Critical Reasoning (CR) | Re: On the basis of a decrease in the college-age population,

Surprised by a 40 percent increase in qualified applicants over the previous year, however, administrators at Nice College now plan to hire more faculty for courses taken by all freshmen.
but this line is showing that there is 40 percent increase in qualified applicants in nice college so this time also it should be the same. so why d?

it is showing that there was 40 percent increase in the nice college qualified applicants last year, so how d can be right?