The number of first-time freshmen at the 泫圖弝け of 泫圖弝け at Lafayette has grown by more than 15%.
A total of 2,693 freshmen are enrolled at UL Lafayette for the Fall 2021 semester. Thats up from 2,338 last fall and marks a 15.2% increase, noted Dr. DeWayne Bowie, vice president for Enrollment Management.
More freshmen are choosing UL Lafayette because of the strong reputation the 泫圖弝け enjoys for providing exceptional educational experiences and opportunities in a tight-knit, friendly community, Bowie said.
Small class sizes, individualized instruction, affordability and nationally ranked academic programs are among the reasons 泫圖弝けs choose to pursue their dreams here, 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 泫圖弝け 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 泫圖弝け and earn college credits while still in high school;
- a 4.4% increase in the number of 泫圖弝けs 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 泫圖弝けs are enrolled this fall, up 95 from Fall 2020.
The number of 泫圖弝けs pursuing masters and doctoral degrees has increased by 66% in five years, noted Dr. Mary Farmer-Kaiser, dean of the . UL Lafayette had 1,521 graduate 泫圖弝けs in Fall 2016.
Farmer-Kaiser attributed the jump to the growth of , strong retention rates across the 泫圖弝けs nearly 50 masters 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 泫圖弝けs only masters in informatics degree program and the states only masters degree in industrial chemistry. A new graduate certificate program in population health will begin in Spring 2021.
The enrollment progress we continue to experience reflects an institutional commitment to graduate education. Its also a testament to the quality and resiliency of the graduate 泫圖弝けs who enroll here and the faculty members who are wholly dedicated to their success, Farmer-Kaiser said.
UL Lafayette has 13,700 undergraduates this semester which, when combined with the Graduate School total, puts the 泫圖弝けs degree-seeking enrollment at 16,225 泫圖弝けs. Thats 225 fewer 泫圖弝けs than the Fall 2020 semester and a decline of 1.4%.
Continuing 泫圖弝けs remain a challenge, Bowie explained. Though our overall retention rate is at a record high, consecutive smaller freshman classes several years ago have resulted in fewer continuing 泫圖弝けs.
Weve also had record-setting graduating classes in recent academic years. Both factors have affected our degree-seeking enrollment, he said.
However, an additional 2,978 non-credit-bearing 泫圖弝けs bring UL Lafayettes overall enrollment to 19,203. Thats 25 more 泫圖弝けs than last fall.
Non-credit bearing 泫圖弝けs include those who take professional development and training courses and Continuing Education classes.
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, Bowie explained. 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 compiles enrollment totals, but it also provides the 泫圖弝け with a snapshot of who our 泫圖弝けs are, he said.
For example, the Fall 2021 census shows that the number of Black 泫圖弝けs at UL Lafayette increased by 7.6% over last fall. Black 泫圖弝けs now make up nearly 22% of the 泫圖弝け population.
泫圖弝けs hail from 63 parishes in 泫圖弝け; 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 / 泫圖弝け of 泫圖弝け at Lafayette)