University of Alabama Enrolls Largest Number of First-Year Students Ever

The University of Alabama (UA), the oldest public university in the state of Alabama, has enrolled a record number of first-year students - more than 40,000 for the first time in its history, the school has announced.

In fall 2024, the total enrollment is 40,846, surpassing the previous record of 39,623 students in fall 2023. UA this fall has also welcomed the largest number of Alabama undergraduates, a total of 3,434.

This is the sixth year in a row that in-state enrollment at the University of Alabama has increased since 2010, Erudera.com reports.

“UA’s unwavering commitment to student success led to the record-breaking enrollment, which includes 3,434 freshmen from Alabama, marking the largest number of in-state freshmen ever. This 7.9 percent increase in in-state first-year students is UA’s sixth consecutive year with an in-state increase. Second-year retention also reached an all-time high at nearly 90 percent,” the university said.

A record number of students (nearly 90 percent) continued their second year of studies at the university this fall as well. Among undergraduates, the first-generation student population or the first people in their families to attend university, grew by 9.8 percent.

Graduate School enrollment is also up 5.4 percent, including an increase of 8.3 percent in in-state graduate students. Additionally, enrolment of minority students reached an all-time high, with 10,111 students, up 8.2 percent from last year.

Students enrolled at the University of Alabama are from all 67 Alabama counties, all 50 US states, the District of Columbia, and 95 countries. Over the past year, the institution granted more than 9,000 degrees.

“With students from all 67 Alabama counties, all 50 states, the District of Columbia and 95 countries, UA is educating and graduating more students than any college in the state, awarding more than 9,000 degrees over the past year,” the university explains in its announcement.

Most recently, the University of Alabama joined STARS College Network, a union of more than a dozen colleges and universities with a mission to help students from rural and small towns in the United States.

By becoming a member, UA will be able to offer more resources and opportunities, such as webinars or other online events, for students from these areas to be successful.

Other college members of this union are Brown University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Arizona, Stanford University, Ohio State University, University of Texas at Austin, Yale, and more.

Image source: Official X account of the University of Alabama, posted on June 14, 2024