A total of 1,953 students are enrolled this fall at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP).

This is a 1.6% increase over the 2020 fall semester, according to official enrollment statistics for the 2021 fall semester which were released today. Last year, 1,922 students were enrolled, university officials said.

“Being up is always better than being down, but being up after a pandemic year makes all of us smile on campus,” said MSU-WP Interim Chancellor Dennis Lancaster.

“We’re continuing to watch our degree-seeking student numbers since they represent the core of our student body, and we would rather see them heading steadily upward,” he said. “Still, with our total mix of students, and with the pandemic touching so much of what we do with and for our students, this is really good news.”

Increases seen in high school programs, Mountain Grove campus

High school students participating in dual credit, dual enrollment or early degree programs made up a significant portion of the campus’s enrollment increase this fall. A total of 972 students signed up for MSU-WP classes, compared to 839 last fall, a 16% increase.

MSU-WP also saw increases in its Mountain Grove Extended Campus numbers. Fifty-two students signed up for classes at the Mountain Grove Extended Campus this fall, compared to 44 students in fall 2020. This is an 18% increase.

The number of credit hours taken at the Mountain Grove Extended Campus also increased, going from 301 in fall 2020 to 338 this fall. 

Missouri State-West Plains’ final overall enrollment figure includes students taking classes at the West Plains and Mountain Grove campuses, as well as online, through high school dual credit/dual enrollment programs, and through the Viticulture and Enology Science and Technology Alliance (VESTA) of which Missouri State-West Plains is a member.

In addition to the 1,953 students enrolled in Missouri State-West Plains courses this fall, 83 students are enrolled in bachelor’s and master’s level courses offered locally through Missouri State-Springfield’s Outreach office.