Oct.6, 2026–Missouri Western State University’s official enrollment for the Fall 2026 semester is 3,711, an increase of 1% over Fall 2025. This marks the first increase in enrollment on the official census date since 2018.
“In the current higher education environment, any increase in enrollment is cause for celebration, and I congratulate our faculty, staff and students for all that they have done to make MoWest a destination of choice for recent high school graduates and transfer students,” said Dr. Lenny Klaver, MoWest’s president. “This number establishes a strong baseline, and I’m positive that as we continue to focus on our students and their needs, more and more students and parents will see that we genuinely care about their goals and aspirations.”
The increase in total headcount reflects a significant jump of 9% in new undergraduate degree-seeking students, a 9.7% increase in new first-time students and a 7.2% increase in new transfer students.
“This class is a result of the commitment we’ve made to being present and engaging students throughout their college search,” said Dr. Andy Otto, vice president for enrollment management and marketing. “Our staff, in both marketing and admissions, has been able to position MoWest with prospective students as an accessible institution where the opportunity for careers after graduation are bolstered by educational experiences grounded in learning by doing. We’re encouraged by the support and momentum as we move into the next year.”
MoWest also saw gains in retention rates of current students across the board, increasing by 2% from 2023 for undergraduate degree-seeking students, 5% for first-time first-year students, 7% for transfer students and 5% for graduate students.
Several degree programs are seeing significant growth in enrollment this fall. Below are the top five growing undergraduate degrees with the rate of growth over last year.
- Physical Therapist Assistant, 46%
- Supply Chain Management, 45%
- Manufacturing Engineering Technology, 26%
- Applied Communication and Journalism, 25%
- Secondary Education, 19%
Among graduate programs, the MBA program grew 15% and the Master of Social Work grew 9%.
Census numbers also indicate that MoWest is helping the region’s high school students get college credit before graduation. Enrollment in MoWest’s Early College Academy is up 7.2% from last fall, and the total number of credit hours sought by those students is up 13%.
Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. MoWest is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit missouriwestern.edu.