The current fall semester enrollment at NGCSU grew eight percent and sits at 4517 students. Last fall it was 4178.
The University System of Georgia released numbers Friday by System officials that the Fall 2003 semester enrollment at the 34 public institutions hit an all-time record high of 247,020 students.
The report shows a three-year upward trend, as 14,000 new students swelled the ranks of those already enrolled.
The increase comes on the heels of a 7.1 percent increase from fall 2001 to fall 2002. Overall, the University System of Georgia's enrollment has increased by 20 percent, a full one-fifth, since the fall 2000 semester. The number of first-time freshmen increased by 6.7 percent to 37,036 students. This is the largest freshman enrollment in a decade.
Reflecting on the boost in enrollment, system officials noted that the university system's allocation from the state reflects the lowest percentage of the overall state budget since 1967.
"We were anticipating that our final numbers would reflect yet another record for student enrollment in the University System of Georgia," said Chancellor Thomas C. Meredith, "and we more than met our projections. The demand on the System continues to increase each year, as Georgians respond to our message about the need for increasing educational attainment. It is clear that appreciation for the value of higher education is on the rise in Georgia."
The University System's enrollment also is accompanied by increases in the SAT score of incoming freshmen. In a separate report, the University System's Office of Strategic Research and Analysis, an upward trend in System-wide SAT scores continued.
The average composite SAT score, a combination of verbal and math scores, for first-time freshmen rose to 1036 this fall, a six-point increase over last year's average score of 1,030.
At NGSCU the average composite SAT score for first time freshmen is 1074.
"The increase in SAT scores reflects the University System's on-going commitment to raising standards," Chancellor Meredith said.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2003/12/168268