MOBILE - The University of South Alabama this fall saw one of the largest enrollment increases in its history, as it added 700
students to its ranks, topped 14,000 for the first time, and set records
for highest graduate school enrollment and largest freshman class.
USA's record enrollment of 14,003 marked a 5.3 percent increase from
one year ago. USA's graduate programs drew a record 2,810 students.
"We are gratified that increasingly larger numbers of academically
talented high school students from across the region are recognizing the
quality of USA's faculty and academic programs and making USA their
first choice," said USA President Gordon Moulton.
USA drew new freshmen totaling 1,671 from more than 300 high schools nationwide. Three Mobile-area high schools - Baker, Murphy and Davidson - each produced more than 100 members of the USA freshman class. |
|
| Here are USA's top feeder schools and the number of new
freshmen from each: |
1. |
Baker |
159 |
2. |
Murphy |
138 |
3. |
Davidson |
113 |
4. |
McGill-Toolen |
76 |
5. |
Mary G. Montgomery |
71 |
6. |
Theodore |
65 |
7. |
Faith Academy |
53 |
8. |
Satsuma |
41 |
9. |
Alma Bryant |
40 |
10. |
Daphne |
37 |
11. |
Mobile Christian |
36 |
12. |
LeFlore |
32 |
13. |
Cottage Hill Christian Academy |
24 |
13. |
Robertsdale |
24 |
15. |
Citronelle |
22 |
15. |
Fairhope |
22 |
17. |
Blount |
18 |
18. |
Alabama School of Math and Science |
13 |
18. |
Shaw |
13 |
20. |
Gulfport |
12 |
Engineering saw the greatest one-year increase among USA's
schools and colleges, with combined undergraduate and graduate
enrollment up 17.5 percent. USA's health-related programs --
Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health Professions -- enrolled more than
4,200 students, or 30 percent of USA's total.
Here are USA's college and school enrollments for 2007:
| Arts and Sciences |
3,691 |
| Education |
2,205 |
| Nursing |
2,184 |
| Business |
1,807 |
| Allied Health Professions |
1,472 |
| Engineering |
1,093 |
| Medicine |
545 |
| Computer and Information Sciences |
399 |
| Continuing Ed. and Special Programs |
332 |
USA's new affiliation with Auburn University on the doctor of
pharmacy degree program began to pay dividends this fall as 25 doctoral
students -- most from the Mobile area -- enrolled in AU's Harrison
School of Pharmacy at USA. In addition, USA reported 257 pre-pharmacy
undergraduate students.
The Alabama Commission on Higher Education has not yet compiled
enrollments for the state's universities this fall, but ACHE data
indicates that USA has consistently been one of Alabama's fastest
growing universities in recent years.
In addition to numbers, USA grew in academic quality as well. The
entering freshman class included 133 students with ACT scores of 28 and
above, and 67 with 30 and above.
USA this past year graduated 2,447 students, and will award its
60,000th degree in commencement at the end of this semester. |
