The freshman class that started their college careers at Missouri Western State University today may be the best prepared class from an academic standpoint in the school’s history.
“We are seeing an increase in students enrolling at Missouri Western who would typically enroll at more selective universities,” said Howard McCauley, dean of enrollment management. “More high-achieving students are choosing Missouri Western based on our high academic quality and affordable cost.”
The average ACT score for incoming full-time freshmen this year is a school record 22, up nearly a half a point from last year. In addition, there is an increase of 8.8 percent in students enrolling with a 23-26 ACT. The number of incoming freshmen with high school grade point averages of 4.0 or higher is up more than 26 percent.
The academic preparation of the incoming freshmen is also reflected in the number of students eligible for competitive scholarships. The number of students eligible for the President’s Scholarship (26 ACT, 3.5 GPA) is up 8.8 percent from last year, and the number eligible for the Governors’ Scholarship (23 ACT, 3.3 GPA) is up 1.6 percent.
There is also growth in Missouri Western’s Honors Program, which offers high-achieving students the opportunity to enhance their college experience through guest speakers, conferences, study abroad, in-depth research and other activities. Enrollment in the Honors program is up about 23 percent over last year.
Preliminary enrollment figures also indicate that graduate student enrollment is at a record level, exceeding last spring’s enrollment of 210.
“More and more working professionals who want to advance their careers are discovering the opportunity we provide to achieve excellence through high-quality classroom instruction and practical applied learning in the workplace,” said Dr. Ben Caldwell, dean of the Graduate School. The Master of Science in Nursing and Master of Information Management programs in particular showed strong growth this fall, Dr. Caldwell said.
Enrollment numbers will be finalized after the official census date four weeks into the semester.
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.