E-mail
PrintCOLUMBIA — If the latest figures on enrollment are any indication, a significantly larger freshman class will be arriving at MU this fall. According to a report from MU’s Vice Provost for Enrollment Management, the number of freshmen admitted for the fall 2008 school year is up 40.4 percent.
The report, dated Jan. 2, notes that 2,138 more applications have been received compared to last year — a 21.6 percent increase. Deposits from applying freshmen have increased 23.8 percent. The $150 deposits are required before incoming freshmen can declare a major and hold a spot in fall classes.
The report credits the recently implemented myZou program for eliminating delays in processing applications. Ann Korschgen, MU Vice Provost for Enrollment Management, said in an e-mail that enhanced recruiting strategies, a slight increase in the predicted number of Missouri high school graduates and publicity related to the success of MU’s football team have all contributed to the rise in numbers.
The latest numbers also show a large increase in the number of minority students interested in attending MU. Applications from black students are up 57.6 percent from last year, and applications from Hispanic students rose 113.5 percent. While no new scholarships for minority students have been added, Korschgen said a diversity recruiter has been targeting minority students in hopes of increasing applications.
Other trends noted in the report include:
- Transfer applicants are up 34.8 percent from 2007
- Out-of-state applicants increased by 1,047, with applicants from Texas (34.3 percent) and Illinois (45.4 percent) representing the most significant increase in out-of-state applicants
- In-state applicants increased by 1,091
- Applicants with an ACT score above 30 increased by 98 percent from 2007; 10 students with ACT scores above 33 will receive a $10,000 Mizzou Scholars award
While Korschgen emphasized that it is too early to know how many new students will be on campus this fall, MU has seen significant growth in recent years. The university averaged 2.75 percent annual growth between 2001 and 2005. Freshman admissions were up 5 percent in 2007, although the actual class turned out to be about the same size as the 2006 freshman class.
Comments