Staying Power

Baylor University has enrolled a total of 13,289 students for the spring 2008 semester, with improved retention rates for all undergraduate student groups, according to official 12th-day enrollment statistics compiled by the Office of Institutional Research and Testing (IRT).
Baylor continues an upward trend in January through May enrollment, with the University enrolling 120 more students than last spring, the fourth consecutive year that Baylor has seen an increase in spring enrollment. The University enrolled 13,169 students for the spring 2007 semester, 13,019 students in spring 2006, and 12,715 students in spring 2005.
The spring semester's enrollment consists of 11,103 undergraduates; 1,224 graduate students; 378 students in George W. Truett Theological Seminary; and 387 students in Baylor Law School, with one law student taking graduate hours. At the U.S. Army Academy of Health Sciences in San Antonio, where Baylor has affiliated graduate degree programs in physical therapy, health care administration and nutrition, 191 students are enrolled. Another joint U.S. Army-Baylor doctoral program in physical therapy at Brooke Army Medical Center/West Point reported an enrollment of five students.
According to IRT statistics, the retention rate for all undergraduates increased to 94.9 percent from fall 2007 to spring 2008, compared to 94.6 percent from fall 2006 to spring 2007. The retention rate for first-time freshmen increased slightly to 95.1 percent from fall 2007 to spring 2008, compared to 95 percent from fall 2006 to spring 2007.
The largest increases in retention rates came among undergraduate student groups, such as provisionally admitted students and new transfer students. The retention rates for provisional students increased to 95.2 percent from fall 2007 to spring 2008, compared to 94.2 percent from fall 2006 to spring 2007. Among new transfer students, the retention rated jumped to 90 percent from fall 2007 to spring 2008, compared to 87.6 percent from fall 2006 to spring 2007.