College enrollment up in Georgia, down nationally - Kelly Whitmire, Red&Black

College enrollment rates dropped nationally in 2011, but the University of Georgia reported record enrollments that year. According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, college enrollment rates dropped slightly, from 18.65 million students to 18.62 million. The falling numbers can be attributed to a weakening economy and budget restraints in some states. But the University appears to be bucking the national trend. The University’s enrollment rose by 0.4 percent in fall 2011. That semester, the University added a record-breaking 5,500 freshmen, according to a 2011 article from The Red & Black. Among benchmarks set for that year were the most Georgia residents ever admitted to the University at 4,900 freshmen and record numbers of African-American and Hispanic students at 9 percent and 5.4 percent, respectively. http://www.redandblack.com/news/college-enrollment-up-in-georgia-down-nationally/article_c1ce0688-1ca9-11e2-86e0-0019bb30f31a.html