Angelo State University Enrollment Surpasses 11,250 Students

SAN ANGELO, TX — Angelo State University has reached a record-breaking enrollment of 11,250 students, marking an increase of approximately 1,000 students compared to the previous academic year. ASU President Ronnie Hawkins made this announcement during a speech delivered at the Pachyderm Club of San Angelo on Wednesday, October 18th, at Napoli’s Italian Restaurant, 1901 Knickerbocker Rd.

Out of the 11,250 students, approximately 4,000 are classified as "Dual Credit" students. These students are currently in high school, taking college-level courses primarily instructed by professors at Angelo State University. Hawkins emphasized that ASU's dual credit program serves 69 high schools in the region, making it the largest such program in the entire state.

Hawkins attributed this enrollment success to the dedication of the personnel involved in the university's recruitment and retention program. He acknowledged the leadership of Jamie Mayer, who heads the program known as the Strategic Enrollment Management Plan. This program, executed by the admissions and enrollment department, focuses on outreach, recruitment, and retention strategies.

"We are very intentional about how we distribute scholarships and retain freshmen at Angelo State," Hawkins stated, emphasizing that recruitment and retention require the efforts of everyone within the university community, from deans to department heads to professors and instructors. In an effort to engage the entire community in recruitment, Hawkins encouraged all in the audience to become advocates for ASU.

Hawkins went the extra mile in his commitment to student support by sharing his personal cell phone number with the parents of every freshman upon enrollment. He receives texts and calls about various student issues daily and is actively involved in addressing them. One such issue recently reported to his personal phone was slow Wi-Fi in the residence halls, which he pledged to resolve promptly.

While other flagship Texas universities like UT and A&M have shifted towards emphasizing research, Angelo State University remains focused on teaching. Dr. Clifton Jones, Vice Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, told us previously that ASU remains a teaching university. That is, ASU has a commitment to recruiting and hiring professors primarily for teaching, not exclusively research.

Furthermore, Angelo State remains an affordable option for students. President Hawkins noted that tuition and fees for a full-time student at ASU amount to $9,310 per year. When considering additional expenses for on-campus housing, a meal plan, transportation, and miscellaneous costs, a full-time Texas resident student can expect to spend $26,180 per year. Here are current costs of a year of full-time undergraduate enrollment at ASU.

Addressing concerns about student loan debt, Hawkins expressed his determination to prudently manage student aid and scholarships. Currently, 38 percent of ASU bachelor's degree graduates graduate without debt, and he aims to increase this percentage to above 50 percent and continue improving from there.