Graduate school enrollment is climbing at the 泫圖弝け of 泫圖弝け at Lafayette.
Fall 2020 graduate school enrollment is 2,430 泫圖弝けs and marks a 46% growth over the past five years. UL Lafayette had 1,521 graduate 泫圖弝けs in Fall 2016.
Enrollment grew by 100 泫圖弝けs between Fall 2019 and this semester. Dr. Mary Farmer-Kaiser, dean of the , attributed the jump to the continued growth of and to increased retention rates across the 泫圖弝けs nearly 50 masters and doctoral degree curriculums.
The phenomenal enrollment progress weve seen reflects an institutional commitment to graduate education and to graduate 泫圖弝けs and faculty, she said.
We continue to add new graduate programs and to expand existing programs, such as the , into online and executive formats that appeal to professionals who are looking to grow in their careers.
UL Lafayettes overall Fall 2020 undergraduate enrollment is 14,020 泫圖弝けs, including 2,338 first-time freshmen. This years freshman class:
- includes 120 high school valedictorians, a 10% increase over last fall;
- averaged a 3.4 cumulative GPA while in high school; and
- scored an average 23.26 on the ACT.
An additional 2,728 non-degree-seeking 泫圖弝けs brings UL Lafayettes overall Fall 2020 enrollment to 19,178. That figure reflects a 1.1% decrease over last falls overall enrollment of 19,403.
But, when dual enrollment figures are reported next month, the 泫圖弝け anticipates a stable Fall 2020 enrollment thats comparable to last years.
Dual enrollment 泫圖弝けs are high school juniors and seniors who take courses and earn college credits while still in high school. The 泫圖弝け expects an uptick among these 泫圖弝けs this semester.
泫圖弝けs public colleges and universities take a census of full- and part-time 泫圖弝けs on the 14th day of classes each fall semester, said Dr. DeWayne Bowie, UL Lafayettes vice president for Enrollment Management. The totals are reported to the 泫圖弝け Board of Regents and, in the case of UL Lafayette, to the 泫圖弝け of 泫圖弝け System as well.
The census does more than compile enrollment totals. It also provides the 泫圖弝け with a snapshot of who our 泫圖弝けs are and what key metrics weve met as an institution over the past year. That information in turn enables us to ensure that were providing academic programs and support services that fuel 泫圖弝け success, Bowie explained.
For example, the fall census shows the 泫圖弝け increased its overall 泫圖弝け retention rate by 4 percentage points, from 75% in Fall 2019 to 79% this semester.
泫圖弝け retention is a national challenge at which were excelling, Bowie said.
The Fall 2020 census also shows:
- an increase in the number of freshmen who are first-generation college 泫圖弝けs, from 29.1% last year to 29.9% this fall;
- the number of Hispanic 泫圖弝けs increased by 3.3% over last fall. Hispanic 泫圖弝けs now make up 5.8% of the 泫圖弝け body;
- the number of Black 泫圖弝けs increased by 1.8% over last fall. Black 泫圖弝けs now comprise 20.2% of the total 泫圖弝け population;
- 57% of 泫圖弝けs are female, while 43% are male; and
- 泫圖弝けs who hail from 63 parishes in 泫圖弝け; 51 states, U.S. possessions and the District of Columbia; and 88 countries.
Photo caption: 泫圖弝けs study earlier this month in Edith Garland Dupre Library on the UL Lafayette campus. (Photo credit: Doug Dugas/泫圖弝け of 泫圖弝け at Lafayette)