The university has reported an unexpected 1.2 percent increase in student enrollment with 15,602 students compared to last Fall’s 15,414. The amount of new freshman students has also shown an increase compared to last year, with a total of 3,476 students; more than 700 of which have ACT scores of 24 or higher.
According to Director of Public and Governmental Affairs Erin Cowser, the overall increase came as a surprise and that the university had, in fact, expected a decrease in enrollment this semester due to the consequences of budget cuts: higher tuition costs and more demanding admission standards. However, welcome as it may be, the extra tuition collections resulting from the increased enrollment is unlikely to help with any financial shortfalls the university may suffer in the near future.
“We are especially pleased with this year’s new freshman enrollment figures because we had anticipated a slight decline due to an increase in admission standards and higher tuition rates,” said Cowser. “While strong enrollment is positive for the university’s budget, the impact is moderated by the fact that dual enrollment students do not pay the same tuition and fees as regular full time students.”
According to a press release regarding the increase in enrollment, it was reported that Southeastern has also experienced an increase in the number of partnering high schools that participate in the dual enrollment program. In this program, eligible 11th and 12th grade high school students have the opportunity to earn college credit. This year alone more than 50 high schools in 11 parishes are participating in this program.
 In the same press release, it was stated that the university is on track with student success targets required by the GRAD Act. Under the GRAD Act, universities in La. are evaluated on performance measures such as improvement in graduation and student retention rates as well as a number of other objectives regarding student success. By meeting these goals, universities in La. are granted additional autonomy in applying tuition rates. However, failure to reach the goals can result in significant penalties in the institution’s funding. Cowser said that while the GRAD Act could certainly influence the enrollment of more “qualified students” with higher ACT scores, it is not the only factor.
“It would be impossible to attribute such improvements to just one thing,” said Cowser. “It’s surely a combination of the GRAD Act and our increased admission standards. It’s also a testament to the dedication and commitment of all those involved with our admissions and recruitment efforts.”