HUNTSVILLE — Backing its brand “Start here. Go anywhere,” Alabama A&M University is seeing a record number of students starting their college careers on The Hill.
Sparked by the state’s highest increase in undergraduate enrollment and a record number of first-time students, Alabama A&M’s student population is 7,295 for the fall semester, the largest enrollment in the institution’s history for the second consecutive year, the university announced. The enrollment is an overall increase of 10.3% over last year.
AAMU also boasts its largest incoming class for the second consecutive year with 2,421 first-time students overall.
Preliminary enrollment, as reported to the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) on Sept. 6, indicated 7,445 students were registered at AAMU. However, official enrollment based on the census date for reporting to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) is 7,295 enrolled students for Fall 2024.
“A collective Bulldog effort has led to the enrollment trends we are seeing on The Hill,” said President Daniel K. Wims. “Students and parents are choosing Alabama A&M because they see the value, support, and results that comes with the AAMU experience.
“As we prepare to celebrate 150 years, we will continue to prioritize delivery of a world-class education in an environment that fosters the full development of our students and service to our community.”
In the last year, Alabama A&M has also more than doubled its academic advisement staff to better serve students. A revamped Freshman Academy has also streamlined academic advisement and enhanced support services during critical early semesters of matriculation.
“These numbers are also the product of intentional focus on advisement and persistence of our students as the first-year retention rate increased by six percentage points to 70% after a 5%-plus increase last year,” said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. John Jones. “This is a milestone the entire AAMU community can be proud of.
“This kind of progress fuels our faculty and staff as we work to keep the Alabama A&M promise that when you start here, you can go anywhere.”
The record enrollment includes the state’s highest increase among undergraduate students. This semester, 6,370 undergraduates enrolled – a 8.9% increase from last year, highest in the state.
Additionally, the university’s graduate programs have expanded considerably. A total of 925 graduate students are enrolled this fall – a 20.3% increase from last year.
“Continuous record enrollment numbers are a testament to the hard work of our entire campus community, including our students,” said Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Braque Talley. “Under the leadership of President Daniel K. Wims, we are focused on our mission to grow Alabama A&M to new heights and provide support for our students along the way.”
Alabama A&M is also preparing for continued growth through the recent approval of a student amenities center and a state-of-the-art STEM facility among other plans for campus improvement and expansion.
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