DENTON (UNT), Texas -- The University of North Texas continues to be a top choice among new high school graduates as the school greeted the largest freshman class in its history with the opening of the fall 2012 semester. The freshman class totals 4,444 students, a 9.2 percent increase over fall 2011.

Enrollment in the Honors College has grown to 1,645 compared to 1,306 from fall 2011, a 26 percent increase, a sign that UNT is a preferred university for the brightest students. And UNT continues to be one of the nation's most diverse universities with 6,102 Hispanic students, a 10.6 percent increase, and 4,697 African American students, a 3.1 percent increase.

UNT also recorded increases in the number of full-time students, doctoral students and transfer students.

This fall, enrollment at UNT is 35,836, an increase of 0.2 percent compared to last fall's unofficial headcount at the fall census date (the fall semester's 12th day of classes). And importantly, the number of courses taken by the student body is breaking an all-time record, with the university reporting a 2.1 percent increase in credit hours registered for by UNT students.

"I believe that more first-time students are responding to our commitment to offer the best undergraduate education in Texas. I expect our freshman class to continue to grow year after year," said V. Lane Rawlins, president. "At UNT we are committed to being a major university in every respect, including research, but understand that the foundation is always excellent teaching and undergraduate programs. Our primary focus always has been and always will be helping our students succeed.

"With our many nationally ranked programs; extraordinary service for students; outstanding faculty; and the exceptional students we are attracting, we are well on our way to reaching our goals," Rawlins said.

The number of undergraduate transfer students grew 4.8 percent to 3,829. Also, the fall 2012 enrollment includes a growing and all-time high doctoral student population of 1,787 as compared to 1,744 last fall (2.5 percent growth).

Growth at the doctoral level is also very important to the university's continued development as a major university. As UNT continues to pursue excellence it is expanding its excellence in science, engineering and technology while remaining committed to its mission of educating and graduating students.

"We will continue to invest the time and effort to attract the quality of student evident in this year's record-breaking freshman class," Rawlins said. "We are providing students with the opportunity to pursue their dreams and change their lives. At the same time, we provide the North Texas region with a well-prepared workforce that helps keep our economy going. The fact that we are growing both in quality and size at both the undergraduate and graduate level means our region, state and nation will grow stronger."

Until the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board verifies enrollment numbers and makes them official later in the fall, all enrollment statistics are unofficial, 12th class day numbers.