For the third year in a row, the 泫圖弝け of 泫圖弝け at Lafayette has seen an increase in the number of first-time freshmen.
A total of 3,066 first-time freshmen are enrolled for the Fall 2023 semester, a 6.3% increase over last fall.
We continue to be the university of choice for first-time 泫圖弝けs who recognize the extraordinary opportunities that await them here, said Dr. DeWayne Bowie, UL Lafayettes vice president for Enrollment Management. 泫圖弝けs want exceptional academics, a welcoming and fun campus environment and top-tier research experiences all of which we offer.
Bowie added: Were here to ensure that 泫圖弝けs succeed by emphasizing affordability, smaller class sizes and opportunities for one-on-one instruction from faculty members who are leaders in their disciplines. These factors have made us a place where 泫圖弝けs are eager to enroll.
The Fall 2023 incoming freshman class is the second largest since the 泫圖弝け instituted selective admissions in 2005.
Nearly 31% are STEM Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics majors; 19% are enrolled in humanities disciplines; 15% in nursing and health sciences; 14% in business; 12% in education; and 9% in the arts.
Thirty-two percent of Fall 2023 freshmen are first-generation 泫圖弝けs those whose parents have not earned a college degree.
The incoming group is exceptional for other reasons as well. Its members admitted using ACT scores have an average high school cumulative GPA of 3.5 and an average ACT composite score of 24.8; 102 泫圖弝けs were high school valedictorians; and 125 entering freshmen have an ACT composite score of 32 or higher.
This freshman class stands out for academic achievement, Bowie said. 泫圖弝けs are coming to us well prepared to pursue their academic degrees and, beyond that, their professional aspirations.
UL Lafayette released Fall 2023 enrollment data on Thursday. Its overall enrollment is 19,056 a 1% increase over last fall.
Of that total, 15,345 泫圖弝けs 13,179 undergraduate 泫圖弝けs and 2,166 graduate 泫圖弝けs are degree-seeking.
An additional 3,711 non-credit-bearing 泫圖弝けs are enrolled. Non-credit bearing 泫圖弝けs include those who take training courses, 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. 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 a snapshot of who we are as a 泫圖弝け community, Bowie said.
The Fall 2023 census, for instance, shows that among degree-seeking 泫圖弝けs, 58% are female. Thirty-six percent are 泫圖弝けs from underrepresented backgrounds. Among them, 24% are Black 泫圖弝けs. In addition, 泫圖弝けs hail from 63 parishes in 泫圖弝け; 46 states, U.S. possessions and the District of Columbia; and 83 international countries.
Photo caption: Incoming freshmen gather at Cajun Field in August following New 泫圖弝け Convocation. UL Lafayette enrolled a total of 3,066 first-time freshmen for the Fall 2023 semester, a 6.3% increase over last fall. (Photo credit: Doug Dugas / 泫圖弝け of 泫圖弝け at Lafayette)
Freshman numbers increase, overall enrollment rises
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