Minnesota Fall College Enrollment Shows Significant Gains

Archive

12/1/2009

 

Contact: Sandy Connolly, Director of Communications
Office of Higher Education
(651) 259-3902

Fall 2009 enrollment at Minnesota's colleges, universities and career schools increased 5.3 percent over 2008, according to preliminary figures released today by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education. Enrollment at public and private institutions statewide increased by 18,749 students, from 353,359 in fall 2008 to 372,108 in 2009, with growth concentrated in the state's public community and technical colleges across the state.

"Increased enrollment means more people will be ready to work with new and updated knowledge and skills that will help them be competitive and contribute to the economy," said David Metzen, director of the Office of Higher Education. "Especially encouraging is the increase of more than 10,000 students at Minnesota's public two year colleges."

Undergraduate and graduate preliminary fall headcount enrollment.

Numbers do not include primarily online higher education providers.

Numbers for the four-year colleges include both undergraduate and graduate enrollment.

Minnesota Office of Higher Education.

Enrollment at private career schools also increased dramatically, indicating students may be looking for career-specific training that will make them employable and marketable in a changing economy. As a group, private career colleges tend to experience the greatest fluctuation in enrollment as new providers move in and out of the marketplace. Enrollment at residential four-year colleges and universities tends to remain relatively consistent over time, as admissions offices manage the size of the freshmen class each year.

The fall headcount figures provide a general snapshot of enrollment trends, and are based on the number of students enrolled on the 10th day of classes at institutions across the state. Headcount enrollment is just one measure of enrollment and the data does not take into account full- or part-time status of students. Most institutions use more than one method to measure enrollment.

The Minnesota Office of Higher Education is a state agency providing students with financial aid programs and information to help them gain access to postsecondary education and serves as the state's clearinghouse for data, research and analysis on postsecondary enrollment, financial aid, finance and trends.

This document can be made available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities upon request.