Purdue’s recent announcement of a 9th straight year of holding tuition/costs at 2012 levels, through 2021-2022, should continue the increase in interest.
I think the earlier mention of an increasing focus on costs is accurate.
Given the stats of recent engineering classes, I’m not sure my D, now a Junior, could get in these days (same with my wife and I at CMU).
I think The increase in interest is mostly in engineering, CS, and, to some extent, business.
Applications are up 60% from 2013 to 2018.