Fall 2011 enrollment tops 6,300 including 130 Law students

With classes beginning today for the Fall 2011 semester, Belmont University reached a record-breaking enrollment number for the eleventh straight year: 6,374 students. This year’s enrollment marks an increase of eight percent from last year and a rise of 114 percent since 2000 when the school enrolled 2,976 students. The Belmont student body currently consists of 1,370 graduate and professional students and 5,004 undergraduates, representing record figures in both categories. In fact, for the first time, the University will enroll more than 2,000 new undergraduate and graduate/professional students this fall.

Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “Every day I see more young adults and their families walking in the front door to visit Belmont, and I tell them that this university’s mission is to empower students to use their talents and passions to transform the world. To see so many of those faces return in August, accepting that challenge, makes me feel incredibly blessed.”

This year’s incoming freshman class represents 43 states and eight foreign countries, with 72 percent of the class originating from outside of Tennessee. The University received a record number of applications for graduate and undergraduate programs, a total of 8,013, including 3,882 applications for freshman admission, up 17 percent from last year. The average ACT score for the 2011-12 freshman class is 26.3. In addition, 33 percent of new freshmen at Belmont were in the top 10 percent of their graduating class, and 61 percent were in the top quarter. This year’s freshman class of 1,171 students held an average un-weighted cumulative high school GPA of 3.53, including 28 valedictorians and 17 salutatorians from schools reporting rankings. Also, a record number of 490 transfer students are joining the Belmont community this semester.

“The fall 2011 admission cycle at Belmont was tremendously successful by any measure. Interest in all that Belmont has to offer remains very high, and the response from prospective students this past year was incredible,” said David Mee, associate provost and dean of enrollment, who recently completed his first year at Belmont.

In addition to the Class of 2015, Belmont also welcomes its charter class to the College of Law this fall. A total of 130 students are enrolled for the program’s inaugural year, beating projected goals by nearly 30 percent. Moreover, the strength of the initial class has exceeded expectations as well with incoming students holding a median LSAT score of 154.

College of Law Dean Jeff Kinsler said, “Today is the day we’ve been waiting for and working toward, the day when we welcome our charter class to the College of Law. We are committed to preparing professional, practice-ready attorneys for today’s global legal market, and now we can implement that mission.”

Final enrollment figures won’t be available until mid-September following the university’s official drop/add/withdraw period.

The University’s record-breaking enrollment news is being met by the construction of several new buildings to help balance the ever-increasing demand for a Belmont education. Both the Randall and Sadie Baskin Center (future home of the College of Law) and a new residence hall are being built on the campus’ eastern side off 15th Avenue. Both facilities will include underground parking garages to accommodate a total of more than 1,000 cars. Belmont is also in the midst of a renovation of Belmont Heights Baptist Church’s main sanctuary to transform the space into a classical Concert Hall. All three projects are scheduled to be complete by next summer.