The University of South Alabama has announced a record enrollment of 7,274 students for the summer term.

USA's enrollment reflects an 8.2 percent increase of 551 students over last summer. Before this year, USA's highest summer enrollment was 6,993, a record set in 1994.

"We are pleased that students are continuing to see the benefits of attending USA," said Dr. J. David Stearns, associate vice president for enrollment services at USA. "Our goal is to continue providing the best academic programs and supportive campus services for our students."

USA's summer undergraduate enrollment is up 6.6 percent with 4,924 students, while graduate enrollment is up 13.5 percent with 2,031 students.

Stearns attributes the increase to the quality and availability of USA's academic programs.

"Many of our students are taking advantage of the academic programs offered during the summer," explained Stearns. "Attending school in the summer allows the student to move through the academic program at a faster pace."

"The summer term is an especially popular time for professionals interested in enhancing their skills, particularly in the colleges of education and nursing." said Stearns.

USA's enrollment this past fall was 12,510, the second highest in the institution's history. That same group saw a freshman class average ACT of 22.3, ranking USA in the 73rd percentile nationally. In the past three years, USA's enrollment has increased by 10 percent, or 1,125 students, and USA remains one of the fastest growing universities in the state.

USA was founded in 1963 and this year celebrated its 40th anniversary by topping the 50,000 mark in total graduates. The University graduated a total of 2,371 students in 2003 and its historical total is 51,331.