GSW solidifies record enrollment

Local News

November 10, 2008

From Staff Reports

ATLANTA — Making good on an earlier report, Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) in Americus has officially set a new record enrollment with 2,717 students.

The news became evident when the University System of Georgia (USG) released its fall 2008 enrollment reports today. With an increase of 13 percent from fall 2007 to fall 2008, GSW boasts the second highest rate of growth among 13 state universities and is one of two institutions in that category with a double-digit increase (Fort Valley State University, up 21.2 percent to 3,106 students).

"These increases bode well for the future of GSW and for the region," said Brian U. Adler, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs. "Increased diversity, stronger students, and vibrant programs are all part of what the university has to offer, in addition to being a prime economic engine in this region of Southwest Georgia."

To put the increase in perspective, GSW's student population has not grown at a rate this high since the fall of 1967, when it grew by 27.7 percent from fall 1966. That year, GSW went from 1,505 to 1,922 students. Known as Georgia Southwestern College at the time, GSW was only in its third year as a four-year institution.

Now a thriving four-year university, GSW gained in practically every statistical category. For example, the number of new freshman increased by 11 percent from 410 to 456 students, transfers increased 28 percent or 66 students, and graduate students grew at a rate of 61 percent from 184 to 297 students.

In addition, GSW's enrollment boost is nearly 10 percentage points higher than the University System which grew by 4.8 percent or 12,956 students from fall 2007 to fall 2008. These numbers indicate that the USG is on track to add a projected 100,000 additional students in Georgia's 35 public colleges and Universities by 2020 (based on August 2007 report).

Other USG institutions that recorded significant growth were Atlanta Metropolitan College, up 19.1 percent to 2,241 students; Bainbridge College, up 16.2 percent to 3,091 students; East Georgia College, up 28.6 percent to 2,555 students; Gainesville State College, up 10.2 percent to 8,238 students; and Georgia Gwinnett College, up 98.4 percent to 1,563 students.

Sporting the slogan "3009 in 2009," GSW aims to set a new record next year.