Jonesboro, Arkansas – Arkansas State University is continuing its upward enrollment trend, marking a fifth consecutive semester of record-setting growth as more students choose the Jonesboro campus for their higher education journey. University officials say spring enrollment is up 6.4 percent compared to the same time last year, reflecting growing interest across academic programs and student demographics.
The steady rise is visible not just in numbers, but in personal stories unfolding across campus. Among the students contributing to the surge are two international sophomores from Nepal who share an unexpected connection. Both are nursing majors. Both arrived in Jonesboro about a year and a half ago. And both are named Anisha Basnet.
Despite their shared name and academic path, the two students had never met before enrolling at Arkansas State. Their paths crossed only after arriving on campus, a coincidence that highlights the university’s expanding global reach.
“For me, I wanted to study nursing and I searched for a university that has good nursing and came upon Arkansas State,” said one of the Anisha Basnets.
The other student said her decision was shaped less by rankings and more by atmosphere. “There is a good environment and everyone supports each other. In our home country, it’s not like this, they only care about themselves. This is a different opportunity for us,” she said.
University leaders say stories like theirs are becoming more common as students from across the country and around the world are drawn to A-State’s academic offerings and campus culture. Todd Clark, the university’s chief marketing and communications officer, said the enrollment growth is not limited to a single department or degree path.
“Students are starting to see that A-State can provide and it’s the perfect combination of big school opportunities, big school academics, big school experiences but also small school support and small school relationships,” Clark said.
According to the university, growth is occurring across all programs, with on-campus enrollment now doubling online enrollment. Clark said that trend reflects a renewed interest in in-person learning, campus engagement, and community connection.
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He added that accessibility remains a key focus as enrollment continues to climb. “The major thing that we’re focused on is eliminating barriers for students. Making it easy to apply, easy to enroll, easy to accept your scholarship but also making higher education more accessible,” Clark said.
For the two Anishas, campus life has been positive overall, though sharing the same name has occasionally caused confusion. They say mix-ups are rare but memorable.
“One time she was taking one class that I was not taking. Her professor mailed to me about her stuff and I was like, I don’t even have your class,” one of the students said.
Despite the occasional mix-up, both students say they feel supported and welcomed at A-State, crediting faculty and peers for helping them adjust to life far from home.
University officials say the enrollment growth reflects continued demand for graduates who can meet workforce needs across Arkansas and beyond. As programs expand and student numbers rise, A-State leaders say they are committed to growing alongside the Jonesboro community while maintaining a supportive learning environment.
With another record semester in the books, Arkansas State University appears poised to continue its momentum, fueled by student experiences that stretch far beyond statistics.
