Student enrollment numbers are headed upward at
Lake Superior State University.
The university’s board announced a four percent enrollment increase for the fall 2011 semester at its latest meeting, says LSSU VP of Enrollment Services, Bill Eilola.
He says the total enrollment for the fall is 2,750 students, four percent more than fall of 2010. The hard numbers are 806 new students, of which 504 are freshmen, and 302 are transfer students. The transfer students are the increase, as there are 64 more since last fall.
And while the freshman numbers are about the same, the quality of the incoming students is higher.
"Our freshman profile has improved also," Eilola says. "Our incoming freshmen have an average high school GPA of 3.2 and an ACT average of 22."
Retention rates are a big deal for colleges, who are always looking for ways to help students complete their college degree and not go elsewhere. LSSU’s is now improved to the standard expected for the type of school.
"Our first-year student retention is at 68 percent, where it has stabilized for the past four years. Prior years' rates were down in the 60 percent range. The national average for a university with LSSU's size, scope and mission is right around 68 percent," says Eilola.
The future goal is to continue increasing the retention rate to 70 percent or higher. That’s done with the same tactics that got the school this far: stronger admission requirements, more academic support, more focused student orientations, and communication and follow-up through the LSSU Office of Retention.
Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Bill Eilola, Lake Superior State University
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.