Maintaining its upward trend, Middle Georgia State University (MGA) this fall posted the third-highest percentage increase in enrollment within the University System of Georgia (USG).

MGA's fall 2019 enrollment reached 8,066 students, according to the USG's official report released Tuesday, Nov. 12. In addition to a 3.4 percent overall enrollment gain, MGA saw an increase of 27.9 percent in students enrolled in master’s degree programs.

“This is our second consecutive fall semester in which we have achieved one of the highest percentages of enrollment growth in the University System of Georgia," said MGA President, Dr. Christopher Blake. "I think we are seeing the results of our efforts to build degree programs around the needs of our region's students and match our offerings with workforce needs. We are also strengthening our relationships with other regional institutions of higher education - such as Central Georgia Technical College - to align our efforts, and continuing to look for opportunities to award students academic credit for their prior learning experiences.”

The latest numbers show MGA continuing an upward trend that began in summer 2018, when the University posted a 7.4 percent increase in enrollment over the same period the previous year.

“Our goal continues to be growing enrollment with purpose and direction," said Jennifer Stenander, vice president for Enrollment Management. "One of our most recent initiatives is a partnership with Delta Air Lines to offer flexible online degree programs in shorter, eight-week sessions to help their employees earn degrees. We have a new Office of Strategic Partnerships to identify more of these kinds of partnerships that will help employers encourage more of their employees to begin or complete degrees – particularly via our online campus, MGA Direct, which launched in August 2019."

The University’s enrollment increase follows news of its inclusion – ranking 13th - on the most recent US News and World Reports “Best Colleges 2020 – Top Public Schools, Regional Colleges South” list.

MGA was one of 11 out of the 26 University System institutions that saw an enrollment increase this fall. The headcount enrollment for the 26 institutions is 333,507, representing an increase of 1.5 percent (4,795 students) over the fall 2018 enrollment of 328,712. This continues a six-year trend of modest increases in student enrollment within the USG. This fall also marks the fifth consecutive year of growth to reach an all-time high in the number of students enrolled in USG institutions.