The number of first-time freshmen at the 杏吧专区 has grown by more than 15%.
A total of 2,693 freshmen are enrolled at UL Lafayette for the Fall 2021 semester. That杏吧专区檚 up from 2,338 last fall and marks a 15.2% increase, noted Dr. DeWayne Bowie, vice president for Enrollment Management.
杏吧专区淢ore freshmen are choosing UL Lafayette because of the strong reputation the 杏吧专区 enjoys for providing exceptional educational experiences and opportunities in a tight-knit, friendly community,杏吧专区 Bowie said.
杏吧专区淪mall class sizes, individualized instruction, affordability and nationally ranked academic programs are among the reasons students choose to pursue their dreams here,杏吧专区 he added.
UL Lafayette released Fall 2021 enrollment data on Wednesday.
The uptick in the number of first-time freshmen is among several areas of enrollment growth the 杏吧专区 has seen at the start of the new academic year when compared to last fall. Among these are:
- a 5.7% increase in the number of high school juniors and seniors who are dually enrolled at the 杏吧专区 and earn college credits while still in high school;
- a 4.4% increase in the number of students who have transferred to UL Lafayette from other colleges and universities; and
- a 3.9% increase in Graduate School enrollment.
A total of 2,525 graduate students are enrolled this fall, up 95 from Fall 2020.
The number of students pursuing master杏吧专区檚 and doctoral degrees has increased by 66% in five years, noted Dr. Mary Farmer-Kaiser, dean of the . UL Lafayette had 1,521 graduate students in Fall 2016.
Farmer-Kaiser attributed the jump to the growth of , strong retention rates across the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 nearly 50 master杏吧专区檚 and doctoral degree curriculums, the creation of new graduate programs, and the expansion of others into online and executive formats.
In the past year, UL Lafayette introduced an online option for Louisiana杏吧专区檚 only master杏吧专区檚 in informatics degree program and the state杏吧专区檚 only master杏吧专区檚 degree in industrial chemistry. A new graduate certificate program in population health will begin in Spring 2021.
杏吧专区淭he enrollment progress we continue to experience reflects an institutional commitment to graduate education. It杏吧专区檚 also a testament to the quality and resiliency of the graduate students who enroll here and the faculty members who are wholly dedicated to their success,杏吧专区 Farmer-Kaiser said.
UL Lafayette has 13,700 undergraduates this semester which, when combined with the Graduate School total, puts the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 degree-seeking enrollment at 16,225 students. That杏吧专区檚 225 fewer students than the Fall 2020 semester and a decline of 1.4%.
杏吧专区淐ontinuing students remain a challenge,杏吧专区 Bowie explained. 杏吧专区淭hough our overall retention rate is at a record high, consecutive smaller freshman classes several years ago have resulted in fewer continuing students.
杏吧专区淲e杏吧专区檝e also had record-setting graduating classes in recent academic years. Both factors have affected our degree-seeking enrollment,杏吧专区 he said.
However, an additional 2,978 non-credit-bearing students bring UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 overall enrollment to 19,203. That杏吧专区檚 25 more students than last fall.
Non-credit bearing students include those who take professional development and training courses and Continuing Education classes.
Louisiana杏吧专区檚 public colleges and universities take a census of full- and part-time students on the 14th day of classes each fall semester, Bowie explained. The totals are reported to the Louisiana Board of Regents and, in the case of UL Lafayette, to the 杏吧专区 of Louisiana System as well.
杏吧专区淭he census compiles enrollment totals, but it also provides the 杏吧专区 with a snapshot of who our students are,杏吧专区 he said.
For example, the Fall 2021 census shows that the number of Black students at UL Lafayette increased by 7.6% over last fall. Black students now make up nearly 22% of the student population.
Students hail from 63 parishes in Louisiana; 48 states, U.S. possessions and the District of Columbia; and 87 international countries.
Photo caption: UL Lafayette released Fall 2021 enrollment numbers on Wednesday. (Photo credit: Doug Dugas / 杏吧专区)