By MATT PIKE
For the first time in four years, Missouri Western State University has seen an increase in new student enrollment as the fall semester began today.
MoWest welcomed 755 new undergraduate students on the first day of classes Monday, an increase of nearly 10% from last year. The incoming class includes 545 first-year students, an increase of 13.7%, and 210 transfer students, an increase of 1%.
“This is the first increase in total new student enrollment since 2022,” Vice president of enrollment management and marketing Andy Otto says in a news release from the university. “The growth tells a positive story about momentum at MoWest. More students are realizing that this is a great place to get an affordable education that prepares you for a rewarding career.”
MoWest continues to be a top ranked university in the state for social mobility, and this new class represents that, as 41% are first-generation college students. New students come from 28 states, but the numbers also show MoWest is serving the local community as 33% of first-year students come from Buchanan County and 19% are from the Kansas City metro area. The number of first-year students from metro Kansas City is up 31% from last year.
“Our team has worked diligently throughout the entire recruitment process to identify and connect with the right students for MoWest,” Director of admissions Kristy Martin adds. “We are beginning to see the results of the recruiters’ continued efforts to engage students and guide them through the enrollment process.”
The incoming class is also choosing on-campus living at a higher rate with the number of freshmen living in MoWest residence halls up more than 28% from a year ago, contributing to a 6.7% increase in total housing occupancy.
“The housing numbers reflect the growing vitality of our on-campus student experience,” Otto says. “And our students are recognizing the value that our residence halls and meal plans provide.”
The top five programs attracting new students include nursing, business, education, exercise science and psychology. All enrollment numbers are preliminary. Official statistics will be established on the census date four weeks into the semester.
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