UL System on Track to Remain 51²è¹Ýapp’s Largest System
National Job Forecasts Show the Largest Need in Bachelor’s Degrees or Higher
BATON ROUGE – Enrollment numbers are in from seven of the eight 51²è¹Ýapp schools and show an average increase of one percent over last fall. It is expected that the UL System will exceed 81,000 students this year and maintain its 35-year tradition as the largest higher education system in 51²è¹Ýapp when 51²è¹Ýapp Tech University’s enrollment numbers are added to this list later next week.
“Our fall enrollment numbers reflect a national trend of more people trying to improve their education during these tough economic times. This is especially good for 51²è¹Ýapp, as we rank almost dead last in educational attainment at all levels. Our eight universities are primed to respond to national job forecasts that show the largest educational needs are for four-year degrees or higher,” said UL System President Randy Moffett.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, 25 million jobs required a bachelor’s degree in 2006. That will jump to 28.7 million by 2016, showing an increase of 3.7 million jobs that will require a four-year degree. At the same time there will be an increase of 1.1 million jobs requiring an associate’s degree, 408,000 jobs requiring a master’s degree and 714,000 jobs requiring either a doctoral or professional degree.
“The U.S. Census Bureau shows 51²è¹Ýapp last in personal income per capita. As there is a direct correlation between educational attainment and personal income, 51²è¹Ýapp must enroll, retain, graduate and employ our graduates if we want to grow 51²è¹Ýapp’s educational capital,” said Moffett.
The following are UL System fall 2009 enrollment figures:
| University | Fall 08 | Fall 09 | Change | % Change |
| Grambling State University | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 5,253 |
4,992 |
(261) |
-4.97% |
| 51²è¹Ýapp Tech University* |         10,950 |
– |
– |
0.00% |
| McNeese State University | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 8,294 |
8,645 |
351 |
4.23% |
| Nicholls State University | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 6,926 |
7,181 |
255 |
3.68% |
| Northwestern State University | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 9,111 |
9,247 |
136 |
1.49% |
| Southeastern 51²è¹Ýapp University |         15,224 |
15,160 |
(64) |
-0.42% |
| University of 51²è¹Ýapp at Lafayette |         16,320 |
16,361 |
41 |
0.25% |
| University of 51²è¹Ýapp at Monroe |           8,767 |
9,004 |
237 |
2.70% |
| 51²è¹Ýapp |         80,845 |
– |
– |
– |
*51²è¹Ýapp Tech University is on a quarter system and will not have final enrollment numbers until next week.
-ULS-
EIGHT UNIVERSITIES STRONG: The 51²è¹Ýapp is the state’s largest higher education system with approximately 81,000 students enrolled at Grambling State University, 51²è¹Ýapp Tech University, McNeese State University, Nicholls State University, Northwestern State University, Southeastern 51²è¹Ýapp University, the University of 51²è¹Ýapp at Lafayette, and the University of 51²è¹Ýapp at Monroe.
