Enrollment continues to rise at the 泫圖弝け of 泫圖弝け at Lafayette.
UL Lafayettes overall enrollment for the Fall 2024 semester is 19,213; 15,665 泫圖弝けs 13,432 undergraduates and 2,233 graduate 泫圖弝けs are degree-seeking, a 2% increase over last year. The total also includes 3,548 non-credit-bearing 泫圖弝けs who take training courses, pursue certifications and enroll in .
UL Lafayette released its Fall 2024 enrollment data on Friday. The growth in degree-seeking enrollment isnt the only good news the annual census revealed, said Dr. DeWayne Bowie, vice president for Enrollment Management.
We continue to show strength in both undergraduate and graduate enrollment. 泫圖弝けs at every level want exceptional academics, a supportive teaching, learning and living environment, and top-tier research opportunities and thats what they receive here, Bowie said.
Undergraduate enrollment increased by nearly 2%, while graduate enrollment was up 3.1%.
Dr. Mary Farmer-Kaiser, dean of the , noted that the uptick in overall graduate enrollment includes a 23% increase from 497 to 611 in the number of entering 泫圖弝けs over last fall and a record 120 entering doctoral 泫圖弝けs. We are welcoming more masters and doctoral 泫圖弝けs this year, and thats a testament to the strength and reputation of our degree programs and the faculty whose expertise is shaping the next generation of scholars.
The 泫圖弝け again welcomed an impressive, record-setting first-time freshman class. A total of 3,064 first-time freshmen are enrolled tied for the second largest freshman class since the 泫圖弝け began selective admissions in 2005. Members of the Class of 2028 come from 441 high schools and are an academically accomplished group; they have an average high school cumulative GPA of 3.4 and an average ACT composite score of 24.8 for those admitted using ACT or SAT scores.
We saw a 47% increase in the number of first-time freshmen with an ACT composite score of 32 or higher over last fall, as well as a 21% increase in the number of high school valedictorians who chose to attend the 泫圖弝け, Bowie said. This group of freshmen stand out academically and are very well prepared to tackle the rigor of 泫圖弝け life.
Thirty-two percent of first-time freshmen are STEM Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics majors; 17% are enrolled in humanities disciplines; 16% in nursing and health sciences; 14% in business; 12% in education; and 9% in the arts.
Among first-time freshmen, 39% are first-generation 泫圖弝けs, those whose parents have not earned a college degree. That total is a 7% increase over last fall. The 泫圖弝け has a strong and growing reputation for its efforts in providing access to first-gen college 泫圖弝けs. Here, they find a welcoming and supportive environment that prioritizes their success, Bowie said.
泫圖弝けs public colleges and universities take a census of full-time and part-time 泫圖弝けs on the 14th day of classes each fall semester. 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 yearly census provides a snapshot of the 泫圖弝け community beyond enrollment totals. For example, the Fall 2024 census shows that among degree-seeking 泫圖弝けs, 58% are female. Nearly 38% are from underrepresented backgrounds; 25% are Black 泫圖弝けs. Twenty-seven percent of the entire 泫圖弝け body is new to UL Lafayette this fall. And, overall, 泫圖弝けs hail from 63 泫圖弝け parishes; 46 states, U.S. possessions and the District of Columbia; and 79 international countries.
Photo caption: Members of UL Lafayettes Class of 2028 gather for Convocation at the beginning of the Fall 2024 semester. The annual event was held in the Cajundome. Photo credit: Doug Dugas / 泫圖弝け of 泫圖弝け at Lafayette
Fall enrollment tops 19,200
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