With an increase over last year’s fall semester opening day enrollment, Missouri State University is poised to set another enrollment record when the official census is conducted in September, fueled by significant increase in first-time students.
The Springfield campus opened the fall semester with 20,334 students, a 2.6 percent increase. The number of first-time students enrolled on opening day is 3,194 –– up 387 (13.8 percent) compared to last year.
Official census is taken on the 20th day of classes; official enrollment reports will be available Sept. 16.
“It’s a credit to our faculty, staff, alumni, donors and current students that we are experiencing such an exciting period of growth,” said Clifton M. Smart III, Missouri State president. “We’re so pleased to be headed toward another record enrollment, and it’s notable that our new student numbers are so strong relative to what we are seeing across the state.”
The increase in first-time students is the largest since 1987. The number of first-time students is the largest since the university began implementing selective admission standards in 1995. The all-time record for freshmen is 3,747, set in 1989, when the university had only modest admission requirements.
Enrollment is also up in many other student categories, including underrepresented students (up 8.5 percent), students from other states (up 7.4 percent) and graduate students (up 0.7 percent).
Late registration will continue on the Springfield campus through Friday, and registration in high school dual credit courses and other special courses will continue through early September.
Nechell Bonds, director of admissions, noted that it will be more important than ever for high school seniors considering Missouri State to apply early in their senior year, since students who apply early have advantages in regard to housing and registration. Prospective students are encouraged to visit the campus (www.missouristate.edu/visit). The university will host Showcase, a special open house for prospective students, on Oct. 31 (www.missouristate.edu/showcase).