UA Ranks First Among Public Universities in Enrollment of National Merit Scholars

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama ranks first among public universities nationwide in the enrollment of National Merit Scholars for 2012-2013 with 241 scholars in the fall 2012 freshman class.

The ranking also places UA fourth among all universities. Only the University of Chicago, Harvard and the University of Southern California enrolled more National Merit Scholars last fall than UA.

The rankings are based on the National Merit Scholarship Corp.’s newly released 2011-2012 annual report.

“We are very pleased that so many of these exceptionally talented students are choosing The University of Alabama,” said UA President Judy Bonner. “They are part of a truly outstanding freshman class that includes more than 1,700 freshmen with high school grade point averages of 4.0 or higher.”

The fall 2012 freshman class includes a record 6,397 students, drawn from more than 26,400 applicants. One in four freshmen is enrolled in the Honors College.

Last year, UA ranked second among public universities with 181 National Merit Scholars in the fall 2011 freshman class. Some 645 National Merit Scholars are currently enrolled at UA.