UL System on Track to Remain Louisiana’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 University of Louisiana System 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 Louisiana when Louisiana 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 Louisiana, 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 Louisiana last in personal income per capita. As there is a direct correlation between educational attainment and personal income, Louisiana must enroll, retain, graduate and employ our graduates if we want to grow Louisiana’s educational capital,” said Moffett.
The following are UL System fall 2009 enrollment figures:
| University | Fall 08 | Fall 09 | Change | % Change |
| Grambling State University | 5,253 |
4,992 |
(261) |
-4.97% |
| Louisiana Tech University* | 10,950 |
– |
– |
0.00% |
| McNeese State University | 8,294 |
8,645 |
351 |
4.23% |
| Nicholls State University | 6,926 |
7,181 |
255 |
3.68% |
| Northwestern State University | 9,111 |
9,247 |
136 |
1.49% |
| Southeastern Louisiana University | 15,224 |
15,160 |
(64) |
-0.42% |
| University of Louisiana at Lafayette | 16,320 |
16,361 |
41 |
0.25% |
| University of Louisiana at Monroe | 8,767 |
9,004 |
237 |
2.70% |
| University of Louisiana System | 80,845 |
– |
– |
– |
*Louisiana Tech University is on a quarter system and will not have final enrollment numbers until next week.
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EIGHT UNIVERSITIES STRONG: The University of Louisiana System is the state’s largest higher education system with approximately 81,000 students enrolled at Grambling State University, Louisiana Tech University, McNeese State University, Nicholls State University, Northwestern State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
