LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Student enrollment at the University of Nebraska has grown to its highest level in 21 years.

The university announced Monday that the total student population has reached 51,215, a 1 percent increase from the fall of last year.

The report says enrollment increased by 2.3 percent at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 0.4 percent at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and 28 percent at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture.

Enrollment at the University of Nebraska at Kearney decreased by 2.1 percent, while the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s numbers remained unchanged.

Interim University of Nebraska President James Linder says the university has set enrollment goals aligned with the needs of the state economy, which is expected to require more workers with college degrees.