Dr. Rick Brewer President | Louisiana College
Dr. Rick Brewer President | Louisiana College
Of the six institutions in the county, two provided detailed enrollment data at the time, including Louisiana State University-Alexandria and Louisiana Christian University.
At least 3,492 people applied to Rapides Parish colleges in the 2022-23 school year.
NCES data shows that among them, around 7,210 students enrolled in the universities, including 7,016 in undergraduate and 194 in graduate programs. In total 12.4% of undergraduates transferred from another college or university.
The reported undergraduate student body is comprised mostly of white (57.5%) and Black or African American (25.9%) students.
Among the institutions that provided disclosed enrollment data, Louisiana State University-Alexandria stood out with the largest enrollment at the time, welcoming 4,289 students.
U.S. college enrollment has been in a downward trend since peaking at around 18.1 million students in 2010. Recent increases offered some relief, but experts project a steeper decline in 2025.
This decline is likely due to two main factors. First, the pool of young adults is shrinking as birth rates have fallen nearly 23% between 2007 and 2022. Second, the rising cost of higher education, including skyrocketing student loan debt. A 2023 Wall Street Journal report shows that more than half of Americans think a four-year degree is not worth the cost.
Some educational data is based on estimates. Shifting demographics among student populations can sometimes result in gender totals which do not equal 100%.
| Institution | # of Applicants | # of Admitted Students | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana State University-Alexandria | 2,913 | 1,690 | 4,289 |
| Blue Cliff College-Alexandria | -- | -- | 533 |
| Unitech Training Academy-Alexandria | -- | -- | 95 |
| Pineville Beauty School | -- | -- | 41 |
| Louisiana Christian University | 579 | 434 | 1,026 |
| Central Louisiana Technical Community College | -- | -- | 1,226 |
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