NDSU sets another enrollment record
For the seventh year in a row, NDSU has set new enrollment records.
NDSU reports that 12,258 students are currently enrolled in its undergraduate and graduate programs, a difference of 159 students from a year ago.
President Chapman credits NDSU’s diverse programs to the university’s continued growth.
“ Our continued growth in student enrollment, particularly in our graduate programs, is significant and exciting. We are growing as an institution because our programs meet the region’s needs and wants.” Chapman said. “Students have a choice in furthering their education, and a growing number of them are choosing NDSU.”
Prakash Mathew, vice president for student affairs, said that many factors have lead to NDSU’s enrollment growth over the past several years.
“ The primary reason for NDSU’s growth, I believe, is because we have added several new graduate degrees,” Mathew said. “Over the past couple of years our graduate program has grown to a larger scale…and we are experiencing the same thing this year.”
Mathew said the freshman class is also larger this year than any other year in NDSU’s history.
The freshman population has grown to 2,076 new students, up 52 students from last year.
He also noted that the number of transfer students at NDSU has grown, which is typically an area that doesn’t see much growth.
High admission standards have also lead to growth at the college according to Mathew.
“ It is important for students to understand we have a selective admission process that requires a 2.5 grade point average and a 21 ACT score or 970 SAT score,” Mathew said. “With that selective admission standard, we still have had, over the last several years, a higher enrollment rate. We graduated last year 184 more students than the previous year…the freshman class averaged 23.28 on their ACT scores and had a grade point average of 3.38. That’s good news.”
Mathew noted that besides the higher admission standards and growth in NDSU’s graduate programs, many aspects have led to its recent successes.
“ Our recruiting and enrollment staff has also done a terrific job. I think our visibility across the nation, our athletic programs, the faculty, the programs we provide and other things that are going on outside of the classroom play a role in NDSU’s growth,” Mathew said.
Mathew also said NDSU’s collaboration with institutes abroad as played a part in the growth.
“ We are on the cutting edge for the things we are doing at NDSU,” Mathew said. “President Chapman has charted a course for us and I think it is an exciting time in the life of students. We are known for our academic programs and I think that regionally and nationally that the word is out and students are choosing NDSU and that’s the best news of all.”