Enrollment: freshman class among largest in Northwest history_Northwest Missouri State University[노스웨스트미주리주립대]
New Northwest students are greeted by faculty, staff and classmates Sunday during the University's annual March to the Tower. Northwest's 2015 freshman class is among its largest in the institution's history, according to preliminary totals. (Photo by Todd Weddle/Northwest Missouri State University)
Northwest Missouri State University boasts one of the largest freshman classes in its history this fall along with increases in its transfer population and undergraduate headcount, according to preliminary enrollment totals released by the Office of Enrollment Management.
Northwest begins its 2015-2016 academic year with a freshman class of 1,478 students, an increase of 11 percent from last fall. Northwest recorded its largest freshman class, totaling 1,498 students, in 2011.
“The freshman class growth is exceptional and helps offset the largest graduating class in Northwest’s history this past spring and huge numbers last December as well,” Northwest President Dr. John Jasinski said, noting those graduating classes of 945 and 542, respectively. “Our enrollment team and so many partners across the institution have taken intentional and strategic steps to ensure this growth and I wish to commend them.”
Northwest also continues to lead its peers in freshman retention rates. The fall 2014 freshman class has returned to Northwest for their sophomore year at a rate of 71 percent.
Additionally, Northwest is projecting increases of nearly 4 percent among transfer students and a little more than 1 percent for its undergraduate student headcount. Northwest’s total headcount stands at 6,415.
The enrollment numbers are preliminary and the University’s official census occurs Monday, Sept. 28.
Northwest encourages high school students interested in attending the University to apply early in their senior year. For information about admission or to schedule a campus visit, call 800.633.1175 or visit www.nwmissouri.edu.
About Northwest Missouri State University
Northwest is a four-year university that offers a broad range of profession-based undergraduate and graduate programs offered in Maryville as well as locations in Kansas City and St. Joseph.
Northwest is ranked as the top moderately selective regional university in Missouri on U.S. News and World Report’s list of “2015 Best Colleges” and is one of only four four-year institutions in Missouri to meet all measures of the state’s performance-based funding initiative during the past three years.
The University, founded in 1905, boasts a 59 percent graduation rate, which is about 20 percent higher than the national average. In addition, 97 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.
While the Northwest campus also is designated the Missouri Arboretum, 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.
