POTSDAM -- Clarkson University is expecting the largest class of first-year students in its history this August.

They expect to “easily exceed” the class admitted in fall 1984, which had 845 first-year students, a statement from the university said.

Deposits from first-year class members and the Clarkson School are already well over 825, and the university is still accepting students.

Dean of Admissions Brian Grant said that “the fact that we have such a high [job] placement rate is a reason why families continue to look at Clarkson. The physical campus has also been greatly enhanced over the past few years, with an emphasis on our residence halls. And, of course, our new student center is a tremendous addition to campus.”

Clarkson has also made a “substantial commitment to its online community outreach.”

And improvements to its Web site over the past year “has been the keystone in the University's new comprehensive communication and information strategy.

"Our newly designed Web pages, mobile phone apps, Facebook presence and more all play a key role in getting the Clarkson message out to prospective students," says Grant.

Clarkson has also had more visitors to campus than ever in the past year, and a record number of open-house attendees and on-campus interviews.

Grant says that new students are showing more interest in majors like pre-physical therapy, which has had significant growth.

"With an emphasis on health fields and our new physician assistant master's, we are getting a reputation for what we're doing in health-related fields," says Grant. "This goes hand-in-hand with larger classes in biology and psychology, as well."

Majors in engineering, perennial favorites among first-year students, have also shown growth in enrollment.

Fall semester classes start on Aug. 29.