Albany Herald

Photo by J.D. Sumner

ALBANY, Ga.: Several area colleges and universities saw enrollment grow more than the state average during the Fall 2010 semester, a recent report released by the board of regents show.

Albany State University, Darton College, Georgia Southwestern State University and Bainbridge College all reported growth during the most recent semester, according to the Fall 2010 Semester Enrollment Report.

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College was the only institution in Southwest Georgia that reported a decline in enrollment numbers.

According to the report, Bainbridge College reported the largest growth, going from 3,558 students in Fall 2009 to 3,736 or an increase of five percent.

Georgia Southwestern saw the largest growth among regional universities in Southwest Georgia, putting up a 4.6 percent increase in enrollment, seeing their student body grow from 2,903 students in Fall 2009 to 3,037 students this fall.

ASU saw growth of four percent, with enrollment topping 4,653 students this semester. Darton's enrollment stayed relatively steady, growing only by four-tenths of a percent over the last year.

Stephen Snyder, spokesperson at GSW, said that he attributes the growth there to several factors including the economy, new partnerships with two-year colleges for transfer students and an aggressive marketing campaign.

"I think the economy played a part, but, to a larger extent, we've worked hard to grow our enrollment..our new freshmen are up by 4.8 percent which I think is attributable to aggressive marketing and a new perspective from the leadership, which has been charged with growing the institution," he said.

Since 2007, GSW has grown by 26 percent and continues to posture itself for future growth.