Unofficial Grambling State University enrollment figures show an increase from the fall 2011 semester, a modest 1.3 percent rise in undergraduate numbers and significant 13 percent leap for graduate enrollment.
There are 5,277 students enrolled at GSU this fall, compared to 5,207 students last fall.
Many credit the increased numbers to the administration’s continuing effort to make improvements among the different colleges across campus, more focus on retention, and the departments being more actively involved in utilizing various recruitment tools.
“Anytime we have an increase in enrollment its a great thing considering the fact we have had increase in admission standards and out of state fees,” said Annie Moss director of recruitment and admission. These numbers also play a major role in state, national and international funding that allows the continuation of grants and scholarship that are dependent on school enrollment.
Enrollment increased on the graduate level from 746 in fall 2011 to 843 this year, and the number for graduate students reported two years ago showed the number standing in at 589.
“Obviously, given the national and state of Louisiana economy, the fact that we exceeded our enrollment last year, which showed an increase by 4.3 percent, an increase this year demonstrates that Grambling State University continues to be an institution of academic quality,” said Dr. Frank G. Pogue, Grambling State University President. “We continue to be an institution of choice.”
Another contributing factor in the university’s favor includes the acquisition and opening of West Campus Annex, two miles from the main campus. The facility provides more students with additional housing.
The agreement between GSU and Bossier Parish Community College that facilitates the smooth transition for students from BPCC into enrollment at Grambling is one of the academic programs that may be attracting more students to GSU.
The university offers more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degrees.
“This is another accomplishment for GSU, as a stem major I am excited to see the increase of minorities at an HBCU,” says Canvas Delaney senior biology major from Mississippi.
The increasing enrollment numbers suggest a promising future for the university and possibly for HBCUs, which have recently been threatened with the withdrawal of federal funding because they are seen by some as unnecessary.