The University of Akron saw an overall 6.5% decline in enrollment this fall, dropping below 20,000 students, but had just 68 fewer new students overall this year than last and an incoming freshman class that is the school's strongest academically in years.

A total of 19,217 students enrolled this fall, including 5,383 who attend part time. Of the total enrollment, 5,062 are new students, down from 5,130 last year. The incoming full-time freshman class dipped below 3,000 students to 2,948, a drop of 78 students from last year. Undergraduate enrollment is 16,407 and graduate enrollment is 2,365.

The law school has 445 students, down from 474 last year.

Enrollment has been a growing concern for the university, which is facing steep financial troubles. In the fall of 2011, the university had more than 30,000 students. Reversing the trend will be a top priority for incoming President Gary Miller, who starts next week.

The student body hails from 65 Ohio counties and 23 states, growing out-of-state enrollment by 22%. That's could be significant financially, as out-of-state students have a higher tuition sticker price. However, out-of-state and international enrollment only makes up 10% of the student body.

This is the second group of new freshmen after the university fully implemented higher admissions standards. As a result, this is the strongest incoming academic class.

The class has a 3.54 average GPA and an average ACT score of 23.

"This incoming class is fully prepared to take on the challenges of higher learning," William Kraus, associate vice president for enrollment management, said in a release. "This is the second year we fully implemented more selective admission standards, and students and parents have responded positively. From this class, 14% were selected to enroll in the Drs. Gary P. and Pamela S. Williams Honors College, where they will have advanced opportunities for learning and scholarship."

The university cited regional demographic trends, including smaller high school graduating classes, as reasons many colleges are seeing enrollment declines.

"Our overall 6% enrollment decrease is consistent with that trend," the release said.

Although Akron saw only a small dip in its new student enrollment, it continued to see a steeper decline in the number of students returning year over year.

The university saw just 11,345 students return this fall, a drop of almost 1,000 from last year's 12,325 continuing students. The year before, the number was over 13,000.

Akron, however, did increase the rate at which new freshmen return to UA the following fall semester, from 68.1% last year to 71.2% this year.

Contact Jennifer Pignolet at jpignolet@thebeaconjournal.com, at 330-996-3216 or on Twitter @JenPignolet.