Size, diversity, preparedness are hallmarks of UofL’s incoming students

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    LOUISVILLE, Ky. –Next week, nearly 2,800 full-time, first-time University of Louisville students will begin their journey toward earning a college degree. The number represents a 3.2 percent increase—or about 100 students—from the previous year.

     

    UofL officials say the incoming class is not only one of the largest and most diverse in institutional history, it is also the most academically prepared.

     

    “We continue to attract academically accomplished and very talented students from all parts of the globe,” said UofL Acting President Neville Pinto. “Our freshman class is extraordinary in many ways—nearly half already have some college credits, the class is highly diverse and their ACT and GPA scores are impressive.”

    While all numbers are preliminary, here’s a snapshot of the first-year students:

     

    • Nearly 50 percent already have some college credits
    • 13.5 percent are African American
    • 4.1 percent are Hispanic/Latino
    • 73.8 percent will live on campus
    • 25.5 is the average ACT score, the same as in 2015 and well above the 2015 national average of 21 and Kentucky average of 20.
    • 3.6 is the average high school grade point average (based on 4.0 scale)
    • 78.7 percent, or 2,280, are Kentucky residents
    • 36.4 percent, or 1,055, are from Jefferson County
    • 17.3 percent, or 502, are from out of state (including Indiana)
    • 36 U.S. states are represented
    • 465 are honor students
    • Engineering, business and nursing are the most popular declared majors

     

    Executive Director of Admissions Jenny Sawyer believes that UofL may have set a new record for racial diversity. “I checked our numbers going back to 1988, and I feel pretty confident that this year represents our highest numbers for African American and Hispanic/Latino students,” she said.

     

    First-year students will begin arriving on campus Wednesday during Welcome Week. For more information, contact John Karman at 502-852-1108.

     

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    John Karman, III
    John Karman joined the Office of Communications and Marketing in 2014 after a 20-plus year career as a Louisville journalist. He has served as director of media relations since 2015. In that role, he answers reporters’ inquiries and is the university’s main spokesperson. John was a reporter for Business First of Louisville from 1999 to 2013. There, he won numerous awards from the Louisville chapter of the Society for Professional Journalists and American City Business Journals, parent company to Business First. John can die happy after seeing the Chicago Cubs win the 2016 World Series, although he would also enjoy another title.