The University of Alabama moved closer to its total enrollment goal of 28,000 students by enrolling a record 23,878 students this fall. Enrollment at UA is up almost 10 percent over last year. The entering freshman class, at 4,378, is the largest in UA history.
Total enrollment is up by 2,128 students or 9.8 percent over fall 2005, and includes an increase of 17 percent or 643 students in the freshman class.
The freshman class includes 83 National Merit Scholars, a 15 percent increase over last year’s 72. UA ranked 13th in the nation among public universities in the enrollment of National Merit Scholars in 2005, and 31st among all universities. The ranking placed UA among the top 10 percent nationally. The total number of freshmen recognized as National Scholars, including National Achievement and National Hispanic Scholars, is 198 – up from 145 last year.
One in five freshmen is enrolled in UA’s Honors College, representing 47 percent increase in Honors College enrollment over 2005. The freshman class includes 749 students who graduated from high school with a 4.0 or higher grade point average and 721 students who received college credit based on scores earned on Advanced Placement exams.