Georgia Southwestern just shy of another record-breaking enrollment for Fall 2021

AMERICUS, GA (November 4, 2021) — Georgia Southwestern State University’s Fall 2021 total enrollment is 3,158, just four students down from last year’s record-breaking year, as reported by the University System of Georgia (USG).

Among the system’s 26 institutions, the USG annual report stated enrollment increased at five, decreased at 20, and “remained unchanged” at Georgia Southwestern. Overall, the USG saw a decrease of 851 students or 0.2% from Fall 2020 to Fall 2021, reaching a total of 340,638 students. This is the first statewide decrease in enrollment since 2013.

“While the enrollment trend across the state and the nation seems to be in decline, we are proud that GSW remained relatively the same,” said GSW President Neal Weaver, Ph.D. “It is a challenging time for higher education, but Georgia Southwestern has fared well. We remain focused on recruiting and retaining students by offering programs relevant to today’s economy, ensuring their success in these programs, and enhancing the overall campus experience.”

Among the nine state universities, Georgia Southwestern had the lowest decrease at 0.1%, calculating the four-student difference from Fall 2020 at 3,162. Overall, Georgia’s state universities saw a decrease in enrollment at an average of 3.7%.

GSW continues to see an increase in graduate students in the College of Business and Computing, College of Education, and College of Nursing and Health Sciences. This can be attributed to GSW’s quality, accredited programs that are both top-ranked regionally and nationally at an affordable cost, many of which are offered online.

While the number of undergraduate and graduate students fluctuates year to year, GSW is hopeful that the number of undergraduate students will increase with its continued aggressive recruitment strategy, expansion of scholarships, student success initiatives, and campus enhancements.

These enrollment numbers were released in the USG’s “Fall 2021 Semester Enrollment Report,” which breaks down enrollment by institution, class, race and ethnicity, in-state, out-of-state and international students, as well as gender and age.

USG Acting Chancellor Teresa MacCartney said, “I appreciate all the challenges our students have overcome as they have persisted on their journey toward their degree from a USG institution. I applaud our presidents, faculty and staff for all they’ve done to make this fall successful.”