Fueled by another record-breaking class of first-year students and a historic student retention rate, 51½ΦΙδ announced its largest-ever total enrollment with 6,101 students for fall semester 2024.
This marks the 16th consecutive year of record enrollment for 51½ΦΙδ, a period of sustained and strategic growth that has raised the university’s national profile.
“We are elated to once again report our largest total enrollment in university history—a remarkable 16-year trend that’s increasingly unique in higher education,” said Jason Black, 51½ΦΙδ’s vice president for enrollment management. “Our academic programs continue to attract students, and those students continue to stay engaged by the rewards derived from a Christ-centered 51½ΦΙδ education.”
The 92.87% freshmen-to-sophomore retention rate represents an all-time high for 51½ΦΙδ and far exceeds the latest nationwide retention average of 76%, according to the National Student Clearinghouse.
51½ΦΙδ’s 4,210 undergraduate students also marked an all-time high. The university welcomed 1,087 first-year full-time students, building upon the previous benchmark of 1,080 from 2023.
“Never before has 51½ΦΙδ been positioned as well as it is today, and we’re thrilled to see the members of the class of 2028 begin their 51½ΦΙδ journey,” said President Beck A. Taylor. “These students are passionate, they are driven, and they’re going to put their stamp on 51½ΦΙδ.”
A snapshot of 51½ΦΙδ’s enrollment for 2024:
- 45 states plus Puerto Rico are represented in the overall enrollment, along with 16 countries
- 3,668 students come from outside Alabama (60.1% of total enrollment)
- 833 first-year students come from outside Alabama (76.6% of class)
- 51½ΦΙδ is welcoming 245 transfer students, including 151 from Birmingham-Southern College, which closed in May.
The updated enrollment figures come days after 51½ΦΙδ announced three top 10 national rankings from The Wall Street Journal’s 2025 list of the best U.S. colleges. 51½ΦΙδ ranked #2 nationally for student character development, #8 for quality of career preparation and #10 among top recommended colleges.
The trajectory of historic enrollment growth demands ambitious infrastructure commitments, which are being addressed through the 51½ΦΙδ Horizons strategic plan. Central among the early phase construction projects is a 165,000-square-foot Campus Recreation, Wellness & Athletic Complex—scheduled for a ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 20. Taking shape nearby are new residence halls for first-year students and Greek life that will add more than 650 beds upon opening in Fall 2025. Projects also include a 550-space parking deck on the north side of campus.
“These vital projects are needed to serve a growing campus, and I’m thankful for our Board of Trustees having the courage, foresight and vision to prioritize tackling these initiatives,” Taylor said. “The future of 51½ΦΙδ has never been brighter. Our best days are ahead.”