September 29, 2022Economic ProsperityWSU TechAccess and Affordabilityaccess affordability and enrollmentenrollmentstudents

Enrollment increases at ΊμΑμ½νΉΟ±¨ thanks to focus on student experience and economic growth

By WSU Strategic Communications

Combined enrollment by headcount across all ΊμΑμ½νΉΟ±¨ locations for fall 2022 is 21,942, according to the annual data released today by the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR). 

For the ΊμΑμ½νΉΟ±¨ main campus, the numbers represent an increase of 5.1% in fall student headcount from 16,097 in 2021 to 16,921 in 2022. That’s the largest number of students choosing to enroll at ΊμΑμ½νΉΟ±¨ since 1989. 

At WSU Tech, student headcount increased 3.9% from 4,834 last year to 5,021 this year β€” WSU Tech’s highest fall semester headcount ever. 

β€œSince the affiliation in 2018, WSU and WSU Tech have worked as one to provide an affordable and accessible education and to create a growing talent pipeline for our community,” says WSU President Rick Muma. β€œEven with the challenges brought on by the pandemic and the economy, ΊμΑμ½νΉΟ±¨ continues to make a difference in the lives of an increasing number of students and their families.” 

ΊμΑμ½νΉΟ±¨ highlights 

  • KBOR’s full-time equivalency (FTE) enrollment at ΊμΑμ½νΉΟ±¨ stands at 11,784, up 4.4% from 2021.  
  • Credit hours at ΊμΑμ½νΉΟ±¨ are 168,526, up 3.4% from last year. That’s the highest number of student credit hours in the university’s 126-year history. 
  • 40.9% increase in international students, originating from more than 100 countries. 
  • Continued growth in first-generation undergraduate freshmen, bringing the overall first-generation percent to 47% among freshmen. 
  • 25.2% increase in graduate students, the highest in ΊμΑμ½νΉΟ±¨ history. 
  • 16% of undergraduate students now identify as Hispanic, which qualifies ΊμΑμ½νΉΟ±¨ as an Emerging Hispanic Serving Institution. 
  • 9.6% increase in transfer students, which points toward an additional year β€” beyond the 11-years running β€” of Kansas transfer students choosing ΊμΑμ½νΉΟ±¨ as their No. 1 destination. 

WSU Tech highlights 

  • FTE at WSU Tech is 2,858 this fall, up 5.0% from last year. 
  • Credit hours at WSU Tech are 42,876, up 5% from 2021. 
  • 29.6% growth in headcount for WSU Tech Information Technology program, making it the second largest technical program at WSU Tech.  
  • 2,397 high school students enrolled, the highest fall head count for high school students. 
  • 33.1% increase in recent high school graduate enrollment over last year, returning WSU Tech to pre-pandemic numbers. 
  • Hispanic population increased to 23.2% of total adult population, nearly a 3% increase over last year. 

Either way you look at it, more students are choosing the many opportunities provided by ΊμΑμ½νΉΟ±¨ to help prepare them for the future. It’s yet another sign that the university is forging ahead in its efforts to drive prosperity for our region and continue to improve the lives of students and families while meeting workforce needs. 

"When ΊμΑμ½νΉΟ±¨ and WSU Tech work together with the common purpose to create opportunities for our students and enhance the region's economy by ensuring that employers have access to a talent pipeline with the education and knowledge to succeed, positive things happen," said Dr. Sheree Utash, president of WSU Tech. "Our business and industry benefit, our institutions benefit and, most importantly, our students benefit. Our affiliation was created upon the success of these three groups, and what we see now are the benefits of a strong partnership working in sync toward a common goal." 

Several programs at ΊμΑμ½νΉΟ±¨ and WSU Tech have contributed to the enrollment growth, opening new pathways for students and further fueling the talent pipeline.  

Some of those programs include:

ΊμΑμ½νΉΟ±¨

  • Master of Business Analytics  
  • Master of Human Resource Management  
  • Master of Data Science  
  • Bachelor of Cybersecurity  
  • Master of Counseling  
  • Bachelor of Applied Arts in Media Arts 

WSU Tech  

  • Culinary Arts  
  • Digital Marketing  
  • Professional Pilot  
  • Alternative Fuel Maintenance & Advanced Electronics 
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Drone)  
  • Registered Nurse  
  • Cloud Computing 

The Get-to-WERX program, a collaboration between ΊμΑμ½νΉΟ±¨, WSU Tech and NIAR WERX, had its first fall start with 24 students. Students in this program are dual enrolled in WSU Tech’s Aviation Maintenance program and Organizational Leadership and Learning courses at ΊμΑμ½νΉΟ±¨. 

β€œAligned to our priority of providing an impactful, affordable and accessible education, the NIAR WERX program is a wonderful example of a top-notch paid applied learning experience for our students to gain on-the-job experience while completing their degrees at WSU and WSU Tech,” says Shirley Lefever, WSU executive vice president and provost. 

WSU and WSU Tech footprint

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