Enrollment at Kennesaw State tops 23,400 for fall 2010
KSU continues its quest to become a national university KENNESAW, Ga. (Dec. 14, 2010)…
Georgia (Dec 14, 2010) —
KSU continues its quest to become a national university
KENNESAW, Ga. (Dec. 14, 2010) — Enrollment at Kennesaw State University grew by 4.7 percent for the fall 2010 semester
to 23,452 students –– up from 22,389 students in fall 2009 –– outpacing overall growth
in the University System of Georgia and continuing KSU’s upward trajectory.
The University System of Georgia enrolled 311,442 students in fall 2010, up 3.2 percent
over 2009 fall enrollment.
“Our continued enrollment growth attests to the fact that Kennesaw State is an increasingly
popular destination campus for those choosing a university,” said KSU President Daniel
S. Papp. “Discriminating students recognize that we are a well-respected institution
on the verge of becoming a national university. In addition to our outstanding bachelor’s
and master’s programs, an increasing number of students are drawn to KSU because of
our growing number of doctoral programs.”
Kennesaw State now offers five doctoral programs, including two Ed.D. degrees – the
Ed.D. in Teacher Leadership for Learning and the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership for
Learning – as well as the Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.), the Doctor of Nursing
Science (D.N.S.) and a new Ph.D. in International Conflict Management. This past summer, the university graduated its first doctoral student with an Ed.D. in Teacher Leadership for Learning.
According to KSU’s Associate Vice President for Enrollment Services and Registrar
Kim West, more high-school seniors are considering KSU as their first-choice college
selection.
“College admissions and retention both are influenced by economic issues and unemployment,”
West said. “KSU’s increased enrollment also is a result of expanded recruitment initiatives
and continued student marketing – both of which are influencing the university’s name
recognition and reputation.”
The university’s expanding appeal also is reflected in the growing number of high-school
students enrolled in KSU’s joint-enrollment program, which is aimed at accomplished
high-school juniors or seniors who simultaneously are enrolled in college.
The number of KSU joint-enrollment students increased from 125 in fall 2009 to 149
in fall 2010. About a third of these students tend to enroll at KSU as freshmen when
they graduate from high school.
The average high school grade-point average for entering first-time freshmen at KSU
was 3.21 in fall 2010, compared with 3.18 in fall 2009. Average, combined verbal and
math SAT scores for this fall’s freshmen class was 1083. KSU’s mean SAT scores have
consistently exceeded the state and national averages for freshmen over the past five
years, and the averages for joint enrollment honors students were substantially higher.
This year’s enrollment report also shows continued growth in Hispanic enrollment at
KSU, up from 5 percent in fall 2009 to 6 percent in fall 2010, while African-American
enrollment remained steady at 14 percent for the same period. For fall 2010, there
are 3,224 black students enrolled at KSU and 1,388 Hispanic students. Minority students
comprised only 12 percent of KSU’s student body 15 years ago, but since have grown
to 26 percent of the university’s student body in fall 2010.
Another enrollment population shift can be seen in the number of Cobb residents attending
KSU, which decreased by 5 percent in the last five years. Several of the counties
with high enrollment growth rates over the same time are not geographically adjacent
to Cobb, including Henry (58 percent increase), Coweta (134 percent increase), Walton
(331 percent increase), Muscogee (249 percent increase) and Rockdale (117 percent
increase) counties. In the last five years there has been a 40 percent increase in
students from Fulton County; a 103 percent increase in students from Gwinnett County;
and a 64 percent increase in students from DeKalb County.
“Some of the big draws, especially for traditional students, are the expansion of
sports and recreational opportunities, and the new dining hall and classroom buildings,”
West said.
In August, KSU’s brand-new, nearly 200,000-square-foot Health Sciences Building opened. Known
as Prillaman Hall, the $56 million building houses KSU’s WellStar College of Health
and Human Services.
Last fall, the university became a full-fledged member of NCAA Division I, the top
tier of collegiate athletics. New intramural fields and an indoor practice complex
also were opened last October. In addition, last August KSU opened its first full-scale
dining hall, a state-of-the-art facility that has become a popular gathering place
for students on campus.
As Kennesaw State continues on its trajectory toward becoming a nationally recognized
university, students recently voted to approve a fee increase to support a football
team – a move supporters believe will add value to the school’s degrees, enhance fundraising
and potentially further increase enrollment. As a result of the student vote, an Owls football team could take the gridiron as
early as fall 2014.
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Kennesaw State University is the third largest university in Georgia, offering more
than 70 graduate and undergraduate degrees, including doctorates in education, business
and nursing, and a new Ph.D. in international conflict management. A member of the
35-unit University System of Georgia, Kennesaw State is a comprehensive, residential
institution with a growing population of more than 23,400 students from 142 countries.
A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 41,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia and the second-largest university in the state. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the region and from 126 countries across the globe. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.
