Applications to attend the University of Hawai'i when its 10 campuses open in the fall are soaring 25 percent higher than a year ago.

University officials yesterday said they have received 6,025 applications for the semester that begins in the fall, compared to 4,848 a year ago.

They say more than 18,700 students have enrolled at the main Mānoa campus for the spring 2010 semester that began this week. That's an increase of 2.3 percent from the 18,300 students that enrolled in early 2009.

"We're excited by the public's recognition that a UH-Mānoa degree is a great investment in our students' careers and future lives — resulting in an increase in applications for the Fall and in enrollments this semester," UH-Mānoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw said in a written statement.

The increases come at a time when the university is struggling with cuts to its state funding imposed by Gov. Linda Lingle.

The university and the labor union representing professors remain at odds over proposed pay reductions.