Georgia Perimeter College’s fall 2014 student enrollment showed a 1.2 percent increase over fall 2013, with 21,371 students signing up for classes. The increase reverses a two-year trend that also has been experienced by other institutions of higher education.

Among GPC’s highlights:

• ·         GPC enrolls 10,955 freshmen, the largest number of freshmen within the University System of Georgia.
• ·         GPC’s dual enrollment program continues to lead the state, with 1,306 students. Overall, the program which allows students to earn college credit while in high school, increased statewide from 5,303 students in 2013, to 6,700 students, a more than 26 percent increase.
• ·         Alpharetta—GPC’s smallest and newest campus—saw the biggest rate of enrollment increase of any GPC campus, jumping 13.6 percent to 2,107 students.
• ·          GPC’s online enrollment grew 3.6 percent to 8,438 students.

Dual enrollment was a focus of the statewide report.

“To help make college more accessible, we have expanded the ways to earn a degree, such as on-line courses and dual enrollment for high school students,” said USG’s Chancellor Hank Huckaby. “We are seeing initial signs of progress with these initiatives in the 2014 fall semester enrollment.”

The USG enrollment numbers were released Nov. 7 in the USG’s “Fall 2014 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.

GPC’s enrollment numbers reflect a similar uptick in student enrollment system-wide in the USG. Enrollment in the system increased 1.1 percent—or 3,467 students—over fall 2013. GPC has the fifth largest enrollment within the USG.

Enrollment patterns varied by the institutions of the University System of Georgia. Eighteen institutions recorded enrollment increases, while 13 institutions experienced declines.

“While our fall 2014 enrollment is encouraging, we still have much work ahead,” said Huckaby. “We must stay focused on our Complete College Georgia initiative, continue to recruit and retain students and fully support them through their completion of college.”