University hits enrollment milestone topping 4,500 students for first time

Kim Chaudoin | 08/20/2013

Official enrollment figures hit all-time record, up 82 percent since 2005

Lipscomb University has reached another enrollment milestone as official enrollment numbers have topped 4,500 for the first time in university history. This is an 82 percent enrollment growth since 2005.

With an official enrollment of 4,593 university students, Lipscomb University has added more than 2,000 students in the last nine years. The enrollment number will increase in the next few weeks as cohorts in several graduate programs, including aging services, civic leadership and education begin classes later in the semester. University classes began Aug. 19.

With an enrollment of 1,317 at Lipscomb Academy, the total Lipscomb enrollment including academy and university enrollment, is more than 5,900.

“This is an exciting time for the Lipscomb community,” said Lipscomb President L. Randolph Lowry. “Lipscomb University offers a product that many young people want to be a part of. It’s a faith-focused education that prepares students for their future. It is an investment that has a great return not only helping them to develop spiritually but that also gives them the practical and professional skills they need to be ready day one for their careers and the next part of their journey.”

This year's graduate enrollment after the official count is 1,696, an 11.5 percent increase from last year.

Adding to the enrollment growth this semester are:

• Five new graduate programs including the Master of Education with an emphasis in collaborative professional learning, a Master of Business Administration concentration in strategic human resources, a master’s degree in software engineering and a Master of Film and Creative Media degree.
• Four new concentrations in the Education Specialist program;
• 147 nursing students, the largest enrollment in Lipscomb’s history;
• 684 freshmen;
• 553 Master of Education students and 73 Doctorate of Education students; and
• 471 first-time graduate students.

Lipscomb has begun its 123rd academic year. Next month, construction of a 15,000-square-foot pharmacy and health sciences research facility is scheduled for completion. The building will include classrooms, a variety of specialized labs and other learning environments that support learning and research in the natural, applied and pharmaceutical sciences at Lipscomb as well as facilitate collaboration with other academic institutions, clinical research organizations and biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies in the area. Several other construction and renovation projects are set for completion in the coming weeks including a renovation of Swang Business Center’s auditorium and the addition of new locker rooms and other facilities in the Student Activities Center.

The enrollment record is the latest sign of growth and excellence at Lipscomb University. This summer, the National Council on Teacher Quality named Lipscomb’s College of Education one of only four top teacher training programs in the United States. Last month, Lipscomb was named in the top five percent of universities in Tennessee for lifetime return on investment by Affordable Colleges Online, a leading national resource for college affordability and financial aid information. In addition, the College of Business was ranked 24^th in the nation in the Military Times’ 2013 Best for Vets: Business Schools Guide for Veterans based on financial aid, academic policies and participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Lipscomb University delivers a complete liberal arts education characterized by an integration of Christian faith and practice with academic excellence, preparing each student spiritually, intellectually, socially and physically for life and eternity. Lipscomb’s innovative curriculum and graduation requirements challenge students academically, spiritually and in their role as global community citizens. 

Lipscomb University offers eight bachelor’s degrees in 78 majors or 145 areas of undergraduate study, several pre-professional programs and an accelerated adult degree program for those who wish to complete their undergraduate degrees in the evening. Lipscomb also offers 25 master’s degrees, four education specialist degrees and three doctoral degrees, all encompassing 58 fields of study.  

For more information about applying to Lipscomb University, visit www.lipscomb.edu/admissions or call 615.966.1776.