The 2016 fall semester enrollment report showed a 1.6 percent increase with a total of 29,465 students. That’s an increase of 471 students from the fall 2015 semester.

Officials say an increase in enrollment of out-of-state students has helped to reverse declining enrollments caused by a drop in the number of students graduating from high schools in Maine.

All told, out-of-state enrollment increased 9.3 percent, bringing a total number of out-of-state students to 4,256.

Officials say a survey indicates 20 percent of out-of-state students stay in Maine after graduating, adding young people to the workforce and helping to stem the graying of the state.