Students from the Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering program participate in hands-on learning in Slippery Rock University's labs. Photos submitted by Slippery Rock University

Slippery Rock University has increased its enrollment numbers for the coming fall, and new health and technology programs could be the reason.

According to Amanda Yale, chief enrollment management officer at the university, there have been 28 academic programs for undergraduate and graduate students added in the last eight years.

“We want to be highly market driven for our students,” Yale said. “The Pittsburgh market is health and tech oriented. There’s lots of hospitals and lots of jobs for those with grad and undergrad degrees.”

The Fall 2022 semester will see nearly 1,600 students, which is similar to the 2020 graduating class numbers. According to Yale, there was a 4% decline in undergraduate enrollment for the Fall 2021 term but a 4% increase for graduate admissions.

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Student Jordan Chan is examined by a student in Slippery Rock University’s Exercise Science program, one of the universities most popular.submitted photo

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering program at SRU provides opportunity for students to participate in experiments and paid internships. Submitted photo