Northwestern State University of Louisiana has reached 89% student retention rates for Spring 2025, beating the previous all-time best of 87% in the Spring 2024 semester, according to Vanner Erikson, director of student enrollment.
Erikson said this reflects an improvement in student support services. “We’re excited about our climbing retention rate,” Erikson said. “It shows that we’re adding in the necessary support for students and surrounding students with what they need most.”
Along with the record retention rate, new student enrollment is at an unusual high for a spring semester. Spring enrollment at NSU stands at 7,761 students with a higher number of first-time freshmen and transfer students compared to previous spring semesters, according to Erikson.
Housing applications for the Fall 2025 semester are also increasing. Many students cite small class sizes, campus involvement opportunities and affordability as key reasons for choosing NSU, Erikson said
“We’ve had more new students enroll and start in spring than in the last few years, in regards to entering new freshman, transfers and readmitted students,” Erikson said. “This is a positive trend, and we’re excited about it.”
Upperclassmen students are also noticing a change. Sarah Boles, senior history major, mentioned seeing more new NSU students on social media.
“Especially on Instagram, you see more people talking about transferring or talking about this being their first semester,” Boles said.
Erikson and the enrollment team are creating a strategic enrollment management plan for the next three years, intended for the entire university to follow. Erikson believes that every aspect of NSU should be considered in regard to recruiting and retention.
“Enrollment is the responsibility of every staff and faculty member at NSU,” Erikson said. “This plan will have the necessary updates, changes and innovations that focus on retention and recruiting to help us achieve future growth.”
The new enrollment management plan will focus on improving all aspects of NSU, including technology, student services and processes, recruiting efforts and auxiliary services.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, NSU experienced a slight decline in enrollment and retention rates.
Jennifer Enoch, professor of English, explained the work that faculty members have put in to retain enrollment at NSU.
“I do a lot of work to talk to everybody about registration and make sure that people register,” Enoch said. “Enrollment rates are going up because we’re focusing on it.”
Spring 2025 semester enrollment rates appear to have flattened, reflecting continuous efforts from NSU’s faculty and staff.