GREENSBORO, N.C. — College student enrollment is dropping at universities across North Carolina, but N.C. A&T is seeing more students joining. 

What You Need to Know

College student enrollment is dropping at universities across North Carolina

According to enrollment data from the University of North Carolina System, most of the 16 universities in the system saw a drop in student enrollment from fall 2021 to fall 2022

N.C. A&T is one of a handful of schools that reported an increase during the same time period 

According to enrollment data from the University of North Carolina System, most of the 16 universities in the system saw a drop in student enrollment from fall 2021 to fall 2022. N.C. A&T is one of a handful of schools that reported an increase during the same time period. 

N.C. A&T interim Associate Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Joseph Montgomery said the university’s strategic plan and student enrollment targets are setting them up for success as it continues to grow. 

“Not only do we want to grow our freshman class, our new student class, but it’s also important for our audience to know that we’re working very hard on our retention rates. Our retention rates have improved over time. Our completion rates continue to improve, so we’re growing in both directions,” Montgomery said. 

He believes there are a variety of reasons to explain the changes in enrollment across the state — from changes in population levels to more competition for North Carolina students. Montgomery said student enrollment is only a piece of the operating budget for universities. 

“Our goals are always to ensure that we are servicing our students the best way that we can,” Montgomery said. “Part of this is looking at the formula that exists around funding and to determine how state allocations meet a portion of our funding requirements. The other side of this is to ensure that our enrollment remains robust so that we can meet the other side of the [sic] budget. “

According to N.C. A&T staff, the university is the largest HBCU in the country and aims to have 14,000 students on campus by fall 2023.