The University of Alabama’s fall 2013 entering freshman class of 6,478 students includes 126 National Merit Scholars, according to a University press release.

According to the University’s annual Factbook, the fall 2012 entering freshman class included 239 National Merit Scholars, marking a 47 percent decline in freshman National Merit enrollment from 2012-13. These scholars comprise 2 percent of 2013 incoming freshman enrollment. They accounted for 4 percent of similar enrollment in 2012.

Mary Spiegel, associate provost and executive director of Undergraduate Admissions, did not offer an explanation for the decrease in incoming National Merit Scholars.

“UA reviews and adjusts scholarship offers in an effort to determine competitive scholarships to be offered to prospective students while achieving the most significant recruitment impact,” Spiegel said in an emailed statement. “National Merit and National Achievement Finalists/Scholars continue to be an important population of scholars to recruit for UA. Along with their scholarship package, these students have the opportunity to receive and achieve a world class education based on the Honors College’s four pillars: innovative scholarship, advanced research, cultural interaction and civic engagement.”

This year the University offered incoming National Merit Finalists a scholarship package including the value of tuition for up to 10 semesters of degree-seeking studies, one year of on-campus housing, a $3,500 per year stipend dependent on the amount of outside corporate sponsorship, a one-time $2,000 research allowance and an Apple iPad. In previous years, the University has offered finalists four years of on-campus housing.

Jason Britchkow, a freshman National Merit Finalist majoring in computer science, said the scholarship package proved influential in his decision to attend school.

“I actually only applied to UA because I loved the school, and it was hard to turn down the full scholarship. The money was probably the most influential factor in my decision, but obviously, I wouldn’t come here all the way from Pennsylvania if I didn’t love the school itself,” he said. “I didn’t mind the change in housing since I planned on living off campus eventually anyway.”

UA President Judy Bonner said the incoming group has distinguished itself in aspects outside of National Merit Scholarship results.

“The University of Alabama is attracting students who are successful both inside and outside the classroom,” she said in the press release. “Our incoming students are very well-qualified. Many first-year students have already completed [Advanced Placement], International Baccalaureate or dual-enrollment college courses, and we are pleased that they are choosing UA to pursue their goals.”

According to the press release, the class’s average ACT score is 25.8, the highest average in UA history, and 1,768 freshmen measured a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, up from 1,725 in 2012.

The University’s current total enrollment of 34,852 – up 3.7 percent from 33,603 in fall 2012 – also breaks the record set by last year’s number.

Mike Clardy, Auburn University’s director of university communications, said Auburn’s 2013 freshman class of 3,726 completes a total fall 2013 enrollment of 24,864. Auburn’s freshman and overall enrollment was 3,852 and 25,134, respectively, in fall 2012.

Cathy Andreen, director of media relations, said 60 percent of freshmen are out-of-state, military overseas and international students and 40 percent are from Alabama. Total enrollment includes 53 percent in-state students and 47 percent out-of-state.

Spiegel said the recruitment and operations budget for fiscal year 2013 was $1,471,343, an average of approximately $227 per incoming freshman.