ULM Enrollment at a 10-year high

The University of Louisiana at Monroe has reached a 10-year enrollment high, with 9,290 students for the fall 2017 semester, according to University of Louisiana System guidelines.

"We're up again, 2 percent at 9,290, which is the highest in 10 years," said ULM President Nick Bruno.

The 2017 figure is an increase of 175 students over 2016's 9,115 students. The fall 2015 number was 8,854. 

"That is a 9 percent gain over a three-year period," Bruno said.

The strong enrollment figures came on the same day U.S. News & World Report classified ULM as a National University for the second year in a row.

The announcements complimented each other and reiterated the fact that ULM is growing in students and in reputation. Also increasing this semester is eULM enrollment at 1,258. That is a 3 percent increase over 2016's 1,222.

"It is important that everyone understand, this is coming at a time when the state's resources are low. Recognition like this just doesn't happen. We've done more with less and have (done so) for 10 years," Bruno said.

All 64 parishes in the state are represented this semester. Ouachita has the most students at 3,062, followed by Richland with 387 and then Rapides with 364. There are students from 43 states outside of Louisiana. The greatest number comes from Texas at 252, followed by Mississippi at 110.

Students from 48 countries outside the US attend ULM. The country of Nepal has the largest number of international students with 179. The next closest is a tie between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia with 13 each.