AUGUSTA — Applications are up at Augusta State University.

The Augusta Chronicle reports about 3,670 people have applied for undergraduate and graduate programs for fall 2012, an increase of 15 percent, according to registrar and director of admissions Katherine Sweeney.

The rate of acceptance is up 28 percent. Sweeney says the cause for the uptick is unclear, but the school will poll incoming students to try to find an explanation. Some point to excitement about the upcoming merger with Georgia Health Sciences University.

Tuition will remain unchanged until fall 2013, but that, along with fees and parking costs could change when Augusta’s two public universities merge. Officials are still considering what to name the merged institution and recruiting efforts are expected to expand to attract even more students.