Enrollment Tops 14,000 as South Welcomes High-Achieving Freshman Class
Posted on September 9, 2026
The University of South Alabama enrolled its most academically talented freshman class and its fourth largest ever, according to fall 2026 enrollment data.
The cumulative average high school GPA for the Class of 2030 was 3.79. Total enrollment reached 14,157, the third consecutive year with enrollment over 14,000.
Both undergraduate and transfer student enrollment grew year-over-year.
“To the students we recruit, we make promises about the value of their education as a first-class ticket to a brighter future. We make commitments, and we deliver on those commitments,” said President Jo Bonner. “Welcoming one of our largest and the most academically talented freshman classes, alongside record housing numbers, shows that students and families recognize the return on a South education.”
The fall 2026 enrollment report also shows that:
- South’s Honors College is the largest it has ever been with 390 students.
- The Mitchell College of Business has more graduate students than ever before and a 3.1 percent increase over last year.
- The Pat Capps Covey College of Allied Health Professions recorded a double-digit percentage increase in undergraduate enrollment, and graduate enrollment also grew, reinforcing South’s position as a premier institution for healthcare education.
- Campus housing reached an all-time high with 3,478 residents. To expand capacity, the University acquired the Central House on Stadium apartments in May — now renamed SouthPaw Village — and upgrades are already underway.
- University of South Alabama students come from all 67 Alabama counties, 49 states and 53 countries
- Retention of students returning for their second and fourth years is at its second highest.
“The last few years have established an incredible trajectory for the University of South Alabama,” said Dr. Andi Kent, executive vice president and provost. “Our fall 2026 enrollment report shows we continue on that path — with high academic standards, gains in retention and an unwavering commitment to student success.”
For the first time, participation in the Jaguar Marching Band this fall grew to 300, as the band opened the doors to its new Geri and Gordon Moulton Jaguar Marching Band Complex.
The $13 million indoor and outdoor practice facility was funded as part of the University’s Where Bold Begins campaign, the largest fundraising effort in South’s history. The campaign also is funding the new Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine building, set to open next year, and plans are underway to construct a College of Education and Professional Studies building closer to the center of campus.
The campaign also raises support for scholarships, research and USA Health, as well as other priorities.
