WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Enrollment at Missouri State University-West Plains increased 3.3 percent this fall, according to official enrollment statistics for the 2014 fall semester.
The figures show 2,193 students are taking classes at the university this fall compared to last year’s overall tally of 2,123 students, university officials said.
“We are very pleased our enrollment continues to grow – in this case three times the amount of our increase in enrollment last year,” Missouri State-West Plains Chancellor Drew Bennett said, pointing to 2013’s 1 percent enrollment growth. “What is even more significant is seeing such successful enrollment growth when many two-year institutions in Missouri are experiencing decreases this year. This means that our growth is due to the quality of our programs, which are continuing to attract more students from around the state. These students want to use their A+ scholarship and have a full campus experience at a two-year school ranked sixth in the nation. I love to see us grow because each additional student means a life changed and a better future created for that person, his or her family, our community, and the state of Missouri.”
Statistics show 325 Missouri students from outside the university’s seven-county primary service area are enrolled at the university this fall. That’s a 41.9 percent increase over the 229 students enrolled in fall 2013. In addition, 25 students from Arkansas enrolled in the university’s programs this fall, a 25 percent increase over last year.
The university also saw a significant increase in the number of non-degree seeking students taking classes this year, going from 468 students in fall 2013 to 625 students this fall, a 33.5 percent increase. Non-degree seeking students include those enrolled in high school dual credit and dual enrollment programs at area schools, the new reverse transfer program at Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO), and the university’s short courses program, offered for the first time this fall. Nearly all of those programs saw significant increases, university officials said.
University officials also noted increases in the number of credit hours being taken at the Mountain Grove campus, online and by high school dual credit students. Credit hours at the Mountain Grove campus rose from 747 hours in fall 2013 to 872 hours this semester, a 16.7 percent increase. Online students enrolled in 4,815 credit hours this fall, up 7.5 percent from last year’s tally of 4,479. And, high school dual credit students enrolled in 1,387 credit hours, up 24.4 percent over 1,115 hours last fall.
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, through dual credit/dual enrollment programs at area high schools, through the SEMO reverse transfer 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.
In addition to the 2,193 students enrolled in Missouri State-West Plains courses this fall, 124 students are enrolled in the bachelor’s and master’s level courses offered at the West Plains campus through Missouri State-Springfield’s Outreach office. When Outreach’s figures are added to those for Missouri State-West Plains, a total of 2,317 students are being served by Missouri State-West Plains.