Wednesday. “We already have STEM even getting into some of the elementary schools, junior highs and high schools to start programming to help with the interest in those areas as well.”
People have already applied for spring and fall 2027.
Trustees also heard Thursday from Brian Gorby, cross country and track and field coach, and Blaze Fichter, a student-athlete in those sports. Gorby has 70 track and field and cross country championships combined across the men and women.
Seniors Reagan Pintar and Madison Beaudis, members of YSU’s Student Psychology Club, also spoke to trustees about activities of the club, which started in August 2025.
Pictured at top: From left are Youngstown State University trustees Sterling Williams, Vice Chairman Joseph Kerola, President Bill Johnson, Chairman Chuck George, Secretary Anita Hackstedde and Michael Peterson.