YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – More students have registered to attend Youngstown State University next fall than were registered for fall 2025 at this time last year.
That’s according to enrollment projections presented Wednesday during a university trustees’ Academic Excellence and Student Success Committee meeting.
While the number of admitted students is lower this year compared with last year, YSU has enrolled a significant number of students, resulting in an admit-to-registered conversion rate of 22.5%, compared with 13.6% last year, information presented to the committee reads.
Jennifer Adams, provost and vice president of academic affairs, said that may change as fall semester approaches.
She pointed to a lower number of international students enrolled and expected to enroll this year because of changes at the federal level, which has affected international student enrollment at most universities. More international students traditionally registered closer to the start of fall because that’s when their visas cleared, Adams added.
Information submitted to trustees reports that at this point last year, bachelor’s programs at YSU included more than 3,400 admitted international students. That number is down to about 125 this year.
At YSU Steubenville, which will open this fall, 174 students have applied; 109 have been admitted; and 21 registered.
“And even better news is that we have 37 students that have been admitted that have signed up for our Steubenville Express program,” Adams said.
That’s a program this summer to help students enroll, register and gather information about the new campus, which is at the site of the former Eastern Gateway Community College.
YSU President Bill Johnson said university officials are working to boost community awareness in that region.
“The citizens of that region, for generations, have been used to a community college,” he said. “At a community college, you can show up on the first day of class and go to the office and say, ‘I want to go to school here,’’ he said.
A four-year university like YSU with ACT requirements, grade-point average evaluations and testing mandated for certain programs is different.
“It’s not quite that simple, so it’s not a reluctance of the people there in the region to come to YSU at Steubenville – rather, it’s a lack of awareness,” Johnson said. “We’ve got some community education to do, if you will, on how we get them through the door, and so we’re working on that aggressively.”
The committee also learned the university plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in aviation. YSU already gained approval for an aviation associate’s degree from the state and the Higher Learning Commission, its accreditation body. That program is still gearing up and will be offered at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport.
The Western Reserve Port Authority in May awarded a $6.98 million contract to B&B Contractors and Developers, Youngstown, to construct the new YNG Aviation Education Center at the airport, which WRPA operates.
Ross Morrone, academic marketing and enrollment strategy officer, said an associate degree limits what students can do with it.
“But what we decided is through the process of learning how this all comes together, the bachelor’s model gives us a little bit more flexibility and things,” he said.
A bachelor’s degree in the program would have to be approved by state and other officials, which could involve a lengthy process.
But Johnson believes it will be worth it.
“This will pay off big time long term,” he said. “This will be kind of a unique program, and with the shortage of pilots, when those desiring a profession in aviation find out that one of the most affordable schools in the state has a program like this, we’re going to see students lining up at the door.”
Also Wednesday, the trustees’ Finance and Facilities Committee got an update on the $52 million Kilcawley Center renovation project.
“As I continue to report, we remain on budget, and we continue to be mindful of the schedule, which shows us completing in August of 2027,” said Bill Spencer, director of planning and construction.
The student center, which opened in 1965, is being renovated and updated to offer wide-open spaces, a centralized dining area and a small theater in a more welcoming facility.
Pictured at top: From left are YSU Trustee Sterling Williams; Jocelyne Kollay Linsalata, global trustee; Jeffery Kollar, student trustee; Trustees Sergul Erzurum and Richard Fryda; YSU President Bill Johnson; Charles George, board chairman; Joseph Kerola, vice president; Anita Hackstedde, secretary; Trustees Laura Lyden and Allen Ryan; Nadia Zarbaugh, student trustee; and Trustee Michael Peterson.