Augusta University records enrollment growth for ninth straight year 

Augusta University has exceeded enrollment goals for its ninth consecutive year, with a total of 11,584 students — a 9.8% increase over last year’s impressive numbers. This year’s historic growth spans both undergraduate and graduate programs, with 6,078 undergraduates and 5,506 graduates, professional and post-professional students enrolled.

“There’s tremendous momentum at Augusta University,” said AU President Russell T. Keen. “Reaching this enrollment milestone demonstrates that our focus on creating an environment of continual improvement in every interaction and every experience parlays into an increased demand for the type of health sciences, liberal arts and technologically advanced education that we have delivered to Georgians for almost 200 years.”

Karma AlJaroudi, associate director of undergraduate student recruitment, attributes this year’s success to AU’s clear messaging of the college’s strengths to prospective students and families. In fact, the university saw a 7% increase in first-year enrollment, reaching 1,244 new freshmen.

She explained that students are drawn to AU’s unique offerings, including mentorship programs, Greek life, civic engagement, student organizations, and a holistic approach to well-being. 

“From the conversations counselors had in fairs and high schools throughout the state to the events we held on campus to the strategic campaigns and direct mail pieces that are targeted, timed and personalized, we were able to create and cultivate a connection with our incoming students, guiding them through the admissions and enrollment process,” AlJaroudi said.  

It is the ninth straight year since 2015 AU’s overall enrollment has grown.

Undergraduate transfer enrollment grew by 14%, while dual enrollment jumped by 28%. There was also an increase in the number of declared undergraduate majors in three key areas: the College of Science and Mathematics (up 9%), the School of Computer and Cyber Science (up 12%), and the College of Allied Health Sciences (up 12%). 

Graduate and professional enrollment is up from last year, marking AU’s largest graduate class ever. After last fall’s official launch of Augusta University Online, Marc Austin, PhD, dean of AU Online and associate provost, reported that students enrolled in 100% online programs increased by 45%, with key growth in education, health and cyber.  

“The growth is a function of a personalized online learning experience that accommodates the busy lives of our learners,” Austin said. “The brand power of Augusta University as a major research facility in the state also contributes to this growth. We connect our message to individual counselors that help the students pick AU over other college picks, and, in the online state, students are making quick decisions. So, we have a really excellent set of counselors able to explain why AU is a top choice.”  

Notable increases seen at the graduate level include AU’s Medical College of Georgia, namely the Biomedical Sciences PhD Program and the Medical Physiology PhD Program for first-year students. The medical school also had a 4% increase in professional student enrollment with the inaugural class at MCG Savannah. The School of Computer and Cyber Science increased 70%, while the College of Education and Human Development increased 38.2%, driven by the Advanced Educational Studies Program, the Master of Art in Teaching and the Master of Education in Instruction. The School of Public Health witnessed a 35% increase. 

Additionally, Augusta University also increased in degrees conferred with 2,578 in 2023 to 2,815 in 2024.

“These strides affirm our ongoing commitment to strengthening the core of our world-renowned faculty through their unprecedented successes in research in the labs and instruction in the classrooms,” Keen said. We will celebrate today, but tomorrow we will recommit to relentlessly pursuing unmatched excellence with a faculty and staff who are dedicated to being part of something bigger than themselves.

“Through our steadfast efforts, we are well on our way to becoming the best student-centered research university in the country where our graduates are highly sought after for their critical thinking skills, work ethic, innovative spirit and entrepreneurial drive,” Keen continued. “Augusta University is more than just a quality education – it’s an experience that will catapult our students toward fulfilling careers, launch life-changing and saving solutions to improve health outcomes, and help solve our workforce challenges for the future prosperity of our state and nation.”

Growth was seen throughout the University System of Georgia as enrollment climbed to a record high of 364,725 students surpassing the previous all-time high of 344,392 from fall 2023, resulting in two consecutive years of growth. Systemwide, research universities saw the most growth with the overall headcount totaling 9,873, according to the Fall 2024 Semester Enrollment Report. 

Both USG undergraduate and graduate enrollment were up for Fall 2024. Undergrad enrollment grew by 12,213 students (4.6%) from 2023, while graduate and professional enrollment increased by 8,043 students (11.1%). The greatest upturn was at the master’s level, with a student increase of 6,967 (13.8%). 

Fall 2024 also marked the second consecutive fall for USG institutions in which beginning freshman enrollment increased systemwide, rising by 2.6% (1,349 students). In contrast, first-year student enrollment fell this fall across the nation, despite overall enrollment increases. Compared to Fall 2023, national freshmen enrollment decreased by 5% across all U.S. institutions. 

Dual enrollment for USG institutions hit a record in Fall 2024, with a total of 21,109 students. This represents a 39.5% increase (5,980 students) from Fall 2023. The year-over-year increase for USG’s dual enrollment outpaces the 7.2% increase in dual enrollment reported nationally.