LSU’s freshmen class for the flagship campus in Baton Rouge is the largest incoming class in the school’s history. LSU interim president Matt Lee says there are nearly 8,200 first-time freshmen on campus, and more than 5,000 of them are Louisiana residents — and this class is the most academically accomplished.
“The average high school GPA is 3.85 and we welcomed over 450 valedictorians, a 23% increase over last year,” Lee noted.
Lee says LSU Eunice, LSU Alexandria and LSU Shreveport also set enrollment records this year. Lee made the announcement as he was giving a “State of the University” address.
The interim president also announced LSU’s research enterprise has crossed the $500 million mark for the first time in history.
“We’re working to grow that portfolio to $800 or $900 million and nearly double our doctoral student population. So LSU remains a hub for advanced scholarship and talent development,” Lee said.
Lee says there are also several major projects underway. He says the Our Lady of the Lake Health Interdisciplinary Science Building will open next year, and the school is also working to meet the housing demand.
“Adding another 1,200 new beds by 2027 to meet growing demand and strengthen campus engagement. And next year, we’ll break ground on a 193,000-square-foot LSU library, a modern academic centerpiece,” Lee said.
Lee says LSU is also committing more than $100 million to the construction of a new Construction and Advanced Manufacturing Building.