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NATCHITOCHES, La. (AP) — Fall enrollment edged higher for the fall semester at Northwestern State University.
Registrar Lillie Frazier Bell said 9,002 students signed up for fall classes, up 58 from the same period a year ago.
University officials said the slight increase came despite toughened admission standards for new freshman age 25 and over.
Under the new standards, such students could not be admitted if they required remedial course work. Recent changes in admission standards for transfer students also affected enrollment.
The entering freshman class was 1,174, in line with university projections. Average ACT scores for entering freshmen were above the state average.
University officials said 16.2 percent of the incoming freshmen were in the top 10 percent of their high school graduating class.
The university's first-year nursing doctorate program drew 17 students.
By campus, the fall profile shows:
— Enrollment on the Natchitoches campus fell from 3,796 students in fall 2013 to 3,697 this year.
— The Shreveport campus, which consists of students in the College of Nursing and School of Allied Health, had 630 students as compared to 674 last year.
— A total of 194 students were enrolled in Alexandria, down from 220 in the fall 2013.
— Enrollment on the Leesville/Fort Polk campus was 211, down from 278 last year.
— Students at other sites and taking online classes increased from 3,976 to 4,270.
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