Fall 2024 sees record-setting enrollment
October 15, 2024
The Fall 2024 enrollment total at Lamar State College Port Arthur is the largest in the school's 115-year history.
Lamar State College Port Arthur has set a new record for enrollment with its Fall 2024 semester totals with 4,687 students. This is the largest single-semester enrollment count in the school's 115-year history.
"For the third consecutive fall semester, we have seen an enrollment increase," LSCPA President Dr. Betty Reynard said. "We set enrollment goals every semester and we're able to meet and surpass those goals because we consistently present students with the best options to earn high-impact degrees."
The more than 24 percent increase from Fall 2023 to Fall 2024 was led by the burgeoning dual credit offerings that bring high school students into the collegiate fold, providing them the opportunity to earn college credit before even graduating from high school.
"The path to a college degree begins much earlier now and at LSCPA, we have embraced the opportunity to help these young people get a head start," said Bruce Hodge, Director of Dual Credit Programs at LSCPA. "The growth of high school student participation over the past several years is phenomenal. And, what it means is that coming out of high school, these students already have degrees and certificates that lead to lucrative jobs or a four-year degree at a university. The experience and knowledge they receive, even before leaving high school, is invaluable."
LSCPA works with nearly 20 different high school dual credit programs and three early college high schools, making up more than 3,000 students in the Fall 2024 tally.
Equally as important is the contact hours, defined as the number of hours a student spends in lab or class in a given semester. For Fall 2024, students will see nearly 675,000 contact hours, another all-time school record. This is an increase of almost 10 percent over the Fall 2023 semester.
"Our growth reflects LSCPA's value as an academic and technical education institution," Dr. Reynard said. "We serve not only Port Arthur and Southeast Texas, but students from across the state of Texas and Louisiana. And even as we continue to expand our enrollment and the programs and opportunities we offer at Lamar State College Port Arthur, we remain focused on making each student's experience fruitful and life-changing."
| LSCPA Fall Enrollment, 2020-2024 | ||
| Semester | Enrollment | Percentage +/- |
| Fall 2024 | 4,687 | +24.04% |
| Fall 2023 | 3,779 | +40.07% |
| Fall 2022 | 2,698 | +6.47% |
| Fall 2021 | 2,534 | -1.25% |
| Fall 2020 | 2,566 | - |