The Optimist
  • Home
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Features
  • Print Edition
    • The Pessimist
    • Special Projects
  • Police Log
  • Classifieds
You are here: Home / News / Total enrollment reaches record high with nearly 5,000 students
Freshman Enrollment 2012-2016
This year's freshman class is the third-largest in ACU history.

Total enrollment reaches record high with nearly 5,000 students

September 9, 2016 by Allison Brown

The university has reported a record enrollment count of 4,910 students in numbers released on the 12th day of classes, an 8 percent increase from last year’s 4,544 students. A large freshman class and growing online graduate programs through ACU Dallas contributed to the rise in enrolled students.

The class of 2020 is the third-largest in ACU’s history with 1,047 incoming students.

In an email to faculty and staff, Dr. Phil Schubert, president of the university, said 59 percent of freshmen graduated in the top quarter of their high school class, and collectively, the average high school GPA of the class is “an ACU best-ever.”

Students enrolled in graduate programs also is at a record level, with 1,152 students in on-campus and online programs. About 650 of these graduate students are enrolled online from 37 states and three nations through ACU Dallas.screenshot-2016-09-09-14-35-50

Schubert said freshman-to-sophomore retention rates continue to be strong, but retention is down at 76.1 percent, a slight decline from last year’s 79.4 percent.

“Each person enrolled represents an individual and family choosing to invest in an ACU education and its promise; a humbling and inspiring opportunity we are privileged to share,” Schubert said in the email.

Numbers for ethnic and racial diversity of the student body were unavailable due to computer issues.

Students from a Church of Christ background still make up the largest sector of students' religious backgrounds.

Students from a Church of Christ background still make up the largest sector at 30.8 percent. 

The student makeup continues to be more religiously diverse, but students from a Church of Christ background still make up the largest segment at 30.8 percent. The next highest reported background was Baptist, with 18 percent of students. Christian church and Community church backgrounds were not far behind at 16.4 percent and 15.3 percent. Ten percent of students claim “other” religious beliefs. Five percent of students are Catholic, and 4.2 come from a Methodist background.

Filed Under: News

Other News:

  • Provost adopts new policy for emeriti faculty

  • Demolition begins on Sherrod residential apartments

  • ACU Gives exceeds goal, raises over $919,000

About Allison Brown

You are here: Home / News / Total enrollment reaches record high with nearly 5,000 students

Other News:

  • Provost adopts new policy for emeriti faculty

  • Demolition begins on Sherrod residential apartments

  • ACU Gives exceeds goal, raises over $919,000

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

Retweet on Twitter The Optimist Retweeted
optimistsports Optimist Sports @optimistsports ·
26 Jun

The United Athletic Conference is officially taking the place of the Western Athletic Conference in the 2026-2027 athletic year. The UAC is a joint football effort between the WAC and the ASUN but will now extend to all sports. #acuoptimist #acuathletics #wac #uac

Reply on Twitter 1938240320854008109 Retweet on Twitter 1938240320854008109 2 Like on Twitter 1938240320854008109 7 Twitter 1938240320854008109
Retweet on Twitter The Optimist Retweeted
ashleyh1607 Ashley Henderson @ashleyh1607 ·
3 Jun

My second year at ACU was full of opportunities that grew me as an individual and a journalist.

In my first year as editor in chief of @acuoptimist, we published six print issues, filmed a 3-hour live election show, and revamped our newscast, all while producing news weekly.

Reply on Twitter 1929734328445178254 Retweet on Twitter 1929734328445178254 1 Like on Twitter 1929734328445178254 1 Twitter 1929734328445178254

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist

1 years ago

The Optimist

Video

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

The Optimist

2 years ago

The Optimist
"Ending my college education early was always the plan for me, but the things that I have been able to see, experience and examine about ACU’s community were not. I have found immense growth in ACU over the past three and a half years, but ACU still has a long road to climb if it wants to keep catering to students as the world changes around them." To read more of this article visit acuoptimist.com or click the link in our bio. #acu #abilenechristianuniversity #privatechristianuniversity #collegestudentopinion #acuopinion ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Videos

Optimist Newscast Feb. 28, 2024

Our top stories today include a recap of The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, the ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 21, 2024
  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 14, 2024
  • Optimist Newscast Jan. 24, 2024

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Policies
    • Advertising Policy
    • Letters to the Editor and Reader Comments
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photo Galleries
  • Features
  • Advertise
    • Paid Advertisement
  • Police Log

© 2025 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved