Southeastern Louisiana University

Southeastern shows increase in enrollment, ACT scores

Contact: Rene Abadie

9/16/11

     HAMMOND – Overall enrollment and ACT scores of incoming freshmen increased at Southeastern Louisiana University this fall, according to the unofficial semester report released by administrators today.
     The total headcount for this fall, including all classifications, is 15,414 compared to last fall’s 15,351. ACT composite scores for incoming freshmen also increased this fall with an average of 22.3, compared to last year’s 22.1; that’s higher than the state’s ACT average of 20.2 and the national average of 21.1.
     Southeastern’s new freshman class includes 737 “highly qualified” students with ACT scores of 24 or higher.
     Southeastern has also seen an increase in the number of partnering high schools that participate in the state’s Early Start program, in which eligible 11th and 12th grade public high school students have the opportunity to earn college credit. 
     Southeastern President John L. Crain said he was pleased to see overall enrollment remain strong despite increases in admission standards last fall when the university raised entrance requirements for the fourth time since initially doing so in 2000.
     “Under the GRAD Act, Louisiana universities are evaluated on factors beyond enrollment, including graduation rates and a number of other benchmarks related to success of students,” explained President John L. Crain. “The best predictor of student success and progression through the curriculum to graduation is preparation in high school as generally reflected in higher ACT scores.”
     Crain noted that this semester 103 students are enrolled in courses offered on the Southeastern campus by Northshore Technical Community College through a partnership designed to ensure post-secondary educational opportunities for students who do not yet meet the university’s admission standards.
     The top six feeder parishes to Southeastern this fall are St. Tammany, 3,608; Tangipahoa, 2,380; East Baton Rouge, 1,936; Livingston, 1,909; Jefferson, 1,074; and Ascension, 1,189.