Nearly 329,000 students are getting educations this fall at the University System of Georgia, a record high enrollment, officials announced Wednesday.
The enrollment is a 1.1 percent increase from the prior year, according to its data. Much of the increase comes from Georgia Tech, where enrollment is up 11 percent, to nearly 33,000 students. Georgia State University has the largest enrollment in the system, with nearly 53,000 students.
Non-white students make up nearly half of the students in the system, a reflection of the state's increasing racial diversity. Some researchers have reported in recent years that Georgia State, where 41 percent of its students are black, graduates more African-American students than any university in the nation. Dalton State College, where 29 percent of its students are Hispanic or Latino, became the first school in Georgia to be recognized as a Hispanic-Serving Institution earlier this year.
The annual enrollment report was not all rosy. Enrollment increased at 12 University System institutions but declined at 14 colleges and universities. Savannah State University last week announced plans to lay off 26 faculty members due to enrollment declines. Its enrollment is down seven percent this fall.
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