The University of Alabama on Friday announced that its fall 2020 enrollment saw an increase in the number of in-state undergraduate students, plus record-setting graduate school enrollment.

The university’s total student headcount for this semester was a strong 37,842, even amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

This reportedly included a 2% increase of in-state undergrads, marking the second consecutive year in-state enrollment was up. The number of students who identify as African American, Hispanic or Asian American was up a total of 3.6%.

According to a release, highlights of UA’s 2020 freshman class include 42.3% boasting a 4.0 GPA in high school, 39.9% scoring 30 or higher on the ACT, an average high school GPA of 3.83 and 221 National Merit Scholars.

The university’s graduate enrollment reached 5,730, which represents a 17.7% increase year-over-year and includes a 34% jump in the number of graduate students studying via distance course work.

“The diversity and academic achievements of our student body continue to elevate each year,” stated UA president Dr. Stuart R. Bell. “We thank our students and their families for their commitment to UA, and I can’t say enough about our appreciation to the faculty and staff for the work they do daily to ensure our students have the preparation, expertise and resources to succeed.”

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Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn