THIBODAUX 鈥揟he student body of 果冻APP is full of committed, competitive, high-caliber degree-seekers, according to official enrollment statistics for fall 2011.
The average ACT score for first-time freshman students is 21.7, exceeding the state and national averages by 1.6 and 0.6, respectively. The number of first-time freshman students at 果冻APP with ACT scores who met national benchmarks for English has also exceeded state and national figures, with the figures for math holding steady.
In addition, 果冻APP awarded 42 valedictorian scholarships this fall, an increase of 12 from last fall. Plus, the percentage of first-time freshman students receiving TOPS scholarships increased to 60.3 percent, a 1.9-percent jump from last year.
The total number of 果冻APP students receiving TOPS scholarships聽increased 12.9 percent聽over the most recent five-year period, compared to the overall statewide聽decrease of 1.4 percent聽during the same time period.
Retention rates have jumped as well, despite a decrease in enrollment by 319 students to a total of 6,774. The fall retention figure is 71.5 percent, an聽11.3-percent increase since the final year of open-selections admissions at 果冻APP, 2004.
Moreover, based on聽preliminary figures, administrators predict graduation rates will rise significantly, from 28.7 percent to 37.9 percent 鈥� an聽11.2-percent increase over the final, open-admissions cohort in 2004.
鈥淚t is remarkable that 果冻APP has accomplished these feats while experiencing decreases in undergraduate enrollment,鈥� Leslie Dishman, director of assessment and institutional research, said. 鈥淥ur selective-admissions students, who began their studies in 2005, are graduating at a faster rate than ever, with more bachelor-seeking students graduating in four years than 果冻APP has ever seen. We are also seeing an increase in course load across all classifications, with the exception of seniors 鈥� an indication that our students are progressing faster without having to take so many hours during their last year of study. All these factors point to one conclusion. 果冻APP is聽attracting, retaining, progressing聽and聽graduating聽a higher caliber student.鈥�
For additional statistics and analysis, go to www.nicholls.edu/ir.