Fall 2016 enrollment highlights growth, service opportunities

Students take a group selfie to celebrate the start of fall semester 2016. Photo by Anna Kurth

St. Cloud State’s fall 2016 enrollment set all-time highs for the number of international students and students of color enrolled, according to the 30^th day fall enrollment report. The university also experienced an increase in graduate students.

This year’s fall enrollment headcount is 15,092. Throughout the year, St. Cloud State serves more than 19,000 students.

While overall enrollment headcount declined 2.4 percent, the university’s full-year equivalent (FYE) declined by only by 1.5 percent which shows that staff and faculty efforts on encouraging students to take more credits may be having a positive impact.

“We are re-envisioning the work we do to serve students and are already making an impact as we are seeing increases in credit-taking behavior and in our four-year graduation rates,” said Interim Provost Dan Gregory.

Graduate student enrollment surpassed 1,800, thanks in part to the creation of new master’s degree and certificate programs, including the online Master of Business Administration and the Master of Public Administration.

“Our graduate programs are helping people establish and enhance careers with career development opportunities that benefit Minnesota’s workforce,” Gregory said.

International student enrollment is 1,383, the highest in modern history, because of partnerships such as the 2+2 program with Binhai College in China that added a 25 percent increase to the university’s finance program this fall.

Student of color headcount enrollment increased to 2,549, 16.9 percent of the university’s student body. The continued increase in student of color enrollment reflects statewide demographics – students of color will drive the increase in high school graduates through 2025.

St. Cloud State also continues to see the impact of its growing relationships with two-year partners, including St. Cloud Technical and Community College and North Hennepin Community College, with degree completion opportunities in business, education, science and health related programs. New-entering transfer student enrollment this fall is flat despite declines in enrollment from some university feeder schools.

The decline in enrollment was largely impacted by a 2.6 percentage point drop in retention, which can be partially attributed to changing student needs.

“These challenges are not ours alone. We are a reflection locally of what is going on in the broader world of higher education,” said Interim President Ashish Vaidya. “Universities nationwide need to adjust to be able to service more students with unmet need.”

The cost of higher education is outpacing aid and more students have unmet needs – the cost of attendance a student is responsible for after expected family contribution and all merit scholarships, need-based aid and loans are accounted for.  Just over half of St. Cloud State’s first-time students have some level of unmet need. The fall 2015 first-time student class had a nearly 30 percent increase in the number of students with high unmet need.

“Anecdotally, St. Cloud State is encountering more students for whom a $500 or even $200 outstanding tuition balance is make-or-break for them to be able to stay enrolled,” Gregory said. “The University works with these students to attempt to establish payment plans and explore scholarship and aid opportunities so they can continue to work toward a four-year degree that will increase their income potential and prepare them for life, work and citizenship in the 21^st Century.”

St. Cloud State is focused on retention efforts and making an impact on spring enrollment. For example, the university has created additional opportunities to advise students on credit-taking behavior and faculty are active in reaching out to students who may be struggling to make sure they can get the services and assistance they need to succeed.

“I am proud of the great work taking place throughout campus to make an impact in the success of our students and in helping them reach their higher education and career goals,” Vaidya said.