An Analysis of Fall Semester 1996 Enrollment

The University of Mississippi

This report provides information concerning fundamental aspects of student enrollment at The University of Mississippi in the Fall Semester 1996. It focuses primarily on changes in enrollment between Fall Semester 1995 and Fall Semester 1996. Where pertinent, however, references are made to enrollment trends across several years. The data contained in this report are drawn from the official University data tape concerning Fall Semester 1996 enrollment that will be forwarded to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning as part of their Management Information System.

SUMMARY HIGHLIGHTS

The composite enrollment (Oxford, Medical Center, Tupelo, DeSoto, Jackson, and Special Classes) of The University of Mississippi is 12,798 for the Fall Semester 1996. This represents a 2.8 percent increase or 346 students over Fall Semester 1995.

Headcount enrollment on the Oxford Campus of 10,280 increased +137 students or +1.4 percent (taking into consideration the realignment of Jackson Engineering enrollment). This increase was generated primarily by the second consecutive increase in first-time full-time freshmen which increased by +189 students or +12.7 percent over Fall Semester 1995. The enrollment increase in first-time full-time freshmen from Mississippi was particularly strong showing a +20.7 percent or +154 student increase from Fall Semester 1995. Since Fall Semester 1993, the number of Mississippi first-time full-time freshmen has increased by +35.3 percent or +234 students.

Off-campus enrollment at Tupelo, DeSoto, Jackson, and Special Classes grew by +221 students or +44.9 percent. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that enrollment at the DeSoto Center almost doubled.

Black U. S. citizen enrollment reached a record high of 1,156 students (+113 students or +10.8 percent).

As planned, Medical Center enrollment remained relatively unchanged.

Graduate School enrollment in Oxford declined by -84 students or -4.8 percent (taking into account the realignment of Jackson Engineering enrollment), while enrollment in the School of Law increased by +50 students or +10.8 percent, primarily due to an increase in the entering law class to 222 students or a +21.3 percent increase.

In addition to increased numbers of first-time full-time freshmen, the quality of the entering freshman class increased sharply from an average ACT score of 22.57 in the Fall Semester 1995 to an average ACT score of 22.87 in the Fall Semester 1996. This is the greatest one year increase in the quality of the entering freshman class in the last five years at Ole Miss.

SECTION I

ENROLLMENT HIGHLIGHTS
THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI (COMPOSITE)
FALL 1996

OVERALL HEADCOUNT AND ENROLLMENT

The total headcount enrollment at all locations of the University stood at 12,798 students or a +2.8 percent increase from Fall Semester 1995.

This overall enrollment at the University is the largest since 1991 and continues the enrollment climb begun this past fall. (Figure 1)

The primary forces behind the overall enrollment increase were growth in first-time full-time freshmen as well as enrollment increases at Tupelo, DeSoto Center, and Special Classes.

Oxford Campus

Total enrollment grew to 10,280 students or +1.4 percent (taking into account the realignment in Jackson Engineering reporting) above a similar figure for Fall Semester 1995.

Strong growth was noted in the enrollment of first-time full-time freshmen that increased a total of +189 students or +12.7 percent.

Graduate School enrollment in Oxford declined by -84 students or -4.8 percent (taking into account the realignment in Jackson Engineering reporting), while enrollment in the School of Law increased by +50 students or +10.8 percent, primarily due to an increase in the entering law class to 222 students or a +21.3 percent increase.

Medical Center

Medical Center enrollment has grown by +174 students or +10.7 percent since 1992. (Figure 2)

As planned, Medical Center enrollment has remained relatively unchanged for the last three years.

Tupelo, DeSoto, Jackson, and Special Class Headcount Enrollment

Combined off-campus headcount enrollment grew by +221 students or +44.9 percent. (Figure 3) A portion of the growth is a result of the realignment in Jackson Engineering reporting.

Enrollment of students at the DeSoto Center increased a remarkable +90.0 percent or +72 students and is expected to continue its growth next year.

Headcount enrollment at the Tupelo Campus increased +42 students or +15.6 percent.

