UNA student enrollment tops 9,500 for first time

FLORENCE — In April, University of North Alabama Provost and Executive Vice President Dr. Ross Alexander predicted UNA would surpass 9,000 students for fall 2022.

Preliminary numbers are in and his forecast proved correct.

For the 14th consecutive term, UNA boasts record enrollment, with more than 9,500 students enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, and credential programs. This is a more-than 12 percent growth from fall 2021. The increase is across all student categories – freshmen, transfer, international, online, and graduate.

“These impressive numbers clearly indicate the resonance and strength of the North Alabama brand and experience among every type of student – locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally,” said UNA President Dr. Ken Kitts. “The vibrancy of campus is exhilarating and indicative of the University’s growth and momentum.

“It is a great time to be at UNA.”

With the sharp increase in on-campus students, UNA has also experienced a record number of students living in university-affiliated housing. Officials attribute that growth to the university’s workforce development focus and degrees that lead directly to high-paying jobs. Among those in-demand programs are computing, engineering, nursing and health professions, accounting and professional management, and elementary and early childhood education.

“The dynamism of our academic programs at the credential, baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral levels distinguishes North Alabama as a first-choice institution for all learners,” said Alexander. “Perhaps more importantly, our degrees are career accelerators for our students and workforce development catalysts for employers.”

In addition to the increase in the number of on-campus international students, international partners, including those in China at Guizhou University-University of North Alabama International College of Engineering and Technology, have contributed to the increase in enrollment for fall 2022. UNA’s innovative partnership with this top-100 Chinese research university launches this fall.

Further, the Delores and Weldon Cole Honors College has more than 750 students enrolled, marking its largest enrollment in its more than 15-year history.

“In an incredibly volatile and chaotic enrollment environment, UNA is experiencing atypical and unprecedented growth,” said Julie Taylor, executive director of admissions and enrollment innovation. “The university’s ‘diversified enrollment strategy’ is both highly functioning and sustainable.”

Final figures are not anticipated until the end of October. The initial enrollment of more than 9,500, however, indicates a 40 percent enrollment increase since 2015.

In fall 2021, with a six percent enrollment increase compared to fall 2020, UNA was recognized as the fastest-growing public university in Alabama. With a 12 percent enrollment increase this year, the university may continue to have that distinction.