{"id":12557,"date":"2026-10-06T10:48:40","date_gmt":"2026-10-06T15:48:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/news\/?p=12557"},"modified":"2026-10-06T10:48:40","modified_gmt":"2026-10-06T15:48:40","slug":"total-mowest-enrollment-increases-for-first-time-in-eight-years-fueled-by-big-jump-in-new-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/news\/2026\/10\/06\/total-mowest-enrollment-increases-for-first-time-in-eight-years-fueled-by-big-jump-in-new-students\/","title":{"rendered":"Total MoWest enrollment increases for first time in eight years, fueled by big jump in new students"},"content":{"rendered":"
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New students take a selfie during Griffon Edge 2026. A 9% increase in degree-seeking new students helped MoWest’s total enrollment grow this fall for the first time since 2018.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Oct.6, 2026\u2013Missouri Western State University\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn 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,\u201d said Dr. Lenny Klaver, MoWest\u2019s president. \u201cThis number establishes a strong baseline, and I\u2019m 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.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis class is a result of the commitment we’ve made to being present and engaging students throughout their college search,\u201d said Dr. Andy Otto, vice president for enrollment management and marketing. \u201cOur 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.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n