UL Lafayette enrollment falls, putting growth plan in question

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is reporting a 2.5% decline in fall enrollment, a setback for a university banking on enrollment growth.

The university’s annual fall census counted 15,702 students, down 398 from 16,100 in fall 2025. Undergraduate enrollment fell 1.6% to 13,602, while graduate enrollment declined 7.6% to 2,100.

The university enrolled 2,983 first-time freshmen, down 7.2% from a record 3,214 last fall. The freshman class is a key pipeline for future enrollment, as those students become the university’s pool of sophomores, juniors and seniors in the years ahead.

The decline comes as UL seeks to grow total enrollment to 27,500 students by 2035 as part of its plan to address its financial challenges.

Administrators say the drop reflects deliberate efforts to improve student success and clean up its rolls.

The census reflects the withdrawal of nearly 300 students who failed to meet academic progress requirements or did not pay required fees — the first time in about a decade the university has taken such action.

To reach its 2035 enrollment goal, UL would need to grow its student population by an average of 5.5% every year for the next 10 years.

“We made strategic decisions knowing it would reduce overall enrollment,” President Ramesh Kolluru said in a statement. “We must establish practices that position our students to succeed academically while strengthening the University’s ability to support their success, maintain financial viability and provide an accurate census baseline for what comes next.”

Kolluru said the enrollment figures underscore the need to improve recruitment, retention and graduation rates as the university pursues goals outlined in its strategic plan.

Vice President for Student Success Andy Benoit, who began the job March 1 after much of the fall 2026 recruiting cycle was complete, said the university is shifting its focus toward earlier intervention for students facing academic or financial challenges, while expanding recruitment efforts for fall 2027.

The university plans to increase recruiting across Acadiana and Louisiana, with particular emphasis on Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Shreveport, while also targeting students in Texas, Florida, the Carolinas and international markets. Officials also plan to strengthen transfer pathways with two-year colleges and increase outreach to high-achieving students, including valedictorians and student leaders.

Despite the overall decline, the university reported growth in several areas.

Enrollment in the College of Engineering increased 8.1%, while enrollment in the College of Liberal Arts grew 1.7%. The university also added 661 new undergraduate transfer students, marking the second consecutive year with more than 650 new transfers, while out-of-state freshman enrollment increased 17%.