FAMU finishes FYE 2013 with 13,256 students

FAMU’s enrollment fell for the second consecutive fiscal year in 2013. The university’s 12 month unduplicated headcount for July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013 was 13,256. That was a decline of 1,127 from the previous fiscal year, when the total enrollment was 14,383.

The university’s fall semester enrollment began sliding in 2011 due to tighter admissions standards and new preparatory requirements for students admitted through the profile assessment process.

FAMU and many other historically black colleges and universities were hurt by stricter eligibility requirements for the federal PLUS Loan program that went into effect in October of 2011. 

The PLUS Loan changes resulted in thousands of low-income HBCU students being denied this critical source of financial aid and either having to withdraw from school or delay their entry into college.  

Back in the Fall of 2012, a total of 569 FAMU students were denied PLUS Loans. They were part of more than 14,616 HBCU students whose PLUS Loan applications were turned down.

Hampton University William Harvey, who also chairs the Board of Advisors for the White Initiative on HBCUs, called the Plus Loan crisis “the worst situation I’ve seen in my 35 years as president.”

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan apologized to a group of HBCU leaders back in September for the way his agency handled the PLUS Loan eligibility changes.

“Communication internally and externally was poor,” Duncan said. “I apologize for that, and for the real impact it has had.”