CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- Higher education officials say an online-only private university is skewing West Virginia's college enrollment numbers.

A recent report by the Southern Regional Education Board says the number of Hispanic students enrolled in West Virginia colleges rose by 4,759 between 2005 and 2010.

Data from the state Higher Education Policy Commission shows the increase would have been much smaller if American Public University's enrollment figures weren't included.

American Public University's corporate headquarters are in Charles Town. It doesn't have any satellite or branch campuses.

University spokesman Brian Muys tells the Charleston Daily Mail (http://bit.ly/NabpVk ) that the U.S. Department of Education's enrollment database requires locations for students. The university has to report all students as taking classes in West Virginia.

Muys says other online schools inflate enrollment numbers in other states.