Jackson Campus enrollment growth was the result of realignment of Jackson Engineering enrollment reporting.

Special Class enrollment more than doubled from 73 students to 148 students due to the offering of several additional classes.

SECTION II

ENROLLMENT HIGHLIGHTS
OXFORD CAMPUS
FALL 1996

HEADCOUNT AND FTE

The total headcount enrollment this fall is 10,280, an increase of +137 students or +1.4 percent (taking into consideration the realignment in Jackson Engineering reporting). (Figure 4)

The number of full-time equivalent (FTE) students increased by +354 (+3.8 percent) to 9,664.

UNDERGRADUATE/GRADUATE/LAW

Undergraduate enrollment is 8,117, an increase of +171 students (+2.2 percent) from 7,946 last fall. (Figure 4)

Graduate enrollment (1,652 students) decreased by -84 students or -4.8 percent (taking into account the realignment in Jackson Engineering reporting). (Figure 5)

Law School enrollment increased by +50 students or +10.8 percent. (Figure 6)

RESIDENT/NON-RESIDENT

Overall resident enrollment increased (+97 students or +1.6 percent). Undergraduate resident students increased by +177 students (+3.6 percent), graduate resident students decreased by -96 students or -10.7 percent, and law resident students increase d by +16 students (+3.8 percent). (Figure 7)

Within undergraduate resident student enrollment, freshmen increased by +118 students, sophomores increased by +55 students, juniors decreased by -26 students, and seniors increased by +12 students.

Enrollment increased from two of the three Mississippi regions — northern counties by +143 students or +3.7 percent and southern counties by +31 students or +3.8 percent. The central counties decreased by -77 students or -4.8 percent.

Overall non-resident enrollment remained almost unchanged at 3,946.

Non-resident undergraduate enrollment decreased by -6 students (-0.2 percent) to 3,019. (Figure 7) Increases occurred in the freshman class (+101 students or +10.4 percent), while decreases occurred in the junior class (-62 students or -8.7 percent) and the sophomore class (-30 students or -4.8 percent).

Non-resident graduate student enrollment decreased by -26 students (-3.0 percent), while non-resident law student enrollment increased by +34 students or +87.2 percent.

FULL-TIME/PART-TIME

Full-time enrollment increased by +289 students (+3.2 percent) to 9,240. Undergraduate full-time enrollment increased by +241 students (+3.3 percent), while graduate full-time enrollment decreased by -5 students (-0.4 percent).

Part-time enrollment decreased by -190 students (-15.4 percent) to 1,040.

The proportion of students who are full-time increased to 89.9 percent from 87.9 percent in Fall 1995.

MALE/FEMALE

Female enrollment increased by +101 students (+2.0 percent) to 5,273.

Male enrollment was relatively stable at 5,007.

COLLEGE AND PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL ENROLLMENT (UNDERGRADUATE)

Undergraduate enrollment increased in Business (+55 students or +3.4 percent), Education (+94 students or +12.7 percent), and Engineering (+83 students or +18.3 percent).

Undergraduate enrollment decreased in Liberal Arts (-9 students or -0.2 percent), Accountancy (-29 students or -6.8 percent), and Pharmacy (-8 students or -2.1 percent).

GRADUATE SCHOOL ENROLLMENT

Overall graduate student enrollment decreased by -84 students or -4.8 percent (taking into account the realignment in Jackson Engineering reporting) to 1,652 students. (Figure 8)

Graduate student enrollment decreased at the doctoral level by -47 students or -7.9 percent, the master’s level by -28 students or -2.9 percent, the specialists level by -10 students or -76.9 percent, and within the other/unclassified category by -37 students or -17.9 percent. The decrease in master’s level enrollment is attributable to the realignment in Jackson Engineering reporting.

BLACK STUDENTS (U. S. CITIZENS)

Enrollment of Black U. S. citizens increased (+113 students or +10.8 percent) to 1,156 students and is the highest enrollment on record.

Black student enrollment at the undergraduate level increased by +68 students or +9.1 percent to 816, an all time high enrollment.

