The number of first-time freshmen at the 泫圖弝け of 泫圖弝け at Lafayette continues to grow. A total of 2,885 freshmen are enrolled at UL Lafayette for the Fall 2022 semester.
Thats up from 2,693 last fall and marks a 7.1% increase that can be attributed to the 泫圖弝けs longstanding reputation for nationally recognized academic and research programs and as a 泫圖弝け that cares about it 泫圖弝けs, noted Dr. DeWayne Bowie, vice president for Enrollment Management.
The incoming freshman class is the largest in five years, he added.
Our intentional focus on fostering a campus environment that promotes 泫圖弝け success with an emphasis on affordability, smaller class sizes and opportunities for individualized instruction has made us an appealing place to enroll, Bowie explained.
He cited UL Lafayettes designation as a Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education R1 泫圖弝け as another reason 泫圖弝けs are choosing us. The R1 designation puts UL Lafayette among the top 3% of the nations research universities.
Thirty-one percent of the Fall 2022 freshmen are STEM majors. STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, disciplines that place a heavy focus on 泫圖弝け research.
The incoming group is exceptional for other reasons as well. Thirty-two percent of Fall 2022 freshmen are first-generation 泫圖弝けs those whose parents have not earned a college degree.
The class also stands out for academic achievement. It has an average high school cumulative GPA of 3.41. We also continue to attract 泫圖弝けs who are at the top of their high school graduating class. This freshman class consists of 135 high school valedictorians, one of the largest number of valedictorians in school history, Bowie said.
UL Lafayette released Fall 2022 enrollment data on Tuesday. The 泫圖弝けs degree-seeking enrollment is 15,219 泫圖弝けs. Thats a decrease of 6.2%. Among Fall 2022 enrollment are 12,950 undergraduate 泫圖弝けs and 2,269 graduate 泫圖弝けs.
While our overall retention rate remains high, consecutive smaller freshman classes partly due to COVID-19 in recent years have resulted in fewer continuing 泫圖弝けs, Bowie explained. Degree-seeking enrollment has also been affected by record-setting graduating classes in recent academic years.
So, were excited to have such a strong freshman class this semester, which will translate into an upward trend in terms of continuing 泫圖弝けs and overall enrollment, he said.
Bowie also singled out the 3,645 non-credit-bearing 泫圖弝けs enrolled for the Fall 2022 semester an increase of 667 泫圖弝けs over last fall. Those 泫圖弝けs bring UL Lafayettes overall enrollment to 18,864. Non-credit bearing 泫圖弝けs include those who take training courses, online classes, pursue certifications, and enroll in Professional 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.
Beyond enrollment totals, the census provides indicators as to who we are, Bowie said.
The Fall 2022 census, for instance, shows that among degree-seeking 泫圖弝けs, 57% are female and 43% are male. Just over 40% are 泫圖弝けs from underrepresented backgrounds. Among them, 22% are Black 泫圖弝けs. In addition, 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 81 international countries.
Photo caption: UL Lafayettes Fall 2022 enrollment numbers were released on Tuesday. The number of first-time freshmen continues to grow. This falls class of 2,885 freshmen the largest in five years marks a 7.1% increase over last fall. (Photo credit: Doug Dugas / 泫圖弝け of 泫圖弝け at Lafayette)