By Kiah Haslett | Educational
service provider DeVry announced a 60 percent increase in first-quarter
net income, to $81.2 million, from the same period a year ago, citing
strong enrollment during the recession.

Earnings per share increased 60 percent to $1.12, narrowly beating analysts’ expectations of $1.04 per share.

Student enrollment at DeVry University increased 24 percent this fall
at the undergraduate level, to 17,715 students from a year ago and 16
percent at the graduate level, to 22,679. Enrollment numbers this
spring increased 25 percent at the undergraduate level, to 66,909, 15
percent at the graduate level, to 22,343 and 21 percent at the online
level, to 67,744.

Enrollment at the Ross University School of Medicine increased 14.4
percent to 699 students, even though plans to open a clinical education
center in Freeport, Grand Bahamas, were delayed. Spring enrollment at
the Chamberland School of Nursing increased 75 percent to 2,168
students. Chamberland also received approval to open a new Chicago
campus, adjacent to presently located DeVry University, in July 2010.
Enrollment decreased 2.4 percent at U.S. Education.

“With 32 million more Americans expected to be insured by 2014 and
employment figures showing early signs of recovery, our schools are
well-positioned at the intersection of these two trends to help high
school students and working adults obtain the skills they need to
achieve their career aspirations,”  said Daniel Hamburger, DeVry’s
president and chief executive officer.