Numbers Mixed On College Enrollments In Arkansas

Arkansas’ 33 public colleges and universities showed a decrease in head counts of 0.8 percent and an increase in full-time equivalent enrollments of 0.8 percent compared to fall 2011, according to a release by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education.

Enrollments on the 11th day of classes at public four-year universities increased one percent compared to final enrollments of last year, while full-time equivalent enrollments increased 3.4 percent. Final enrollment figures will be available later in the semester.

Full-time equivalent enrollment is determined by dividing the total number of hours taught each semester by 15, considered a typical course load for a full-time student.

Three public four-year schools saw gains: the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, and the University of Arkansas at Monticello. UA-Fayetteville saw the greatest percentage gain, a 5.8 percent increase to 24,537 students.

Enrollments at other four-year schools were:

• Arkansas State University-Jonesboro: 13,893
• University of Arkansas at Little Rock: 12,927
• University of Central Arkansas in Conway: 11,107
• Arkansas Tech: 10,949
• University of Arkansas at Fort Smith: 7,336
• University of Arkansas at Monticello: 3,945
• Henderson State University in Arkadelphia: 3,773
• Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia: 3,327
• University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences: 2,809
• University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff: 2,828

All the state’s private colleges saw enrollment decreases except Lyon College in Batesville, whose enrollment did not change. Harding University in Searcy is the state’s largest private school with 6,695 students. Other private school enrollments were:

• John Brown University in Siloam Springs: 2,444
• Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia: 1,532
• Hendrix College in Conway: 1,388
• Arkansas Baptist College in Little Rock: 1,082
• Central Baptist College in Conway: 832
• Philander Smith College in Little Rock: 667
• Lyon College: 600
• University of the Ozarks in Clarksville: 576
• Williams Baptist College in Walnut Ridge: 570
• Crowley’s Ridge College in Paragould: 206

Enrollments at two-year colleges decreased 3.5 percent, while full-time equivalent enrollments decreased 4.3 percent.

Counting four-year, two-year, private, and the nursing schools operated by Baptist Health Schools and the Jefferson County Regional Medical Center, total enrollment was 174,943, while full-time equivalent enrollment was 132,811 students.

In a news release, Shane Broadway, ADHE interim director, said the increase in full-time enrollment partly could be attributed to the hours per semester requirement in the Academic Challenge Scholarship, funded in large part by the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery. More than 34,000 students – about one-fourth of all undergraduate students in public and private schools – are receiving the scholarship.

One factor limiting enrollment appears to be the reduction in Pell Grant eligibility from its previous 16 semesters down to its current level of 12.
A larger class of first-time students graduated last year (32,560) than entered school as freshmen this fall (32,108).

In the last five years, the number of associate’s degrees and bachelor’s degrees awarded to students has increased by 48 percent. Enrollment has increased more than 17 percent over that time span.