McNeese has stopped a 14-year decline in enrollment in a big way. University President Dr. Wade Rousse says more and more students are choosing to attend McNeese.
“Last fall were up 3%. That was the first time we’d been up in 14 years, and we announced today that we’re up 5% this fall. That’s our largest increase in 22 years,” Rousse said.
Dr. Rousse says what he’s most proud of is the more than 13% increase in the size of this year’s freshman class. He says in the last 45 years, there’s been only one instance in which there’s been an increase as big.
“We’re really excited that this region, the families and students believe that there’s value here, and the proof’s in the pudding in terms of this data,” Rousse said.
Rousse says he credits the increase in enrollment in part to a robust advertising and marketing campaign.
“(I) went to visit most high schools in the five-parish area myself. In addition to that, we have created some excitement by investing in athletics. Our March Madness run, I think, had a positive impact,” Rousse noted.
While the March Madness run by the men’s basketball team certainly gave the school invaluable national exposure, Rousse says 78% of McNeese’s enrollment comes from the five-parish area that the school has traditionally focused on.
