Drury University, Ozarks Technical Community College and Missouri State University began classes Aug. 23 and are seeing landmark enrollment numbers.
Drury University had a record opening day enrollment of 1,633, trumping its previous record of 1,615 set in 2007. OTC's Springfield campus has an enrollment of 9,371, up nearly 6 percent from last year. Missouri State University is predicting record numbers when official enrollment reports come in Sept. 23.
Joining returning Drury students were 376 domestic freshmen, 123 domestic transfers, 35 international freshmen, seven international transfers and nine exchange students, totaling 550 new students on campus, according to a news release.
Students have registered for more than 36,000 credit hours in Drury's College of Graduate and Continuing Studies, with registration continuing throughout the week, the release said.
“Even in the face of difficult financial times, students and parents continue to see the value of a personalized education, an outstanding faculty and a setting that offers activities for everyone,” Drury President Todd Parnell said in the release.
OTC has a total enrollment this fall of 14,056, a 9.4 percent increase from fall 2009, according to a news release.
The college has seen a noticeable increase in students taking the majority of their classes online: 1.777, up nearly 19 percent from last fall.
"The consistent, dramatic growth of our student population demonstrates that there continues to be a high demand for the flexible and accessible education and training that we offer," OTC President Hal Higdon said in the release.
MSU's Springfield campus started the fall semester with 18,870 students, 217 more than in fall 2009. MSU's West Plains campus had an opening day enrollment of 2,024, according to an MSU news release.
Administrators anticipate MSU's total enrollment this fall will top last year's record of 22,842. The official census is taken on the 20th day of classes, and enrollment numbers will be available Sept. 23, the release said.
"We are pleased to be headed toward another record enrollment, which speaks to the quality of the programs and experience we provide for students," MSU President James Cofer said in the release.[[In-content Ad]]
