Over the river and through the woods, to LSU they come.
Non-resident University students now make up nearly 19 percent of the total student body, a record high, according to the Office of Budget and Planning.
The out-of-state enrollment marks a 9 percent increase from the University’s student population in 2000.
The data, which was released Thursday, showed non-resident enrollment has increased from 5,143 students last year to 5,397 for the fall 2011 semester.
Alden King, fashion merchandising freshman, said the University is appealing to students outside Louisiana for many reasons.
“LSU has a great spirit and friendly atmosphere,” King said. “The LSU name has a good academic and social reputation.”
Jenna Schumann, LSU Liaison and fashion merchandising senior, attributed the University’s success in enrolling out-of-state students to recruiters taking a more personal approach.
“We assign recruiters to specific states and areas so that students may form a relationship with the recruiter,” Schumann said.
Texas, Florida and Alabama are among the states most represented by University non-resident students, the data showed.
But the non-resident Tiger population is not the only thing growing.
King, a Massachusetts resident, said she was not happy with the steady increase in non-resident tuition over the past few years.
Non-resident tuition has increased more than $6,000 over the past five years, according to data from the Office of Budget and Planning.
Bob Kuhn, associate vice chancellor of Budget and Planning, attributes the hike in tuition to the University’s budgetary problems.
Kuhn said students are having to pay more to make up for a decrease in state funding. In addition, policies outlined in the LA GRAD Act stipulate that tuition should be comparable to that of other Southern schools, and the University’s tuition rate is below average.
As for the gap between in- and out-of-state tuition, Kuhn said it’s a matter of tax revenue.
“State tax money should not go to pay for non-resident tuition,” Kuhn said.
Looking toward the future, Kuhn said he hopes state funding will stabilize so the University can re-invest some tuition money into improvements.
Emily Witt, computer science sophomore, said the gap in tuition price is unfair.
“Anyone should be able to come to LSU no matter where they are from,” Witt said.
According to the Louisiana resident, students don’t get a better education by paying more in tuition.
“Why should some students pay $10,000 more for the same education?” Witt said.
King said the higher price tag is still cheaper than a private institution.
“It all pays off in the end,” she said.
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Contact Josh Naquin at [email protected]