Enrollment yield up 6 percent in two years

by Skip Anderson

This year's incoming freshman class reflects a very healthy admission trend for the University, according to William M. Shain, dean of undergraduate admissions. Applications are up, the number of students accepted is down and the percentage of those enrolled is up almost 6 percent since 1998.

"A one percent change in yield is a big deal. I have never seen a school go up 6 percentage points in two years," said Shain. "It has to do with establishing better relationships with the people we're recruiting and good momentum in the market. The University is perceived as stronger every year."

The enrollment figures are projections of the freshman student body after the 10th day of classes, he said.

Of the 8,912 applications submitted by would-be incoming freshmen, only 4,922 were accepted into the University. According to Shain, this is the third-highest number of applicants for an incoming freshman class in the University's history, behind 1997 and 1998, respectively. Based on preliminary figures, 1,639 of those accepted enrolled for the fall semester. The enrollment yield rate, as it is referred to, was 33.8 percent, the highest since 1991. Last year's yield rate was 31.3 percent. When the official figures become available 10 days after the start of the semester, the enrollment yield rate is expected to be slightly lower due to freshman who have withdrawn. This was the fourth consecutive year the University admitted fewer students than the previous year.

The Class of 2004 also represents the highest number of African-American students enrolled, 94. Last year, 77 African Americans were enrolled. This year, 16.8 percent of those enrolled classified themselves on their application as minority, which includes persons of Asian, American-Indian, Hispanic and African-American descent.

The percentage of women enrolled represent 52.8 percent of the class, down from 56 percent last year, but consistent with most classes in recent years.

Forty-seven countries are represented by citizenship, up from 34 countries last year. Students from the incoming freshman class attended 1,020 high schools in 46 of the U.S. states including Washington, D.C. Respectively, Tennessee, Texas, Georgia, Florida and Illinois represent the top five states. States not represented are Alaska, Wyoming, North Dakota and Vermont.

"I expect the applications in the years ahead to move forward briskly, because the numbers continue to go up," said Shain. "We have been building in a lot of infrastructure for recruitment and the results should be seen in application increases in the next few years."

This year's class brings to campus 102 National Merit Scholars and nine National Achievement Scholars. Although the class' cumulative SAT score was not available at press time, it will be very similar to last year's average of 1312.

"The Class of 2004 presents remarkably strong credentials," said Shain. "I really couldn't be more pleased."

After the 10th day of class, the College of Arts and Science is expected to have 970 students enrolled, down from last year's 1,022. The Blair School of Music projects 55, the same number as last year. Peabody College projects 250, up from 238 last year. The School of Engineering projects 360, up from 320 last year.

Like last year, 150 freshmen are living in nontraditional dorm space, said Mark Bandas, associate dean for residential and judicial affairs, including study rooms that have been renovated to serve as regular student rooms in Branscomb Quadrangle and Carmichael Towers East. These spaces have been furnished much like the regular single- and double-occupancy dormitory rooms. Eighteen international freshmen have been assigned apartments on the seventh floor of Lewis Hall.