Georgia Southern’s fall enrollment sets several records

November 14, 2023

Students on the first day of classes at Georgia Southern’s Statesboro campus.

Official numbers reviewed by the University System of Georgia (USG) show Georgia Southern University set several enrollment records this year and experienced growth at its Armstrong Campus in Savannah and in online courses.

Georgia Southern’s official fall 2023 enrollment number was 26,106, a 2.35% increase from the final fall 2022 enrollment number of 25,506.

Records set this year include:

• Total dual enrollment students (new and returning) – 1,058 enrolled this year, an increase of 259 students (32.4%) from last fall. The previous record was 982 in autumn 2021.
• New Dual Enrolled Students – 773 enrolled this year, an increase of 265 students (52.2%) from last fall. The previous record was 640 in autumn 2020.
• Total number of graduate students (freshmen and returning) – Enrolled this year is 3,753, an increase of 250 students (7.1%) from last fall. The previous record was 3,549 in autumn 2021.
• Honors College Students – There are 309 new freshmen enrolled this year, up from 183 (69%) last fall.
• New graduate students – 1,007 enrolled this year, an increase of 134 students (15.4%) from last fall. The previous record was 956 in autumn 2016.
• Master’s students – 2,758 are enrolled this year, an increase of 193 students (7.6%) compared to last fall. The previous record was 2,682 in autumn 2009.
• Graduate students – 688 enrolled this year, an increase of 51 students (8.0%) from last fall. The previous record was 657 in autumn 2019.
• International students (freshmen and returning students) – 2,869 students are enrolled this year, an increase of 259 students (14.6%) from last fall. The previous record was 2,646 in autumn 2021.

Here’s how some of Georgia Southern’s numbers stack up over the past five years:

Table showing fall enrollment numbers for dual-enrolled students, graduate students, and international students for 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.

“Our mission is to provide a high-quality, relevant educational experience that equips our state’s future leaders with the knowledge and skills they need to make an immediate impact in their careers and in their communities,” said President Kyle Marrero. “This increase in enrollment is not only a testament to the strategic efforts and hard work of our dedicated faculty and staff, but also a reflection of Georgia Southern’s commitment to student success and talent development that meets the growing needs of our region .”

He also noted that the university’s retention rate, now at 77.2%, plays an important role in student success and overall enrollment, which this year includes:

A 2.7% growth at the Armstrong Campus in Savannah this year follows more than 30 academic programs developed or expanded at the Armstrong Campus over the past five years. New programs last fall included Management and Marketing – the two most requested business programs by students, which are also tailored to the needs of our job market.

Other efforts in Savannah over the past year have included providing more late afternoon and evening classes for those balancing work and study, a new Executive Master’s in Criminal Justice program for current POST-certified law enforcement officers in the state of Georgia, and beginning renovations to welcome Augusta University medical students next year, converting a former GBI building into a new research complex, and announcing graduate programs that will also be offered at Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield in 2024.

“We are proud of our record-breaking enrollment results this year as they reflect our unwavering commitment to educational excellence and student success,” said Alejandra C. Sosa Pieroni, executive vice president of Enrollment, Marketing and Student Success. “Our growth in various programs, particularly dual enrollment, graduate study and out-of-state recruiting, underscores our commitment to providing diverse and dynamic learning experiences. This success is a testament to our innovative approaches and unwavering focus on meeting the evolving needs of our students and community. We don’t just enroll students; We develop future leaders and contribute significantly to the educational landscape in Georgia and beyond.”

Posted in press releases, university homepage