PULASKI, Tenn.— While many universities across the nation face declining enrollment, the University of Tennessee Southern (UT Southern) is celebrating a significant achievement: a 7% increase in student enrollment for the Fall 2024 semester, bringing the total number of enrolled students to 1,046. This marks a 30% increase since joining the UT System in 2021, underscoring UT Southern’s growing influence and commitment to delivering high-quality education in southern middle Tennessee.
“Our enrollment growth demonstrates that our mission of putting students first and providing a personalized student experience is resonating,” said Dr. Linda C. Martin, Chancellor of UT Southern. “This increase reflects our commitment to excellence in education and our dedication to fostering an environment where every student can thrive and make a meaningful impact in their communities. We are excited to see more students choosing our campus as the place to start their journey toward success.”
In addition to this growth, UT Southern is also celebrating its highest retention rates in recent memory. The final retention numbers from Fall 2023 to Fall 2024 show a 77.2% retention rate for first-time, full-time freshmen and a 79.5% retention rate for all degree-seeking undergraduates. These retention rates highlight the success of the campus’s efforts to support students throughout their academic journey.
UT Southern’s growth comes as part of a broader enrollment surge across the University of Tennessee System, which is celebrating five consecutive years of record-setting enrollment numbers. The increases are driven by strategic initiatives aimed at expanding access and affordability, including guaranteed admissions for top-performing Tennessee high school students and the UT Promise undergraduate scholarship program, which allows more than two-thirds of Tennessee high school seniors to attend any UT campus tuition-free.
“Our enrollment growth, despite the challenges facing higher education nationwide, reflects our strong commitment to making a difference in the lives of our students and the communities we serve,” said UT System President Randy Boyd.
As the newest campus in the UT System, UT Southern continues to attract students eager for a personalized educational experience and opportunities to grow academically and professionally. With its expanding influence, UT Southern is poised to make an even greater impact in the years to come.
About the University of Tennessee Southern
The University of Tennessee Southern, the newest and smallest campus in the UT System, is located in Pulaski, Tennessee. Situated mid-way between Nashville, TN, and Huntsville, AL, UT Southern is the only public four-year institution between Chattanooga and Memphis, offering a personalized, student-centered educational experience that is both challenging and supportive.
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