For the first time in nearly a decade, Missouri Western State University’s enrollment has dropped this fall. Missouri Western’s total enrollment of 6,074 students is 3.5 percent fewer than last year’s record number of 6,296. Despite the decline, this year’s class is the third-highest fall enrollment in Missouri Western’s history.
“We’ve been anticipating a decline for a couple of years now because of smaller high school graduating classes in Missouri,” said Dr. Jeanne Daffron, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “The overall numbers aren’t what we hoped, but we are pleased with our continued growth in international students, graduate education and online education, including students taking only online courses.”
The number of international students has risen from only 10 in 2007 to 52 this year, a 21 percent increase from last fall. The international students come from 21 countries. Graduate enrollment is up 6.2 percent, to 171 students, compared to just 41 students when the first master’s degree programs were offered at Missouri Western in 2007.
Growing online education has been a focus area for Missouri Western in recent years, with the number of online courses growing from about 30 in 2008 to more than 200 this fall. Accordingly, online enrollment continues to grow. The number of students taking at least one online course increased by 15 percent this year, and the number of students taking only online courses grew 12 percent, to 229.
The reduced enrollment marks the end of eight consecutive years of enrollment growth at Missouri Western, including record enrollments each of the last seven years. From fall 2003 to fall 2011, enrollment grew 27 percent.
Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.