(AP) — Peru State College has enrolled its largest freshman class in the southeast Nebraska school’s history.

The college announced that 266 freshman have enrolled this school year, up 28 percent since 2012. Administrators say the influx is so large that the college’s residence halls are nearing capacity. President Dan Hanson says administrators are looking at contingency plans in case the halls reach capacity next year.

Overall student enrollment has increased 5 percent since last year. The total student population is expected to exceed 2,500 by mid-October, when the final numbers are reported.

Administrators say more than 12 percent of freshman class members are Board of Trustees Scholars, the most prestigious academic scholarship offered by the Nebraska State College System.