Black student enrollment at the postbaccalaureate level (graduate and law) increased by +45 students or +15.3 percent to 340 students.

Overall, 11.2 percent of the students enrolled at the University are Black U. S. citizens, the highest percentage on record.

FRESHMEN/SOPHOMORES/JUNIORS/SENIORS

Freshman class enrollment increased by +219 students or +10.9 percent from last fall.
(Figure 9A and Figure 9B)

Sophomore class enrollment increased by +25 students or +1.7 percent.

Junior class enrollment decreased by -88 students (-4.5 percent).

Senior class enrollment increased by +12 students (+0.5 percent).

FOREIGN STUDENTS

Foreign student enrollment decreased by -5 students (-1.0 percent) to 495 students. (Figure 10)

The percentage of the total student body that is foreign is 4.8 percent.

SECTION III

NEW AND READMITTED STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS
OXFORD CAMPUS
FALL 1996

NEW UNDERGRADUATES

The number of new undergraduates increased from 2,288 to 2,452 students or+7.2 percent.

An increase in new undergraduates occurred within the freshman class (+193 students) and the senior class (+11 students), while decreases occurred in the sophomore class (-18 students) and the junior class (-8 students).

New resident undergraduate enrollment increased by +131 students (+9.9 percent) from 1,328 to 1,459. New non-resident undergraduate enrollment increased by +33 students (+3.4 percent) from 960 to 993.

The enrollment of first-time full-time freshmen increased from 1,484 to 1,673 students. (see Section IV, for a detailed discussion)

The average ACT score for the entering freshman class increased from 22.57 in Fall 1995 to 22.87 in Fall 1996. (Figure 11)

New full-time transfer students increased by +31 students or +4.5 percent to 727 students. (Figure 12)

NEW GRADUATES

New graduate enrollment decreased by -45 students (-9.8 percent) from 459 to 414. (Figure 13)

New resident graduate students decreased by -23 students (-10.7 percent) from 214 to 191.

New master’s level students decreased by -15 students (-5.3 percent) from 281 to 266.

NEW LAW STUDENTS

The number of new students entering the School of Law this fall increased by +38 students (+24.8 percent).

New resident Law School enrollment was basically unchanged at 137 students, while new non-resident enrollment increased by +39 students (+260.0 percent).

READMITTED STUDENTS

The number of readmitted students at the undergraduate level decreased from 365 in Fall 1995 to 323 in Fall 1996. At the graduate level, the number of readmitted students decreased from 103 in Fall 1995 to 92 in Fall 1996. (Figure 14)

SECTION IV

FIRST-TIME FULL-TIME FRESHMEN DRAWING POWER AND SHOW RATE
OXFORD CAMPUS
FALL 1996

OVERALL

The enrollment of first-time full-time freshmen increased greatly from 1,484 to 1,673 (+189 students or +12.7 percent).

First-time full-time resident enrollment led the way with an increase of +154 students or +20.7 percent, while first-time full-time non- resident enrollment increased by +35 students or +4.7 percent.

The institution’s drawing power increased in all regions of the state. The northern counties had the largest increase (0.0424 to 0.0541).

The overall show rate of new freshmen (the proportion of applicants who ultimately enroll) rebounded to 39.9 percent after being at a low of 37.9 percent in Fall 1995. (Table II)

RESIDENT FIRST-TIME FULL-TIME FRESHMEN

Resident first-time full-time freshmen increased by +154 students or +20.7 percent to 897 students, the highest since Fall 1982. (Figure 15)

The number of first-time full-time freshmen from the northern counties increased by +22.0 percent, from the central counties by +21.9 percent, and from the southern counties by +15.2 percent. ( Figure 15 and Figure 16)

Among the more notable changes were those from Hinds County (+40 students or +62.5 percent), Lafayette County (+31 students or +46.3 percent), DeSoto County (+20 students or +71.4 percent), Panola County (+15 students or +88.2 percent), Jackson County (+12 students or +48.0 percent), Coahoma County (-14 students or -43.8 percent), and Grenada County (-10 students or -55.6 percent).

