WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Over 2,100 students are enrolled at Missouri State University-West Plains this fall, according to official enrollment statistics for the 2012 fall semester.

The figures show 2,102 students are taking classes at the university, a 1.9 percent drop from last year’s overall tally of 2,142 students, university officials said.  The number of first-time freshmen, however, rose 5.6 percent, up from 499 last year to 527 this year.

“While maintaining an enrollment over 2,100 students, we are encouraged by our increase in first-time freshmen this year,” Chancellor Drew Bennett said.  “Additionally, we broke a record with the largest number of students who transferred into Missouri State University bachelor programs this fall.  The quality and value of our program remains the best educational opportunity in the region, as confirmed by our low tuition and selection by the Aspen Institute as one of the top 120 two-year schools in the nation.”

According to statistics from the Springfield campus, 103 new transfer students from Missouri State-West Plains are enrolled through the main campus, including on site in Springfield and through its local Outreach program at Missouri State-West Plains.  This is the largest group of new transfers between campuses for any single semester in Missouri State-West Plains history.

Missouri State-West Plains’ final overall enrollment figure includes students taking classes on the university’s campuses in West Plains and Mountain Grove, as well as online.  In addition, the enrollment tally includes students taking classes through dual credit/dual enrollment programs at area high schools, the Great Opportunities for Adult Learners (GOAL) Program, and through the Missouri Sheriff’s Association Training Academy, which, under an agreement with the university, offers a peace officers basic training program that can be applied to meet part of the required credit hours for the university’s Associate of Applied Science in Law Enforcement degree program.

University officials particularly noted increases in the number of credit hours being taken online and the number of ethnic minorities on campus this fall.  Online credit hours jumped 7.5 percent, going from 3,778 in fall 2011 to 4,063 this year to continue the upward five-year trend.  The number of ethnic minorities on campus grew 20 percent, jumping from 115 students last year to 138 students this year.  These 138 students make up 6.6 percent of the overall student body, officials noted.

The bachelor’s and master’s degree programs offered locally by Missouri State University’s Outreach office saw a slight decrease in enrollment, going from 167 students in fall 2011 to 165 students this year.