WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Purdue University anticipates its incoming batch of freshmen to be the largest class in recent years.

Vice provost for enrollment management Pam Horne told The Journal and Courier (http://on.jconline.com/2pZpmlN ) that based on the number of people who paid their admissions deposit by the May 1 deadline, the incoming class will include more than 7,400 students. Last year's incoming class had more than 7,200 freshmen, according to the university.

Horne said the university saw a 15 percent increase over last year in deposits from underrepresented minorities, including Native Americans, blacks, Hispanics and Pacific Islanders.

The university also expects to have more than 4,000 students from Indiana on campus for the first time since 2008, Horne said.

Increased recruiting efforts, a tuition freeze, and lower room and board rates help increase the number of students who apply, Horne said.

"We continue to see increased attention from students in Indiana and around the world due to the positive Purdue story, including our focus on affordability and lowering the cost of attendance," she said.

The anticipated incoming student population has a strong academic profile. Horne said the mean ACT score is expected to be higher than 28 for the first time in Purdue's history.

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Information from: Journal and Courier, http://www.jconline.com