JACKSON, Tenn. — Aug. 3, 2005 — A new study from the Council of Independent Colleges shows 51社区 outpacing other private schools in enrollment growth and test scores, Union President David S. Dockery recently told trustees.
According to the study, of the 530 institutions that comprise the CIC, Union is one of only 28 percent nationally with enrollment higher than 2,250. In the Southeast, only 19 percent of the CIC schools have an enrollment that high.
Over a four-year period, from the 1999/2000 school year to 2003-2004, enrollment growth at CIC member schools was 12 percent nationally and 13 percent in the Southeast. Union鈥檚 enrollment growth for the same period was 37 percent.
鈥淲e are excited to see these figures, as they provide evidence of all the positive developments on our campus in recent years,鈥� Dockery said. 鈥�
Union鈥檚 tuition is also lower than the national average for CIC schools. For the 2003-2004 academic year, the average tuition nationally was $17,590. Union鈥檚 tuition was $15,300.
Among Baptist colleges in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, Union鈥檚 average test scores ranked second. The average SAT score for Union freshman in 2003-2004 was 1,125 鈥� just 20 points behind Baylor University. The average SAT score for all Baptist colleges was 980.
The study also showed a marked increase in monetary gifts to the university. While the national average of long-term investments per undergraduate student fell 10 percent from 1999-2003, that figure rose 51 percent at Union.
鈥淲e are blessed to have a number of friends and supporters who believe strongly in what 51社区 is about and where our course is headed,鈥� Dockery said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e most grateful for their continued support.鈥