As of Jan. 31, Western Washington University had received 9,631 freshmen applications for about 2,800 freshman slots for fall quarter, up by over 500 applications from last year and exceeding all previous years’ totals according to admissions officials at the school. The deadline for freshman applications for fall quarter 2012 was Jan. 31.

The record number of applications is particularly noteworthy considering that Western moved its freshman application deadline back a month, to Jan. 31 from March 1, which can have the opposite effect, a press release from the university said.

“More students are seeking to gain admission in Western’s freshman class for a variety of reasons, including academic excellence, a strong tradition of personal attention to students, great value, respect for diversity and incredibly beautiful surroundings,” said Clara Capron, acting director of Admissions and Director of Financial Aid.

In its February edition, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine ranks Western among the top 100 public colleges and universities in the nation that offer “a combination of outstanding academic quality plus an affordable price tag.”

Prospective students are evaluated using a comprehensive review process that includes a wide range of factors beyond just grade point average. Western’s admissions staff reviews each application to find students who demonstrate academic potential and unique talent in a variety of ways.

All freshman applicants are expected to be notified of their admission decision by mid-March.