Photos by Darren Whitley /Northwest University Relations)
Enrollment at Northwest Missouri State University this fall is 6,720 students and is up 3.6 percent, the University announces this week after completing its fall census.
The total headcount is comprised of 5,491 undergraduate students and 1,229 graduate students. Graduate enrollment is up 30 percent from the same time last year.
The headcount also includes 1,297 first-time freshmen, a 3 percent increase from last year’s freshmen headcount. At the same time, about 71 percent of Northwest’s fall 2013 freshmen returned to the University this fall – an increase from last fall that places Northwest’s freshman retention rate above the national average.
“Students recognize our emphasis on helping them succeed, and our enrollment numbers are indicative that Northwest Missouri State remains a top destination for a comprehensive academic experience that is high-quality and affordable,” Northwest President Dr. John Jasinski said.
Northwest also recorded a substantial increase in enrollment of international students. The University’s enrollment includes 708 international students, a 98 percent increase from last fall. They represent 31 countries with the majority of those students coming from India, while China, Nepal and South Korea are also well represented.
Additionally, Northwest’s student body remains increasingly diverse with 1,498 students, or 22 percent, coming from an underrepresented domestic group or another country. Northwest’s total minority enrollment is 790 students, which represents 12 percent of the student body.
Thirty-seven percent of Northwest’s student body, or a total of 2,460 students, hail from beyond the Missouri border. Out-of-state enrollment is up 25 percent from last year, including an 87 percent increase among graduate students. In all, Northwest students represent 46 states this fall.
Northwest – a coeducational, primarily residential four-year university that offers a broad range of undergraduate and selected graduate programs – is ranked as the top moderately selective regional university in Missouri on U.S. News and World Report’s list of “2015 Best Colleges.”
It boasts a 59 percent graduation rate, which is about 20 percent higher than the national average. In addition, 98 percent of Northwest bachelor’s degree earners and 99 percent of master’s degree earners secure employment or continue their education within six months of graduation, according to the most recent data.
Furthermore, its vibrant and diverse learning community offers more than 150 student organizations, and textbooks and a laptop are included in tuition, which is among the lowest in the state, saving students an estimated $7,200 over four years. Northwest also offers 1,200 student employment positions, allowing students to build professional skills through its internationally benchmarked student employment program.
Northwest students are strong academically with an average ACT score of 22.8, and students enrolled at the University this fall carried an average high school grade-point average of 3.35.