NON-RESIDENT FIRST-TIME FULL-TIME FRESHMEN

The enrollment of non-resident first-time full-time freshmen (776 students) increased by +35 students or +4.7 percent. ( Figure 17) Although the proportion of non-resident first- time full-time freshmen dropped to 46.4 percent, Ole Miss continues to have a significant representation of students from other states. ( Figure 19)

Significant enrollment changes of first-time full-time freshmen from the states in our immediate area took place in Alabama (+29 students or +61.7 percent), Louisiana (+15 students or +12.0 percent), Tennessee (+13 students or +8.6 percent), and Georgia (-16 students or -23.5 percent).

The combined enrollment from our four border states increased by +58 students or +15.1 percent. ( Figure 15 and Figure 18)

The proportion of first-time full-time freshmen who are non-residents decreased to 46.4 percent from 49.9 percent last fall.

DRAWING POWER

Statewide, the drawing power (the decimal fraction of first-time full-time freshmen at Ole Miss divided by the previous year’s 12th grade public school enrollment) increased from 0.0283 in Fall 1995 to 0.0351 in Fall 1996. (Table I)

As shown in Table I, the drawing power from all sections of the state increased.

SHOW RATE

This fall the undergraduate show rate (the rate at which applicants ultimately enroll at the University) increased slightly from 42.6 percent to 43.2 percent after decreasing for the previous two years. ( Table II)

The Graduate School show rate decreased from 27.6 percent to 24.8 percent.

The Law School show rate increased from 12.1 percent to 18.2 percent.

SECTION V

ENROLLMENT HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS
OXFORD CAMPUS
FALL 1996

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS

Total undergraduate enrollment decreased by -9 students (-0.2 percent) to 4,225. ( Figure 20A and Table III).

Graduate enrollment decreased by -58 students (-8.0 percent) to 671 students.

New undergraduate enrollment increased by +112 students (+8.4 percent) to 1,447 students.

Total College enrollment is 4,896 students, a decrease of -67 students or -1.3 percent from Fall 1995.

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Total undergraduate enrollment increased by +55 students or +3.4 percent to 1,690 students.

Graduate enrollment decreased by -26 students (-11.0 percent) to 211 students.

New undergraduate enrollment increased by +10 students or +2.5 percent to 417 students.

Total enrollment in the School is 1,901, which is +29 students or +1.5 percent more than Fall 1995.

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

Total undergraduate enrollment increased by +94 students or +12.7 percent to 835 students. (Figure 20B)

New undergraduate enrollment increased by +35 students or +22.2 percent to 193 students.

Total graduate level enrollment was nearly unchanged at 446 students; however, new graduate enrollment increased by +24 students or +29.3 percent to 106 students.

Overall School of Education enrollment is 1,281, an increase of +95 students or +8.0 percent from Fall 1995.

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

Total undergraduate enrollment increased by +83 students or +18.3 percent to 537 students.

Graduate enrollment decreased by -22 students or -11.9 percent (taking into account the realignment in Jackson Engineering reporting) to 163 students.

New undergraduate enrollment increased by +40 students (+24.2 percent) to 205 students.

Overall enrollment in the School of Engineering increased to 700 students, an increase of +23 students or +3.4 percent (taking into account the realignment in Jackson Engineering reporting).

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY

Undergraduate enrollment in the School of Pharmacy decreased by -8 students or -2.1 percent to 375 students.

Graduate level enrollment increased by +3 students or +4.8 percent to 66 students.

Overall enrollment in the School of Pharmacy decreased by -5 students or -1.1 percent to a total of 441 students.

SCHOOL OF ACCOUNTANCY

Total undergraduate enrollment decreased to 397 students, a decrease of -29 students or -6.8 percent.

New undergraduate enrollment decreased by -27 students or -22.5 percent to 93 students.

Graduate enrollment increased by +18 students or +24.0 percent to 93 students.

Total School enrollment decreased to 490 students (-11 students or -2.2 percent).

SCHOOL OF LAW

Law School enrollment increased by +50 students or +10.8 percent to 511 students.