FAYETTEVILLE - The University of Arkansas increased fall enrollment for the sixth straight year and reached a milestone of more than 25,000 students, according to preliminary data provided by university officials.
Enrollment increased by 828 students at the state’s flagship university from 2012 for a total of 25,365 for the fall 2013 semester.
“Our reputation as a high-quality, nationally prestigious university isattracting outstanding students throughout Arkansas, across the United States, and all around the world,” Chancellor G. David Gearhart said during a news conference Friday. “At the same time, we have firmly established ourselves as the school of choice in Arkansas.”
Gearhart said students from every county in Arkansas as well as from every state have enrolled at the Fayetteville university. He added that 120 students from foreign countries are enrolled.
UA has seen a steady increase in enrollment since 2008, when 19,194 students began the fall semester. The number of students has grown 32.15 percent since that time. However, while enrollment numbers have increased in recent years, the percentage of growth has dipped.
The 2013 enrollment increased by 3.4 percent from 2012. That is lower than the 5.8 percent, or 1,338-student increase, that officials saw in 2012 and the 8.3 percent, or 1,794 students, in 2011.
Provost Sharon Gaber said the university is excited about growth, but it is more focused on enrolling quality students.
“We want planned growth,” Gaber said. “A lot of places say, ‘we are growing,’ but they are taking lower-quality students. Our growth is planned and managed.”
The university enrolled more students with a GPA of3.75 or higher along with ACT scores of 30 or higher than in previous years, Gaber said.
“The caliber of our students is improving,” Gaber said.
Suzanne McCray, dean of admissions and vice provost for enrollment, said 1,896 freshman have a GPA of 3.75 or higher and 771 have an ACT score of 30 or higher.
Gaber said the increase of quality students fits into the university’s goal of being atop 50 research university by 2021. She said an increase in research funding and graduation rates and an improved national reputation are needed to achieve that goal.
High-performing students can help UA meet all three of those objectives, Gaber said.
The university previously expected to reach 25,000 students by 2021.
“We thought it would be tough,” Gaber said. “We thought it would be ambitious, but if we wanted it, we would get it.”
State lottery scholarships and the university’s improving reputation contributed to meeting that goal much earlier, Gaber said.
“Our new goal is 28,000 in the next few years and then stay there,” Gaber said. She added that most schools in the Southeastern Conference average 30,000 students.
The university also increased the number of students from minority groups by 258 from 2012 for a total of 4,474 this fall. Minority groups represented include blacks, Asians, Hispanics and Pacific Islanders, McCray said.
Graduate enrollment increased to 3,904 this year from 3,777 in 2012. Undergraduates increased to 21,083 this year from 20,350 in 2012.
The Arkansas Department of Higher Education uses enrollment on the 11th day of classes as the official enrollment number for all institutions in Arkansas. Those numbers are officially filed in October.
Online enrollment also increased to 6,122 students, according to university data. There were 3,522 students enrolled in at least one online course in 2012.
UA’s 11th day of classes will be Sept. 9.
Northwest Arkansas, Pages 9 on 08/31/2013