Enrollment Numbers On The Rise

Centenary Welcomes One of Largest Freshman Classes

SHREVEPORT, La.—The figures are in and with an enrollment of 887 students, Centenary College of Louisiana opened the doors to it largest student body since 2006. Part of this success is due to its incoming first-year class—one of the largest, most diverse and most prepared to enroll at the College.

Official enrollment calculations indicate a student headcount of 887 students, nearly a six percent increase from last year at this time.

The numbers also show Centenary has one of the largest freshman classes with 278 students, an increase of 13 percent more than enrolled during the 2008-09 academic year.

The incoming class is also more diverse, with minority students representing 26 percent of the class, making it one of the biggest percentages of entering minorities in the College's history.

"This is one of the most diverse, well-rounded and academically prepared first-year classes in recent history," said Tim Crowley, Dean of Admissions. "We are very happy with the academic quality of our students. While we are pleased with the academic qualities of this class, we are equally impressed with the dedication to community service and leadership these students demonstrated in high school."

The 2009 freshman class comes to Centenary College with a stronger academic profile, which has continued to improve. Academically, the students in the middle 50 percent of the class have an ACT score range of 23-28 and an average SAT score range of 1040-1270. This class also has an average high school GPA of 3.6, with 46 percent of the students graduating in the top 20 percent of their high school class.

Louisiana residents make up the largest portion of the incoming class at 63 percent with the remaining students representing 17 states, including Texas, Arkansas, Vermont, Virginia, California, Colorado and Florida. The class is also joined by international students from Canada, Mexico and New Zealand.

The Princeton Review has named Centenary as one of the "Best 371 Colleges in America," with Forbes praising the College as "One of America's Best Private Colleges" and "One of America's Best Buys."

"Students know that Centenary is delivering on the promises we make to students when they enroll here," Crowley continued. "They also realize the effectiveness of the Centenary Experience in transforming their lives in an ever-changing world."

About Centenary College of Louisiana

Centenary College is a private, four-year arts and sciences college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1825, it is the oldest chartered liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Centenary is one of 16 colleges and universities constituting the Associated Colleges of the South and has been recognized as "One of the Best 371 Colleges" by the Princeton Review and one of "America's Best Colleges" and one of "America's Best Private Colleges" by Forbes.com. In 2008 Centenary College celebrated 100 years in Shreveport and Bossier City.