LEWISTON – Enrollment at colleges and universities in Maine is following established patterns this spring, alleviating concerns that the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks would affect students’ decisions.

The number of enrolling students is similar to previous years, as is the geographic mix of enrollees.

In the University of Maine system, enrollment has increased slowly but steadily for a number of years. Officials project a full-time enrollment of 22,425 students this fall, up 34 students from last fall.

The University of Maine at Farmington expects to maintain its usual balance of 80 percent in-state students versus 20 percent from out of state.

At Bowdoin College in Brunswick, freshman enrollment numbers will be virtually unchanged from last fall, as will the geographic balance of the class.

“I think the major question was whether people would want to travel as far,” said Allyson Algeo, spokeswoman for the liberal arts college.

She said 17 foreign students will enroll as freshmen this year, up two from last year.

At Bates College in Lewiston, 430 freshmen will register this fall. That is slightly below the college’s average of 450, but school officials were looking to balance last year’s unusually large class. Bates has enrolled 39 foreign students this year, up two from last year. As usual, about half the college’s incoming students will come from Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, New Hampshire and New Jersey.

Wylie Mitchell, Bates’ dean of admissions, said some wondered whether college enrollment patterns would shift after Sept. 11.

“But that really has not borne out in the results here,” he said.