University Hits Record Enrollment, SCH Growth for Spring Semester

Just like the city and region it serves, Texas A&M International University is growing with student enrollment this Spring semester the highest in the history of the University.

In official numbers submitted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), TAMIU will post a 9.5% increase in enrollment and a 10% increase in semester credit hours (SCH) upon which State funding is based. Official Spring 2004 enrollment figures are 4,081 students, up from 3,736 for Spring 2003 and 4,078 for Fall 2003 , previously the highest Fall enrollment.

In addition, students are taking more classes with 39,744 semester credit hours (SCH) being generated, up from last Spring's 36,108. Undergraduate students number 3093, while 988, or 24% are enrolled in the University's graduate programs. Of those seeking graduate degrees, 45% hold undergraduate degrees from TAMIU.

Dr. Tom Corti, vice president for student affairs, said the enrollment increase is reflective of student preferences and the University's responses to those preferences.

"More and more students are realizing that their futures are linked to higher education and attaining a bachelors degree or higher. The University is responsive to their needs, offering relevant programs, gifted faculty and remarkable facilities, all at a remarkable value. These combined factors change lives," Dr. Corti said.

He noted that the University's recruitment efforts are paying off and are being extended.

"While a majority of our students are recruited from the surrounding area, we are seeing greater numbers of students coming to us from the north and south. We're also augmenting our present-day efforts with future-focused initiatives such as our 'Saddle-Up Days' at TAMIU which bring fourth and seventh graders to the campus to begin to sharpen their vision of higher education for them," Corti said.

Additional information of interest about Spring Semester 2004 enrollment:

The most popular undergraduate majors are: early childhood/bilingual education, criminal justice and nursing. The most popular graduate majors are business administration, educational administration and public administration. The programs with the fastest growing undergraduate enrollment are social work, criminal justice and early childhood/bilingual education.

The overall average student age is 26.5 with undergraduates averaging 24.7 and graduates 32.2. The oldest student is 70 while the youngest is 16.
Female students outnumber males 63% to 37% and 90 percent of students identify themselves as minority, including Hispanic, African-American, Asian and Other.

While 84% of students come to the University from Webb County, the University is seeing an increase in student enrollment from Zapata, Maverick, Bexar and Jim Hogg counties.

Some 17 countries are represented in the total student population and 6% of students are identified as international.

For additional information, please contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at 326.2180.

University office hours are from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.