Staff Report
LSU Eunice’s fall enrollment reached 3,051 students, which is a 5 percent increase over the 2016 fall enrollment and the first time there has been more than 3,000 students enrolled since 2010.
LSUE Chancellor Kim Russell announced the fall enrollment figure Thursday evening at an event marking the opening of a 25-year time capsule on the campus.
‘I’m happy to report collectively over the last two years our enrollment is up 22 percent,” she said.
There is a 6 percent increase in credit hours this fall compared to fall a year ago.
On Friday, enrollment details were released.
Propelling the increase was a record class of dual enrollment students and the addition of the LSUE Academy, according to a news release.
It was reported that dual enrollment and the Academy combined for 567 preparatory students. The Academy, which is in its first year and enrolls junior and senior high school students, has 64 students in the program.
Russell said the goal for the Academy was to have 50 students.
The students come from St. Landry, Acadia and Evangeline parishes for the program that offers high school students a pathway to an associate degree.
In other enrollment news, LSUE recorded 1,985 freshmen students, 506 sophomores, and 561 unclassified students which includes students who have earned over 60 credit hours.
The top five parishes represented at LSUE are St. Landry with 739 students, Acadia with 611, Evangeline with 312, Lafayette with 238 and St. Martin with 119.
LSUE is reporting 1,429 full-time students for the fall and 1,622 part-time students. Full-time students carry 12 or more credit hours.
The university also saw a 50-student jump in the number of students transferring to LSU Eunice from another college. compared to last fall.
Russell said because LSUE receives most of its funding from tuitions and fees, the enrollment increase enhances the school’s financial outlook.
About 25 percent of LSUE’s $23 million budget comes from the state.