November 7, 1997

The Class of 2001: setting new academic and diversity standards

by Annie Morris, Intern in the Office of Publications

The Class of 2001's arrival has provided Loyola a promisingoutlook for future school years. With a higher GPA and ACT average than any other class in the history of the university, the freshman class stands to set prospective goals for the future of admissions. The new academic data provides evidence of the university's persistent efforts to strive for greater academic achievement.

This year's class entered with 702 students, the largest number since 1988. Their average SAT combined score is 1164 and their average ACT composite score is 25.7, both of which are higher than the national average. The high school grade point average is recorded as 3.55. More than half of the freshman class, or 66 percent, received academic or talent-based scholarships, thus emphasizing that students who have been active in clubs, sports, and service-oriented projects, as well as having a strong academic record, will continue to contribute as leaders on the university level.

Debbie Stieffel, director of admissions, commented on the success of this year's recruitment, stating that "increasing enrollment numbers while maintaining academic standards is a great achievement for the admissions board. In today's market of decreasing high school seniors in Loyola's primary markets, coupled with economic roadblocks in those same markets, it is often difficult to make it possible for large numbers of students who are well-qualified to afford a private university. However, even given the roadblocks, Loyola has done an excellent job of identifying and enrolling students. Through expanded travel for Loyola's top-notch recruiters, cutting edge recruitment software and technology, modern financial aid strategies, and aggressive telecounseling efforts, it is now possible to identify and attract higher numbers of qualified students from all markets, allowing Loyola to reach its enrollment goals."

Loyola not only ranks academic excellence as a top priority, but also strives to attract a mix of students from various backgrounds. For example, the ethnic minority percentage of the new class is 24.9 percent with an African-American representation of 11.4 percent, and a Hispanic representation of 9.1 percent. Of the 702 students, 56 percent are from out-of-state, with 46 states and 11 foreign countries represented. Forty-four percent are from Louisiana including 38 percent from the greater New Orleans metropolitan region.

By attracting a well-rounded student body and raising scholastic standards, Loyola can be optimistic in its goal of becoming a nationally-recognized university of excellence.