Tag: Nicholls Enrollment

Nicholls University Achieves High Retention Rates and Growing Academic Programs

Nicholls State University has reported a notable rise in the number of first-generation college students for the fall 2024 semester. According to the 14th-day class statistics, 56.8% of this year’s incoming freshman class falls into the first-generation category, as per this news release from Nicholls. This demographic includes students whose parents or guardians did not obtain a bachelor’s degree. This figure marks a 3.1% increase from the previous academic year, reflecting Nicholls’ continued efforts to support and expand access to higher education.

Despite the increase in first-generation students, Nicholls’ overall enrollment has experienced a slight decline. The current student body totals 6,065, which is a decrease of 135 students from fall 2023. This drop is largely attributed to a reduction in dual enrollment students and a decrease in residents from Nicholls’ eight-parish service region. The student body comprises 5,539 undergraduates and 526 graduate students. Nonetheless, Nicholls continues to excel in student retention, with a strong 76.6% retention rate for full-time, bachelor-degree-seeking students year after year.

Renee Hicks, Assistant Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness, Access, and Success, emphasized the university’s commitment to supporting its students. She remarked that Nicholls’ dedicated efforts ensure that students are well-prepared to succeed both academically and professionally. Hicks highlighted that the increasing number of local students continuing their education at Nicholls is a clear indicator of the personalized and supportive environment fostered by the university’s faculty and staff. This support not only helps retain students but also contributes to the retention of graduates within the service region.

In terms of university housing, Nicholls has experienced a high occupancy rate, with 97% of the 1,399 available beds filled this semester. This high demand reflects the growing appeal of on-campus living among students.

Several academic departments at Nicholls have shown impressive growth compared to the previous year. The Management and Marketing departments have seen a 20.3% increase in enrollment, while the Applied Sciences department has surged by an impressive 49.2%. The Music department has also grown by 19.6%, and the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute has experienced an 11.1% increase. Additionally, the Petroleum Engineering Technology and Safety Management program has grown by 10.6%. These increases underscore the expanding interest in these fields and the university’s successful efforts to enhance its academic offerings.

The most popular majors for the fall 2024 semester at Nicholls include Nursing, Allied Health Sciences, Business Administration/Computer Information Systems, Biology, Teacher Education, and Psychology, Counseling, and Family Studies. This diverse array of popular fields highlights the broad range of academic interests among the student body and the university’s ability to cater to these needs effectively.

Ahead of the fall semester, Nicholls hosted its third annual First-Generation Experience event, sponsored by OnPath Federal Credit Union. This event was designed to equip first-generation students with essential tools for their college journey. The conference-style event offered a variety of informational sessions, covering topics such as effective study strategies, course preparation, time management, financial aid, and campus involvement. The aim of the event was to provide first-generation students with the resources and confidence needed to navigate their college experience successfully. The impact of a supportive college experience on first-generation students can significantly influence their future career trajectories and personal achievements.

Nicholls State University’s efforts to support first-generation students and enhance academic programs reflect its commitment to fostering a thriving and inclusive educational environment. The increased enrollment of first-generation students and the growth in various academic departments are indicative of the university’s ongoing success and adaptability in meeting the evolving needs of its student population.

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Nicholls Fall Semester Reaches Highest Enrollment in Nine Years

For the first time in nearly a decade, Nicholls’ Fall semester enrollment numbers are at its highest total due to record-breaking retention rates and increase in online students, as detailed in a press release from the university.

The 2020 Nicholls’ Fall semester reportedly enrolled an impressively high 6,780 students according to the traditional class size statistic taken on the fourteenth day of classes. This enrollment number is the largest since 2011, and the year-to-year increase of 4 percent is the largest since 1990.

This statistic comes as a third consecutive year of record-breaking retention rates since this Fall semester saw 74.4 percent of first-time freshmen returning for their sophomore year. Compare this to the national average of 61 percent,and you’ll quickly see that the accolades received by Nicholls State University have been awarded dozens of times over.

Nicholls Online, the University’s online degree program that allows students to complete a degree from start to finish in an accelerated 8 week format, saw an increase of 15.7 percent in its Fall 2020 enrollment. This is partially due to the recent national pandemic, but it’s also a tribute to the program’s recent years of success, as it’s recently been expanded in the past few years, and it continues to be praised for its quality and affordability.

Overall, the enrollment record is seen as a monumental testament to the high quality of education one can attain at Nicholls State University, especially since this increase is so substantial during a time of national pandemic. The University’s Executive Vice President for Advancement and Enrollment Services, Dr. Alex Arceneax commented on the achievement in the University’s press release by stating, “even during these unprecedented, challenging times, we received an overwhelming message from our student body and the Bayou Region; they want to be at Nicholls State University.”

He went on to add that he feels that the trusts the faculty “to provide the Nicholls Experience – top-notch academics and the best student experience in the state – in a safe way. We have amazing recruiters, faculty and staff who give it their all to provide the very best for our students.”

In addition to the Nicholls’ fall semester enrollment increase, Nicholls’ top degree programs were reported with its Nursing program and Health undergraduate department seeing the largest numbers. As of the 14th day of the Fall 2020 semester, the programs’ numbers are:

  • Nursing Program: 921 students enrolled.
  • Business Administration and Computer Information Systems” 733 students enrolled.
  • Allied health with 512 students enrolled.
  • Biological sciences with 486 students enrolled.
  • Teacher education with 436 students enrolled.

In addition to this, Allied Health saw one of the largest increases in its program size when compared to other undergraduate departments, as its increase was an 18 percent growth from last year, second only to Chemistry and Physical Sciences’ 24 percent growth. Other undergraduate programs receiving recognition for their department’s growth are Social Science’s 19 percent increase and Art’s 11 percent increase.

For any interested parties, the Institutional Research Department at Nicholls annually releases its enrollment statisticsvia the University’s Office Of Institutional Research, Effectiveness, and Planning (IREP). The Director of Enrollment Services, Courtney Cassard evaluated the high retention rates, attributing it to the students being better prepared for the challenges that come with successfully passing that first year.

When interviewed by The Nicholls Worth, the school’s independent news organization, she reportedly stated, “It’s a team effort with faculty and staff, in order to progress you through your degree. So, that was a big attributing factor to the increase.”

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